Aches and Pains

Else, thank you for your story! I've had arthritis since my late teens too but it wasn't called that until I reached forty-five. I was sent for various tests in Edinburgh and Oxford but the impression I got was that they simply don't know very much about the early onset disease, nor do they know what to do about it other than prescribe painkillers. People who are prescribed strong painkillers for a temporary injury are shocked when I tell them I've been taking the same things every day for thirty five years. They nearly always ask if I'm addicted to them but I'm not. If the pain wasn't there I wouldn't need them. I haven't needed any operations yet, fortunately. You have my profound understanding of what chronic pain does to one's energy levels. And, like you, I'm not a misery guts. My BIL was surprised to learn only last year that I've had arthritis all that time.

My arthritis started when I was 25 - genetic apparently. Initially the doctor laughed at me and as my second child was a baby he gave me anti depressants and patted me on the head. Now I suffer from arthritis in my hip (the other one has been replaced recently at the ripe old age of 61) knees, spine, neck, hands, feet; is there anywhere else?

I am very pleased to have read this thread because it has given me lots of exciting ideas (thank you all) but how I wish I had been taken seriously when I was younger. I feel sure there is a huge amount that could be done for all forms of arthritis but because it is not life threatening it is left to charity to find 'cures'. I get very angry when the NHS offer tests for so many things but still do nothing for permanent pain.

I believe doctors are told to say such things as: 'you have the start of arthritis' they did this to me twelve years ago re my hip and after suffering for a further ten years I had another X-Ray which came back with exactly the same wording. I nearly blew a gasket and was eventually sent to a specialist. He was not impressed with what I had been told and explained that as well as the arthritis cysts can be worn on the bone and these cysts cause a lot of pain.

To WWOTN (love the name) I say persevere, you have a right to know what is going on with your body if nothing else. Please don't think I am an old misery guts because I am not - honestly - but as everyone on this thread knows, continual pain does wear you down and because it is not life threatening it tends to be pushed on to the back burner medically.

Ooppss sorry to have gone on so much, you can wake up now. Think I had best get off to the shed to do some virtual potting

Acids are produced in the stomach to digest food. If that is what is meant by "leaving an acid residue" then so be it. That's how it's mean to be. All comes dow to the same old adage: everything in moderation and then natural balances won't get upset. Obviously I'm not talking about the unblanaces of ill health.

Baggy and Charlotta I actually thought the very same thing myself, so I looked on the internet and this is what I found. 'Note that a food's acid or alkaline-forming tendency in the body has nothing to do with the actual pH of the food itself. For example, lemons are very acidic, however the end-products they produce after digestion and assimilation are very alkaline so lemons are alkaline-forming in the body. Likewise, meat will test alkaline before digestion but it leaves very acidic residue in the body so, like nearly all animal products, meat is very acid-forming.' www.naturalhealthschool.com/acid-alkaline.html

Who was this woman who advised you? Lemon is the most acidic food there is. You'll need to cut out all citrus fruits. You can buy a little pH Indicator which is a paper tape which gardners use to test the acidity of the earth, and test your fruits that way. You will see that lemon is NO.1 on the pH scale.
No. 10 is absolute alkali and the rest is in between.

Um, faye, if you were really told that lemons and vinegar are alkaline, you have been misinformed. Both are acidic. Lemons are citrus fruits and contain citric acid so if you take lemon juice to balance orange juice you are simply adding to your citric acid intake.

I'm also curious to know why people take turmeric tablets rather than just using turmeric in cooking.

Taking apple cider vinegar for arthritis is interesting. There is another thread about arthritis, and someone mentioned citric acid and arthritis. Within a day, as happens, I went to the health shop to buy some tumeric tablets for the arthritis in my hands and feet. I had been eating fresh oranges straight off the tree (I love oranges) and the pain in my right hand had gotten much worse than it had ever been. Thanks to the thread about citric acid I knew why the pain was worse. The woman told me that if you eat anything with citric acid you need to balance it so eat a lemon or vinegar as they are alkaline. She also said I should keep on taking fish oil as that helps reduce the inflammation.

P.S.
WWOTN is "wicked witch of the north"; my son-in-laws affectionate name for me!

Hi everyone
I'm new to this so bear with it.
Fascinated by the thread on fybromyalgia and arthritis etc. Both my mother and I have/had arthritis and she had polymyalgia very badly.[She died 10 years ago] She was on steroids and they ruined her life. Her healthy broke down post steroid treatment and I would hate to go on them. She always swore by the cider vinegar treatment although I can't say that I had success with it but then, I'm too impatient! I need help please. A few months ago I had a scan on the knees re pain but nothing wrong with them apart from a few "bits" breaking off and causing irritation but recently [after a rather stupid evening of trying to compete with the grandchildren dancing too much!] my knees are giving me hell. Getting up in the morning I stagger for a few seconds and then it feels like I've been climbing a mountain all night. After driving for half an hour I can hardly get out of the car with pain. Scared to go back to doc. so soon as he'll say it has already been investigated and nothing wrong. Does anyone know if this is a ligament probem and what to do? I seem to live on paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Thinking of buying shares in the company!
I am otherwise a healthy 71 year old with a very active life.

riclorian, thank you! I was asking because my GP wanted some blood recently to send for "coeliac serology". This was because, although I'm not anaemic, apparently my haemoglobin level was a bit low. I thought that was because of almost daily nosebleeds I had been having on account of rhinitis and needing anti-histamines the whole time, but he said that wouldn't make a difference. I'm not convinced he's right. Anyway the coeliac serology didn't show up anything. I know I'd find it very hard to give up bread but I certainly could if I felt better for it, as you have. It must be quite satisfying to have resolved the problem yourself.

