Arthritis pain

Do be careful of ibuprophen . I had some tummy trouble and it was found that I had some problem which was well on the way to being an ulcer. I did not take more than one at a time and never lots in a day but that was the cause.

Sorry to hear that you’re having such a rough time Travelsafar. I have arthritis in my hips, knees, ankles and spine. I didn’t find walking at all helpful but the muscle strengthening exercises from the MSK physio and a Get Up and Go class have made a difference. Hope you find something that helps soon.

Farzanah
Totally agree use it or loose it
I found a Pilates class attended by folks with various issues and a really good teacher was fantastic. Unfortunately she moved to Spain and the only other one in the area is attended by folks who are lot younger

I sympathise travelsfar, the pain and disability caused by arthritis is very under acknowledged, and is a cinderella illness when it comes to research and effective treatments.

The only medical recommendations seem at present to be, to keep joints active and “oiled” and use pain relief (plus knee/hip surgery when appropriate). I take paracetamol and ibruprofen gel, can’t take oral ibruprofen, and occasional codeine/paracetamol, which works better but constipating!

I have osteoarthritis in most of my joints. I think however painful it is I try to keep active, and apart from “oiling” the joints it helps to improve muscle strength to support joints.
There are no magic, or evidence based cures, despite some alternative suggestions.

I think it’s really worth giving physio a go, and swimming also a great idea, and suitable gentle yoga. That’s what I’m going to try. Don’t give up! Lots of us in same boat.

Swears not shares

My sister in law shares by Pernaton
It helped when my knees ached after second new hip. Change of posture I guess
Mentioned it to physio who said from list of ingredients that it shouldn’t help but lots of her patients had told her how good it was

Hi .. I got a book from Amazon for Chair Yoga... I started gently and have added more exercises as the days went on. I have found the Yoga has definitely helped with my mindset and mood. I feel better to face the day even with the Arthritis has moved onto my neck. I can really recommend self help.

My arthritis has been really painful recently: hands, knees and now hips. However, when we had a rare day of warm weather with no rain I spent the whole day working on the garden pain free. If only I could move to a Mediterranean island! I haven’t been taking turmeric recently because taking it in milk pushes up my calorie intake but I remembered yesterday that it can be added to scrambled egg because that also means I’m taking it with fat, black pepper and heating it up. I think my sleeping position can make it worse.

Frightening, thinking about this stuff. Our stairs are very steep. Its worrying.

My sympathy for this pain. I have had both hips replaced and a knee. I too had back pain caused by my poor posture.
And yes it did help me, I still go to a Gym at least twice a week now I'm fixed, but you need to spend months getting to a good level.
When the Gyms were shut during Covid that's when my symptoms got much worse leading to Knee and Hip Replacement being done with 6 months of each other, it's when I stopped it imploded on me.
It's not the Cardio, it the strength building exercise around the joints that helped me.

I tried everything included paying for Steroid injections /acupuncture/ massage /creams /pills tho like you I can't take the super strength ones makes me so sick. Agree if you can swim that's good.

Has anyone actually told you what the problem is?
Really hope you find something that works for you.

Swimming - or gentle walking in a pool is easier than walking imo.

If acupuncture wasn't so expensive I would recommend that. I don't know if you have any accupuncture clinics nearby that might do reduced prices...

Imagine, it felt like 22 weeks 😆 I’m sorry it didn’t make any difference for you. Sounds like you are doing all that you can.
Like you, I walk daily. I also practice Chi Gung. I’ve had to give up dance and I am finding yoga difficult. So now thinking to try Pilates but they are so expensive. As they say, one step at a time …..

12 weeks not 22.🤭

I have done the course with Nuffield and after the 22 weeks I continued going to the gym.but in all honesty it didn't make any difference 😒
I will continue with my walks as I live near our local common and it does inspire me to get up and go. Always full of activities, tennis, bowls, skate park, playground and of course walkers and dog walker.
I usually end up having a conversation with someone whilst out and it is very enjoyable and makes me feel so much better mentally. I stagger home and collapse I to my armchair to recover!!!!

Siope, thank you for all the info. I just tried registering with Nuffield but sadly they emailed saying …”based on the responses to your Pre-Assessment Questionnaire, unfortunately the programme is not suitable for you at this time, and as a result we are unable to progress your application any further. Not sure what I did wrong! Such a shame, all I want to do is help manage the symptoms. The pain is insidious, each day a little bit more and with it, goes my confidence. I shall follow this thread with interest.

Yes, travelsafar, I do walk every day & find it's worse if I miss however, I do find it harder & harder to 'get going'. Also the distances I can manage have become shorter .
It takes more motivation to get going now, thank heavens for my little furry friend who's so happy to be out & about. He gives me the strength to carry on[happy].

I don't know if it the same everywhere but in Sussex, it was self-referral to MSK, as GPs were not allowed to refer to orthopaedics. Flipping useless. My medical records for back issues were not read by the physio and she just gave me a generic list of exercises. (Spine out of alignment). I was in agony after doing them, so stopped. Am now going to have to self-refer to an orthopaedic surgeon in the private sector. I can barely walk, can only stand for a few minutes, the vascular surgeon could not operate on my leg with pitting oedema as (a) he thought it was related to my back and (b) I could not lie flat on the operating couch!!! I do not know what to do about the constant pain. Some days I ache all over; other days not too bad. Signed on w ith new GP, in new town, whom I am seeing in two weeks. Digits crossed!

Are you having physio? If not, please press your GP to refer you. Also, can you ask about ultra-sound or x-ray guided cortisone injections? I know they have helped lots of people.

I have found aqua/water based exercise - aerobics and yoga - have helped enormously.

I also took a targeted ‘joint pain management’ course, a mix of exercise, advice on pain management, diet and peer support with the Nuffield Trust. They run them, free, at many of their gyms, although there are waiting lists. You self- refer or ask your GP to refer you. I thoroughly recommend it.

www.nuffieldhealth.com/about-us/our-impact/healthy-life/joint-pain-programme

I have also heard good things about this programme versusarthritis.org/research/research-achievements/escape-pain-exercise-to-reduce-the-pain-of-osteoarthritis/ which is delivered in a variety of local settings.

Acupuncture?

I fel your pain travels. I try to walk three or four days a week. I have two arthritic knees, GP says I have too large a range of movement to think about replacement yet. He just suggested taking ibuprofen and exercises, he also said he could refer me to physio which I declined.
I take 400mg ibuprofen at bedtime and try to manage throughout the day, I am finding that works pretty well.
I am currently sitting resting in the Yorkshire cafe at the Harrogate Spring flower show. DH is in the queue for coffee.
I hope you find relief soon.

Its rotten isn' t it and a downward spiral. Pain, worry, inactivity.

The ghastly weather doesn't help.

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I absolutely swear by Teatmint Udder Cream.

It was originally made for cows in Japan to ease teat problems but it works on humans too.

There's a strong pong of mint which last hours and you'd only need a bit of cream at a time.

My hubby rubs it on my back, hips, feet and neck and I do it for my hands/wrists, elbows, shoulders and knees.

No point in me exercising as I'm in constant 24/7/365 pain with the back/hips and Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis, and prescribed pain killers/arthritis easers do absolutely nothing for me at all even though the doctors insist they do!

I stick to the cream and Ibuprofen!