Troublesome mornings

I make chicken broth, never thought it smelt 'vile'!
Of course, if you have a product, ie concentrated broth, to advertise, it is a good selling line!

I expect your GP has conducted all the tests wildrose to come to the diagnosis that he has.
However, I would just like to say that a friend was crying with the pains she was experiencing, diagnosed as osteo-arthritis, sciatica, neck and shoulder problems and taking painkillers and anti-inflammatories. She could not sleep, could not walk or get in and out of the car.
After quite some time she was no better and the GP did further blood tests and she was diagnosed with Polymyalgia rheumatica. The treatment is with steroids which she was reluctant to take, however, she did feel much better so the dose was reduced. It returned so she was put on a higher dose again but now they have been stopped altogether and she is fine. She was also prescribed an exercise regime when she got better which she does religiously, physio exercises, swimming, some walking.

It's just a thought and this may not be the problem at all but worth enquiring of your GP perhaps.

Sorry to hear about all your pain, Wildrose, and lack of sleep makes it so much worse.
I agree with all the ideas above, plus things like making sure that the temperature in your bedroom is comfortable right through the night, and you have comfortable bedclothes, not too light or too heavy for the temperature.
I've been placing a hotwater bottle under my left hip lately, as I think it helps with restless leg.

wildrose I feel for you as my DiL has Fibromyalgia & really suffers (she is only 41) particularly in cold/wet weather, on lots of different pain medication.

I have Periferal Neuralgia (feet & fingers, pins & needles, numbness), I take Pregabalin as I cannot take Amyltriptalene as I have Epilepsy & it reduces the effectiveness of my medication, tried Gabapentine but not too successful, Pregabalin helps & has saved need for nerve to be moved in left elbow (had right one done).

Cannot take Tramadol - I'm "away with the fairies" - not good for trying to have a normal life. I do hope you find some relief from your pain as it's so draining to be constantly in pain

I too empathise with you Wildrose, I had knee replacement 4 years a go which now gets very stiff and painful. That and the hip pain often wake me in the night I can not take anti-inflammatories as they caused an abscess on the bowel which then perforated causing its own problems. Tramadol makes me sick so that's out too.
I do however get Volrarol Emuulgel from my GP use it twice a day and find it helps. I also swim 2-3 a week, yes I am slow but beats the pain of walking.
For my hands I have found knitting helps only knit plain get to end of the ball take it out and start again.

I too suffer with very painful hands and for the last 5 years have worn fingerless knitted gloves all the time, even in bed. The pain is still there but nothing as severe as when I have to remove them. I buy several pairs at a time usually through ebay or sometimes when available at a poundshop. Hope this helps you.

Chrishappy like me you say you have made your illness your friend I believe that is the best way to deal with it and talking and sharing our experiences also helps so much.

Hi wildrose, I know just how you feel, I have OA, FIBRO and a few other conditions. Including a sacral nerve implant. For a disabled bowel and I've got 2 new knees. I find doing stretches before I get out of bed helps and paceing myself throughout the day.Pain has become my normality and I've had to make friends with it and accept its going nowhere!!! So I take the painkillers ( Zapain) and I do the exercises, I swim once a week and at the moment I'm having physio and acupuncture.Tramadol I couldn't tolerate they made me itchy and tired.If you take amyltriptyline make sure you don't take it too late.Around 7 pm is the best time as it avoids the morning lethargy. Try and take each day as it comes

wildrose, have you ever tried a wax bath for your hands? I know it can be used with osteoarthritis, but I'm not sure about rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia, you'd be best to check with your consultant/GP/physiotherapist if that treatment is contraindicated for those conditions.

I've used one many times, makes my hands feel more comfortable and my joints all feel more 'free-flowing' afterwards too.

www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/complementary-and-alternative-medicines/complementary-therapies/wax-bath-therapy.aspx

Physiotherapists do this, and some beauticians (it's good for the skin too). I bought my own machine, if you google for them there are some very expensive machines out there (marketed as medical treatments) but the cheaper beauty-oriented machines do the job just as well for a fraction of the price (I think I paid £40 for it some years ago). It can be used daily, you can't overdose!

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!