Troublesome mornings

wildrose I can't offer advice but just wanted to say I am sorry to hear things are so hard for you. I won't moan so much when I feel a bit achy in the mornings.

I've just got osteoarthritis in my hip and have been known to feel sorry for myself. But having read your post I realise I could be so much worse off. I hope the doctors can sort you out soon. Don't take it, make a fuss so they don't forget you. Take care LDx

This may or may not be of any interest or use to you, but by coincidence it was in today's Daily Telegraph.
Can't see them on Ocado's product list yet, but worth asking and trying perhaps.

www.telegraph.co.uk/wellbeing/diet/bone-broth-helped-my-aching-joints/

Was also going to post that but Daphne beat me to it. My view is that anything is worth trying. I feel so sorry for you wildrose life must be a constant struggle.

How kind of you all to post I don't mean to make out that my pain is worse than anyone else who has arthritis - it's just that I'm beginning to think that this is how life is going to be and I know acceptance/and adapting can be helpful steps towards pain control. I suppose I'm just hoping to hear how others get their day of to the best start possible. Every evening I plan to get straight in to a warm shower first thing next morning which I imagine could ease my joints but my body won't let me until I've pulled myself round! to all those who have pain to any degree. I feel better just putting my feelings out there so thank you for that. I will read the Telegraph piece now.

So sorry Wildrose, pain is awful... just one point there has been a lot lately about tramadol being a bit of a nasty drug. Sometimes I do wonder if so many drugs start causing more problems than they help Are you under any doctors at the pain clinic I believe cannabis is useful for many pains
I hope you can find some relief

I wonder if this is worth following up www.nnuh.nhs.uk/news/2016/03/100-treatments-given-to-manage-pain-using-chilli-at-cromer-hospital/

I am a great advocate of chicken broth which I make with carcasses and any left over meat, adding vegetables, and then freeze. I can't speak for its efficacy with aching joints, but if I feel under the weather or I have a cold, it seems to pick me up remarkably quickly. I have even been able to persuade DH to drink it now. I used to make broth with bacon bones but you can't get them now. I am very interested to see that there is a commercial version. I hope that you find a solution to your problem wildrose, and feel better soon.

I can empathise wildrose, though I don't have all the problems you have been hit with. I am in the process of having pains and tingling in my hands diagnosed, waiting on x-ray and blood test results. I'm fairly sure it's osteoarthritis (possibly combined with carpal tunnel syndrome, not sure). My hands are constantly painful, with stiff, clicky fingers and pins and needles. It gets me down too. I also have painful feet, and the usual knee and hip stuff that many of us are blessed (!) with as we get older.
A friend has been taking turmeric tablets and reports a huge improvement to the pain in her hips and knees. I think I might try the same, though I read somewhere that turmeric is far more beneficial if used in cooking, or made up as a tea, rather than in tablet form. Have a look at this article. Not sure I fancy turmeric tea, but I guess it's something that I could get used to, and if it works then it's certainly worth getting used to the taste!

I'm so sorry to read about your pain in the morning wildrose. I wondered if you'd tried using an electric blanket during the night? It's one of the suggestions The Arthritis Foundation has on its website. I do hope you find some way of relieving your pain.

Sorry to hear your pain is so bad, wildrose. Pain from arthritis has affected me since my mid twenties but it is not as bad as yours sounds. Fibromyalgia was also diagnosed a few years ago. I'm not sure which condition makes me stiffest or more achey in the mornings but something does. I just have to keep moving and take painkillers to help ease it. Keeping moving also makes everything ache more so finding a balance is tricky to put it mildly.

The bone broth idea sounds interesting and I'm sure bone broth is good for everyone regardless of whether they have arthritis or fibromyalgia. I always make it when we've had a chicken or any beef joint that has a bone. Some shops will sell you a marrow bone even if you're not buying meat.

I had a look at the Telegraph article. The smell from making chicken carcass stock is not vile. What on earth is she talking about? It isn't vile if you use a beef shin bone either. But the soups or broths you can make from bone stack are almost universally delicious. I'd certainly give it a go if you haven't already.

I hope you find some ease. Constant pain is definitely a drag

wildrose my sympathies for you pain , I have multiple joint O/A with one hip replaced and the other about to be done. I too wake up with a lot of stiffness in the mornings, I take Naproxen and Paracetamol but can't tolerate Tramadol. I do find a hot shower in the mornings gets me going quicker it really works for me. I have tried many alternative treatments but nothing has made any difference to me but anything is worth a try, if no improvement after 2/3 months I'd give up. A shame you can't take anti-inflammatories they really help with my hands especially thumb pain. I hope you get some help soon.