Hi Baggy , I don,t mind at all . I am not sure if the connection has been proved yet but it worked for me .it all started when I met someone with coeliac disease , and not knowing anything about it I Googled it . When I read the symptoms I was surprised that I had all but one of them . ie feeling generally 'out of sorts' , bloating , and can I say diahorria (sorry cant spell! ) on the web ?This had been going on for 8 years I then tried gluten free diet and was soon feeling better . I then went to the Dr who was 90% sure I was right but wouldn,t confirm unless I had all the tests ie endoscopy to name one . To do this I had to go back on to normal diet until I became unwell again then arrange for tests etc . I decided it wasn't worth all that so remained on diet ---- and I always will . As I say it worked for me ,but I am probably one of the lucky ones . Hope this long creed helps .

That connection between coeliac and RA is interesting, riclorian. How did you go about the self diagnosis, and what made you decide that coeliac was the problem? I hope you don't mind me asking. PM me if you prefer.

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1995 , and suffered quite a few aches and pains in my joints .In 2006 my consultant was surprised when I saw her after a gap of 6 months , my fingers moved freely and my general movement was so much better .She declared that I was in remission (still am , fingers crossed! ) and would only see me again if I needed her . To cut a long and boring story a little shorter it was all because I self diagnosed coeliac disease .The consultant told me that research is now being carried out into the connection between coeliac and certain types of RA . After only 10 days on a gluten free diet I felt so much better .Keeping to a diet is very much easier than hobbling around !! Hope this story will help some of you .

My friend was diagnosed a few weeks ago with fibromyalgia and her (German)specialist told her it would last up to 2 years and then go away. In that time she has to take cortison but only in a small daily dose. I asked another friend - a GP and she said yes this is true, it is terribly painful but does recede in a couple of year's time.
It is hard to take daily medication but if you have the hope that in 2 years it will be better then that helps. I myself have osteoarthritis in the knee and that won't go away in two years time but is is not so bad at the moment as to need a new knee. My experience of people with new knees is varied. The ones who are overweight and not very active just can't cope with a new knee. It doesn't help them.
I take painkillers and keep moving. I'm going to start with the cider vinegar today. This is fantastic thread with a lot of useful information.

I too have fybromyalgia and hypermobility, my GP is great and tried all sorts to help. Now I take painkillers when I need to but am trying to control my weight and exercise as and when I can. I walk, couldn't possibly run, and swim and yoga helps too. I still garden even though I use the "no dig" method. Luckily I have no sign of arthritis anywhere. - When I saw the x rays on the computer I said to the doc. I wish I had bones like that and she said they are yours! I do allow myself a rest every afternoon though. I am going to try the turmeric tablets.
Supernana, I wouldn't think anyone would think you are complaining - we all need to chat/moan/get it off our chest from time to time and where better to do it than here amongst friends.

Message deleted by Gransnet.

jangly...knew you would have a good idea, or two. I need to get my drop-bot fixed surgically. Thing is, I've too much to cram into the summer months: visits to spend time with family; indulging in caring for the wee grandson in London [so that his mummy may go to her studio and earn an honest crust] and so on. I've to make the best of things inbetween times. Also, as you're aware, I'm really scared of having to go into hospital...we all know why!

Supernana, you sound like the least whingey gran on this site. And you must have so much discomfort. I hope you get a solution or at least something to alleviate it until you do get a solution.

Only thing I can think of supernana is to loads of kegel exercises concentrating on the back bit. Kegels can be very good. Definitely have helped me with whatever has prolapsed a bit down there! You have to do loads of them though. They can become a habit after a while!

Oh, supernana, you are a wounded soldier.
You've made me very thankful for my good health - not that that is of much consolation to you.
I do hope someone comes up with something to help you - very soon.

I hope that my Gransnetting friends don't think that I'm a proper whinger. I have so many health problems and choose not to talk to anyone about them - because I'm afraid of being a bore. However, you all seem so considerate and kind and I would welcome any info on how one copes with a prolapsed bowel, please? There, Ive said it!

Re cystitis and taking bicarbonate of soda do not take this as a cure if you have high blood pressure , it is dangerous

GA, I've just been diagnosed with PMR. It started before Easter, but I thought it was a virus and soldiered on until it hit me like a sledge-hammer last week - unable to turn over in bed and when I was foolish enough to think a hot bath would help, it took about 20 minutes to get out again. A visit to the doctor and a blood test gave a rapid diagnosis and I was on the steroids right away. It's true that they do give quick relief, but I am very worried about the probable weight gain which I would do anything to avoid. So far, I've had considerable relief from the pain and no longer take all morning to get going, but am still quite tired.
I've had a hip and half a shoulder replaced as well as surgery on my hand, so am no stranger to osteo-arthritis, but this seems to be the last straw, or at least I hope it is.

I have polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Steroids are the usual treatment, but I have other complications so the consultant weaned me off them and the pain and disability returned with a vengeance. I'm hoping that this ailment has almost run its course now as it's now much better than it was, but on my worst days I needed help just to get out of a chair!

Swear by a book called Dr Alis Nutrician Bible. He was on This Morning a few years ago and took a group of people with various problems, put them on one of his diets for a while and they came back feeling loads better. It's really more a case of what foods to avoid, rather than what to eat [as has been said in a lot of the previous posts. Mainly based on Ayurvedic medicine. Turneric is mentioned a lot.When you think that treatment of gout is avoidance of certain foods, it makes a lot of sense. A friend of mine swears by drinking pure Aloe Vera juice, but it is rather expensive [and she does sell it so she's a bit biased!].