Arthritis: Feeling really miserable

Oh to add its not just my joints, all my bones ache and I'm constantly tired. GP took bloods and nothing worrying showed up

I’ve just been to see an osteopath about my arthritis and am feeling a lot better. I, too, can’t walk my dog any more. I find that I just make excuses to not do things because it depresses me finding that I can’t do things that I used to. I think a lot of my tiredness is motivational. I think I was doing less and less and my body was seizing up a bit. Have you thought about signing up for Versus Arthritis and phoning them? I’m considering doing it.

You have my complete and utmost empathy!

I have widespread osteo-arthritis.

It’s blooming awful, pain, stiffness and fatigue!

I have regular body massages, heat (hot tubs, steam rooms) and physio. Morning and evening stretches and short walks. It all helps temporarily!

I’m 66 and having X rays next month to check the state of my knees and hips.

I’ve tried acupuncture, chiropractor and osteopath, goodness knows how many different pain killers.

I’ve still not found anything which works long term!

What a shame Ziggy. I know only too well that feeling of looking forward to something and ending up with another scenario.

Oh I'll look into that, thank you

Yes, I've tried all sorts. We were away visiting family last week and I had the most amazing time but probably walked too much. My cousin is a year older than me and she's still running marathons lol

I did say on another thread that the trouble with arthritis is that resting and sleeping a lot just seems to make it worse. I keep thinking that if I have a duvet day I’ll feel better for it but I don’t. I think a couple of weeks lying on a Mediterranean beach would help but that’s not going to happen.I’m going to try the gym again. I’m still a member but don’t go cause I’m scared of catching covid. A friend of mine needs a new knee but can’t have an operation because of other health problems and her surgery sends her for physio and also to an arthritis gym ( although I don’t know what that is).

I follow Versus Arthritis on Facebook.

Good luck to us all!! Do share if you find anything fabulous that works!

🤗🤗

It is B awful. I can’t suggest any fixes other than pacing yourself very carefully. For me it’s 20 minutes on my feet and then 20 minutes sat down. It can be very frustrating but it keeps me going and jobs get done eventually.

I have osteo arthritis and I feel fatigued alot. I have found sitting and laying about worse.
I went to my nearest town for just over a hour and after getting out if the car I walked, I did feel slightly better.
I have to admit I do get depressed sometimes but know it will pass. I do feel better when active.
I hope things get better for you soon. I had high expectations of my retirement, and as much as I love it, I find it has not turned out as expected, I feel better now I have learnt to go with the flow.

VoltarolSR is my miracle tablet. My GP won’t prescribe it for me due to my asthma. So I buy it when I go to Spain. The tablet hasn’t caused any exacerbation of my Asthma.

Btw I only take one, when my knees really play up

I’ve had two knees replaced and one hip. Now have arthritis in my shoulders and feet and hands.
It does feel a bit better when the weather is dry and warm. I just try to keep moving although it is tempting to sit down. However that just makes me feel stiff. I try not to take painkillers unless it is really bad and even then they only take the edge off.

The VersusArthritis website has some useful exercises, some of which are quite gentle. Or a physiotherapist could suggest some exercises for you which may help?
I have osteoarthritis and can do most things if I pace myself, although at the moment I can’t get onto my knees or dig the garden. (I had both hips replaced in the last 18 months so I can’t dig yet) I do exercises for my hips, back and ankles which help to keep me moving.
ziggy has your doctor suggested surgery on your hips or knees?

I too have both hips replaced and multi joint O/A I try to carry on as much as normal as I can, I could lay down often but instead I go for a walk or find a job around the house to do. The more I sit the stiffer I become, I get up early and by the time I’ve showered and dressed my joints are less stiff and as long as I keep moving throughout the day I manage most things it’s the sitting still that brings on the stiffness. The pain is always there sometimes worse I try to ignore it or resort to meds on a really bad day.g

Do you have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis? My mum has the latter and was diagnosed in her late 40s and now in her 80s. She swore by swimming first thing every day. She only stopped due to covid. She has regular biologics which have made a huge difference to pain levels alongside painkillers.

Ziggy62
My SIL is prescribed pain relief patches for her arthritis and they seem to work very well for her. Sorry I don’t know what they are called but it might be worth you asking your GP.

crazyH

VoltarolSR is my miracle tablet. My GP won’t prescribe it for me due to my asthma. So I buy it when I go to Spain. The tablet hasn’t caused any exacerbation of my Asthma.

Yes, it's wonderful and Naproxen is good, but I'm not allowed either by the GP. ☹

It's miserable, but even more miserable is finding no-one at the surgery listens and you don't get a proper diagnosis. It may not be osteo-arthritis which is often dismissed by doctors as something you have to put up with as you get older, it could be osteoporosis, osteopenia, polymyalgia rheumatica etc.

Eat oily fish two or three times a week.
Sorted out my DH and it helps me.
In real life, we tell people this and they take no notice.

You sound as if you might really want to know.

I am not going to guarantee it works for everyone.

Voltarol sr contains Diclofenac. I was on it for years before my hip replacement, brilliant for bone pain but it does damage your stomach causing terrible indigestion and reflux. Then you need Omneprazole, which isn’t good for your bone density, hence dr’s here are very reluctant to prescribe it and taken with naproxen, ibuprofen or other NSAIDs, exacerbates the stomach issues. I can’t take any NSAIDs anymore because of the diclofenac damage. Something to be aware of.

I’ve had osteoarthritis for over 25 years, osteoporosis for ten plus and rheumatoid arthritis for about fifteen years.

Biologics work well for RA but can cause severe side effects too.

Magnesium bath salts help with sleep and pacing yourself is really helpful. Don’t overdo things and save energy for your favourite activities. Eating a good diet with lots of veggies and protein is good and keeping your weight down will help too.

My right leg was amputated when I was 16, which caused gait issues, leading to joint damage and osteoarthritis, an infection following a hip replacement started the rheumatoid and the drugs helped to bring on osteoporosis.

I am mobile and garden etc but I have to keep very fit from exercising and eating well. I rest every twenty minutes or so and pace myself.

I’m not trying to worry anyone but just wanted to say that drugs, no matter how effective, can have consequences down the line, hence why dr’s don’t like to prescribe them. We are adults, and make our own choices but they may not be apparent for many years.

Good luck everyone, it’s a horrible disease and we all need as much information and help as we can get.

I had to take some shoes back to a shop last week and was scared to walk from the car to the shop and back. I tried to explain to the osteopath how I feel but he didn’t understand what I was trying to explain. I don’t really know myself. I really need some x rays so I can see what’s going on.

I'm not sure why so many of you aren't getting help via a hospital clinic?
I have been seen pretty regularly.

I'd go back to my GP and keep repeating that you need specialist support. If they don't help you I'd go away and research a specialist team according to what you think you need so that next time you can tell your GP that you believe they could help you. If they say no, ask where the GP thinks the referral should go?

I hate taking drugs but did take some over a number of months when I was at my worst and they were amazing! Game changing actually.

Good luck.

Mine is worst when I'm heavy.
🙄