Pain is most definitely a symptom of osteo arthritis. I had a bad time with a the joint between thumb and wrist (trapezium) and used to wake up in tears. Ditto with shoulder pain. Surgery was the remedy in both cases. I can't take opioids like codeine or tramadol which leaves me with paracetamol which barely takes the edge off severe pain, though at the moment, I'm free of OA apart from my left foot.

Pain is just so debilitating wildrose, as is sleep disturbance. Would echo badenkate in suggesting use of an electric blanket. One of those designed for all night use on a low setting can really help, takes some muscle tension away and should ease stiffness and pain a bit. My guess is the Tramadol is causing some of the lethargy, can't tolerate it myself. If there is a pain clinic in your area a referral there might help with management. My own experience of one has been so positive. Hope things ease a little, or better still a lot, very soon

My sympathies wildrose,I also have various conditions including RA,I use Salonpas pain patches on my swollen hands along knuckles etc when required,I find they help enormously,I also use flexall 474,rubbing it into my knees,shoulders etc and find it really helps with pain ,stiffness and swelling,feel free to pm me if you want.

Re bone broth/chicken stock or whatever you call it
It occurred to me as I was reading the DT article that a pressure cooker would have solved the problem of a 24/7 stockpot!!
I use mine at least once a week, either for a chicken carcass, or I buy chicken legs quite cheaply and make a good strong stick from them. Must try a marrow bone sometime. Has to be cheaper than the pods although I can see their use if you are out at work.

I do hope you can find some relief for the pain you are in,*wildrose*. I have had OA for many years but in nowhere near as much pain as you are.

Someone on here mentioned powdered collagen so I bought some in tablet form. I've only just started taking it so it's too early to tell but I'll give anything a go!

I make chicken stock using a pressure cooker as well. I agree with bags and Daphne that the smell is far from vile. Quite comforting, in fact.

Also agree about Tramadol. I was once prescribed it for sciatica and had to stop taking it almost immediately as it knocked me out so much I couldn't function.

In the NE a pan of broth is standard fare for winter. DH popped into the butcher for a ham shank. It's been in the slow cooker and I adapt Jamie Oliver's recipe with advice from locals.

have you tried one of those wheat packs that you pop in the microwave, I find they help with my osteoarthtitis pain, depending on mobility a hot bath helps me too. Mind you I'm still managing on intermittent co-codamol use so it sounds like I'm still at the start of my arthritis journey

Wheat bags are wonderful. I wouldn't be without mine.

I have Fibro, or rather it has me. I also have arthritis and had a spinal fusion and spondilitis.

The pain and limitations are just horrendous!!!!!

I don't take meds. as they don't help.

I am about to try hypobaric treatment...yes the sort of oxygen treatment they give to deep sea divers who get the bends. Not much bend in me it must be said.

There are centres doing this for people with MS/Fibro etc all over the country and although it is private, it is not that expensive. My biggest expense will be getting there.

It is not painful, or intrusive, more like sitting in the cinema with a mask on breathing pure oxygen. It heals nerve ends and helps with pain apparently.

I shall be giving it a go and will report back.

I think Michael Jackson used pure oxygen treatments..what can possibly go wrong, OK his face fell off and he got accused of all sorts ..........but for me crying in pain and almost housebound it has to be worth a try at least.

My mother used to bang on about Calves Foot Jelly. I think it was some sort of Victorian cure-all.

Chicken soup is Jewish penicillin so nothing new.

Maybe I should just up my intake of Bovril.

Wildrose I am sorry for how uncomfortable and in pain you are. I am similar but probably not as bad with Lupus and OA. My hands wake me up in the night and sometimes other joints (Lupus likes flitting about). I found with my mother who had RA and with a number of patents that I nursed that if I could persuade them to take their painkillers a good half hour before they get up they gained some benefit from this- but you may already do this I expect. I did find though that people try and struggle without their pain control thinking this is a good thing but it isn't. I don't expect that is you is it?
Anyway I hope you are going to have a reasonsble day today and something nice happens to take your mind of it. Best wishes.

Good morning Wildrose I to have RA in my body and OA in my hands have had both since I was 37... 20years now so I know the pain and misery it has on our bodies.
At first it was trail and error with different meds all causing problems with my stomach ect but eventually after about 7 years was prescribed Methatrexa and I've never looked back I have gone from being bedridden to being able to do most things but the past damage has left me with horrible unsightly hands and non flexible wrists which I am very conscience of.

I count myself very lucky indeed and have made peace with my life long "friend" RA that way we live together in harmony I have a wonderful Rhuematogist and GP so that's very important, you might feel alone in your pain and frustration but you are not and it's always good to talk and share our experiences.
I hope I have helped you Wildrose