Severe Osteoarthritis all over my body...

I was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis in lower back 10 years ago, now I have pain in my neck top of spine going down I between shoulders, my arms knees back ribs and my knuckles are swollen and painful on my right hand. I think the pain down my spine is cervical spondylitis because my sister has just been diagnosed with that to go with her osteoporosis, my mum had rheumatoid  arthritis my dad had osteoarthritis everyone in the family has it. The only time I am pain free is if I go swimming but it only lasts for a couple of hours, I take codeine and paracetamol but it does not get rid of the pain. I get the strangest symptoms I am 63 and just fed up with feeling terrible everyday...

Osteoarthritis runs in my family...BOTH SIDES if my family, so I suspected that I would run into it SOMETIME.

Looking back, I felt the first symptoms around age 30 when our first son was born. Symptoms came and went, however.

I began taking Glucosimine to ward off trouble. I also used a heating pad for my lower back which would REALLY ACHE at times. I got a massager for my car seat. That helped A LOT because it also had HEAT.

I began a walking program which helped me lose 80 pounds in 2007. I felt pretty good but needed to take Ibuprofen before I walked and needed to ICE and rest afterwards.

In September of that same year I was on vacation and taking an evening walk. I stepped off the curb and felt a POP in the back of my right knee.

One thing led to another, and pretty soon I was feeling pain in other parts of my knee, my back, etc.

Physical therapy didn't help and actually made things worse. Also my 99 year old mother came to live with us for two years which produced GREAT RESPONSIBILITY, little sleep, and MUCH STRESS.

It was during this time in 2011 and 2012 that the osteoarthritis hit with a vengeance. I think the stress, the little sleep, me being older (60), etc. really were the straws that broke the camel's back, so to speak, for me.

Cortisone shots worked for four DAYS.

My insurance wouldn't pay for the Ortho-Disc shots.

I was TOTALLY FRUSTRATED, very upset, and IN DENIAL about everything.

I started to think that wheelchairs and scooters were my future.

One morning I woke to HORRENDOUS pain in my OTHER KNEE! I was unable to put any weight on my leg. I was using crutches. It was Memorial Day Weekend, so I had to wait several days until Tuesday when I could call my doctor.

Long story short...got X-RAYS, bone-on-bone, no cartilage left. Doc said I needed TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENTS on both knees.

I was shocked at how bad my knees had got in just four years. I booked my first knee surgery before I left the office.

I will be getting my SECOND KNEE done in six weeks. My first knee is nine weeks post op.

Surgery was the best thing I did. I will have OTHER PAIN, but at least my two knees will feel better.

Don't be afraid of surgery. Sometimes it can be the only thing that helps the PAIN.

I wish you a pain-free time!

Hi, I also have OA in upper and lower spine , lower is quite bad, right hip (badly) and left hip (mild),my knees are also starting to play up.  Am waiting for the go-ahead for right hip replacement and will fight for the other joint as they deteriorate.

I am the youngest child (67) of parents who were both arthritic but my brother and sister seem to have escaped it.  Just the luck of the draw I suppose.

It's good to come on here and have a rant to people who have some understanding of what you are going though.  I hope you manage to get the best help you can xxx

HI, I have had Arthritis since the age of 11, It started off as Septic Arthritis and now I have Osteoarthritis In my left knee, my right knee, my spine and my right foot. I have had a total knee replacement twice on my left knee plus several operations as a child and my right knee may be a partial knee replacement. I am still only just turned 59, my first knee replacement was at 39 and the second at 52. I also had broken my leg the second time. The first time I had to also have the Tibia straightened as my leg had bowed and the ligaments had gone In my groin. I know the pain and how debilitating Arthritis Is. I live on my own and have always struggled after my operations with very little support. I don't drive either so getting about as been problamatic. I often think about being In a wheelchair or scooter and that worries me. I walk with a stick now when I am out. I suffer nerve pain for the last 2 years. I take Gaberpentin for nerve pain, Naproxen for my spine I also take Nefopam and Codeine at night to help me sleep. I am still In constant pain. At least here there are people to talk to and understand what It's like to suffer Arthritic pain.

I hope you find a way of coping.

Best wishes.

Elizabeth. 

Hi, I too have spinal and multi joint OA. It started when I was quite young, early 40,s I think. Around the time of menopause anyway when I started to have problems with it. Severe back pain and sciatica (nerve pain down thigh), which was so painful I couldn't bear to walk and trying to go to the loo, (num 2) was virtually impossible! I've spent the last 30 years trying to come to terms with it. Not much help from the Docs really, just told to keep taking the tablets and learn to live with it as we're not able to cure it. The rest of my joints, neck, shoulders, elbows, hands, fingers, hips,knees, feet and toes have all followed on since then. I tried hydrotherapy in a warm pool at the local hospital but it was closed when the other hospital was rebuilt. Now we have one hydrotherapy pool for the whole county and city. It's virtually impossible to get an appointment now let alone a regular weeky session which really did help. I would recommend it if you have access to one locally and can get referrred. The warm water helps relax muscles making the exercise easier. I'm prescribed, Tramadol and paracetamol, Diclofenac which I've been told I have to cut down with a view to leaving it off as it's no longer advisable for elderly folk to use it. Recently I was prescribed some Amitriptylene for bedtime instead as I had Shingles in April. It does help me sleep better but not much help for the OA pain especially the spine. I find Valerian capsules (from health food shop)useful,  sleeping betterand also to relax the muscles which spasm with overuse now my joints don't function so well. I'm now 72 and have bought a scooter, tried one on hol in Spain and found it very useful for getting around the resort. I also have a rollator with seat over shopping box, very useful if I need to go town on bus. I have my weekly shopping delivered, do it online now. So much easier than struggling with heavy bags. It's brought into the kitchen and I just have to put it away. I think this is what was meant by 'learning to live with it'! We have to adapt our lives round  the disabilities. Finally, rest, rest, rest if your in pain. It's very tiring, I'm totally fatigued if I have to do housework, gardening, walking etc now. If I don't rest, my brain just doesn't function properly anymore and I start dropping things, making mistakes and generally don't function well at all! Sorry i can't give you any hope of a cure but i think you will be able to adapt if you put your mind to it. Best wishes, Ellie X

Hi Barbie. Have you asked Social Services for an assessment for your Dad? It sounds like he needs full time care now. You could also consider a temporary stay in a nursing home for him while you get the treatment you need so badly. (Respite care)! Ask at your GP's surgery for info how to contact SS in your area and speak to your Dad's GP too as they will need to know all his health details. You can also claim the carers allowance, ask SS about this too. Not meaning to sound bossy but I think you need help before you get too ill to take care of Dad! Take care of yourself first!  Ellie X

I have the same problems. Although i am only 26 i have severe osteoarthritis all over my body as well and nothing helps my pain and at times i cant even move or get out of bed.