Trying to keep my OA to not evolve....
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hello , i have been recently diagnosed with OA in my hips. I am 32 yo and i am quite scared considering i have my life ahead of me. The OA is at the early stages ... but i can feel day by day that it s moving forward and was wondering what can i do to slow or posibly stop it s progresion.. did t live a healthy life ... drinking .. partying .. eh ... and now it s kinda hard do make those changes ... but wanted to know ... what do you guys mean by healthy food ... what diet i dont have any pain.. should i take glucosamine... please any advice will do , and ty all for the kind advice in youre recent posts!!! Good health to all
1 like, 27 replies
stephen_18363 litamarius
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litamarius stephen_18363
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susan67756 litamarius
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Hi, can I ask how the diagnosis was made?
The reason I ask this is because there is no test for OA - it's a diagnosis of exclusion. A doctor MUST rule out other possible causes of your symptoms before he can make and honest diagnosis of OA. All too often, people are fobbed off with a diagnosis of OA because....well...because doctors can't be bothered? for policy reasons - cost cutting?
I was diagnosed with hip OA at age 42. My diagnosis was made on the basis of x-ray evidence of joint degeneration, pain and some tests that showed a 'capsular pattern of restriction'. I was told it was a classic case with no room for doubt. I DID doubt it. I was heavily involved in sports and had good awareness of my body. I was convinced it was a muscle imbalance but it took me 10 years to figure it out and put things right. Symptoms now gone (age 54).
I shared my story on here a few years ago, and others showed an interest and I shared what I had done to put myself right. Some got similar results to me and many/most felt much better knowing that it was something they could tackle themselves rather than sit back and wait for their joints to rot.
I can't guarantee that the root cause of your problem is muscle imbalance (although I would have thought it a more likely cause than 'joint disease'
. What I can tell you is that regardless of the root cause, you WILL have muscle imbalance and addressing that can only help - it may well cure you completely.
If you share a little more about your diagnosis, your symptoms, the onset etc I may be able to give you some ideas to get you started.
Things almost certainly aren't nearly as bad as you think!
litamarius susan67756
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litamarius
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susan67756 litamarius
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I'd get a second opinion - and do some research first!
X-ray evidence of 'radiographic OA' is meaningless. If you had an injury to your joint then it's highly likely that you would have some abnormal joint wear - if it's mild then it shouldn't cause any symptoms and there's no reason why it should get worse.
What symptoms do you have? If not problems with ROM then what - a bit of pain or soreness? Where exactly and what does it feel like?
litamarius susan67756
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susan67756 litamarius
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ROM = range of motion.
Honestly, from what you've said I'd get a second opinion. Find out what is REALLY causing your extremely mild symptoms. Research now shows that the old ideas about OA are completely wrong. Most people that have x-ray evidence of degenerative changes stay symptom free for life.
The most likely thing is that your injury caused a muscle imbalance - some muscles got stronger than others, causing the joints to track abnormally. This can be treated and your symptoms completely eliminated permanently. Try and find yourself a very good physiotherapist.
No one can guarantee that you don't have some kind of underlying joint disease, but from what you've said, no one has produced any evidence whatsoever that you do. You'd be crazy to accept this diagnosis at your age without more thorough investigations.
susan67756
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...lots of things can cause cracking when you walk. For example, tight ligaments snapping over bones. Very common and harmless when you have a muscle imbalance.
The typical balance associated with hip OA is a 'twisted pelvis'. One leg may feel longer than the other, and your pelvis tends to rotate back on one side. Have you noticed anything like this? If so then chances are it's that that's causing your problems - not hip OA. Get the imbalance fixed and chances are you'll never have problems again.
litamarius susan67756
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litamarius susan67756
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Anhaga litamarius
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susan67756 litamarius
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There are two types of OA - 'radiographic OA' and 'symptomatic OA'. Essentially, research has shown that OA isn't what they once thought so now they're left with this totally illogical naming convention!
Most people have radiographic OA and never have symptoms. OA is now considered to be a normal, healthy, benign process of 'wear and repair'. If you get an injury, or just move in an abnormal way (due to some muscles being weaker than they should be and some being stronger) then abnormal joint wear can occur. A bit like how your tyres on your car wear if the tracking is off. The osteophites are part of the 'repair' process. Unless they get in the way of normal movement of the joint it shouldn't be anything to worry about. A diagnosis of 'radiographic OA' is pretty meaningless really.
When people have pain and stiffness along with radiographic OA then it's considered to be 'symptomatic OA'. However, even in this case there's no reason to assume that the symptoms are a consequence of the radiographic OA. It may be totally unconnected, or the symptoms AND the radiographic OA (as in my case) could be the result of a muscle imbalance.
In the UK, x-rays are no longer used in diagnosing OA because it's known that there is absolutely no correlation between x-ray findings and symptoms. The joint wear is starting to look like a complete red herring! It's possible that if the joint wear becomes severe that it might start to cause symptoms. But mild OA that isn't giving you any symptoms isn't anything to worry about. Other than perhaps you should think WHY are my joints wearing? Most likely scenario is a muscle imbalance set in because of your injury. See if you can get a physio to look at you and figure out what's going on.
erela litamarius
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if you do an internet search on proper diets with a condition of OA you will find a lot of info...... on you tube there are nutritionalists with videos that have advise on lots of topics..... exercises.....food to avoid.....etc.
I was told to stop eating Tomatoes......the acid eats at joints......
Do not feel guilty for partying..... alcohol is bad for your healing ability...... but edibles made from God's Medicine work amazing on body pain.....
Get to a heated indoor pool and do your walking, stretching and excercising in the water.... not on land...... they have underwater weights if you are one on those body building dudes...... lol........
Take care of yourself and make those changes now...... I am 60 and miserable with sick bones that can't be fixed and pain 24/7/365 ...... take care of yourself now before you end up like me! lol
wishing you a tolerable day with lots of giggles and hugs!
Erela
steve43628 litamarius
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I too have OA.Mine in my fingers mainly.Not good being I'm a guitarist,and pianist I will need to have knuckle replacements soon
I've got a fair bit of pain relief from changing my diet to try an exclude the 'Nightshade' family.Not easy That's mainly tobacco.Well.I don't smoke,but also in the family is potatoes,tomatoes,peppers,and aubergene.I have also included boron.6 mg a day into my diet.That's in avocado,leafy greens etc too.I get morphine on prescription,but have not resorted to it for over a week now,so something is happening.