Arthritis: Feeling really miserable

I've had OA for years. Now a proud owner of x2 new Hips and x1 knee (so far) I still have trouble with my hands. But no painkillers/drugs work.

The best thing I did and still do is go to the gym. I don't overdo the Cardio but use the weighted machines, to keep the muscles around my joints flexible.
You also need to keep your weight down.

It's horrible, we just need a big jump in successful Research. There are millions of suffering folk, nothing has happened to have any major impact for years.

Squats? I wish 😆

He did say I should try to do squats ( which is an exercise I struggle with). My friend who can’t have a TKR because of other health issues says her physio gives her exercises that strengthen her thigh muscles, so I’m going to try to do the same.

Well, I feel like a new person today after seeing my osteopath. Over a period of time I’d been moving less and less; stopped doing my exercises because they didn’t seem to be helping and I thought maybe rest and sleep would be the answer. I feel as if my joints had rusted up and he’d put WD40 ( other lubricants are available !) on them. This is what happened when I saw him years ago, too. He seemed to work on the muscles around the knees and my back, easing them and releasing the tension. Even my mind feels clearer. I’m going to see him every couple of weeks for a while. I wish I’d continued to see him after he’d helped me years ago but I did join a gym soon after that and that had helped me enormously.

Thank you so much for your replies, sorry to hear so many people in the same boat

I have scoliosis and osteoarthritis.
I was on on naproxen for years but GP took me off it recently as indigestion is getting worse, I'm already on stomach protector.

Anyway yesterday I only took Paracetamol, had an early night, got up at 7am to see DH off to work and have after sensible breakfast, have been cleaning. Just gonna mop floors, then have a shower, then I'll probably rest for a while

I sometimes think the painkillers make me feel lethargic and they don't really kill the pain.
I do need to lose weight, working on that.

So thank you again, I definitely feel more positive today ☺️

I was told that my back pain was osteo arthritis, but I didn't quite believe it. After about five years I finally persuaded the doctor to investigate it further and so had x-rays and a dexa scan. The results show that I have crumbling vertebrae and collapsing discs and scoliosis.
But whatever the cause, the pain is very difficult to live with, day after day. So I sympathise with all of you.
If you ever find some marvellous new pain reliever I would be delighted to hear about it.

teabagwoman

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.

Such sensible advice. I recently went to an Escape Pain clinic at my local hospital. I have extensive osteo-arthritis but my knees are by far the worst affected. The physios there stressed how important pacing is in the management of arthritis. I am having to learn that this is how things are going to be for me now and it isn't any good wasting energy on frustration and stress. Forcing ourselves to keep going is counter-productive.

NotSpaghetti

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.

I did see a consultant Rheumatologist, was very disappointed, he simply told me in order to manage pain I need firstly to accept I will live in pain, then suggested I start meditation and yoga.

Our pain clinic at local hospital are less than useless, after a 12 month wait, I received two phone calls, advice on exercise and my pain patches removed!

I find arthritis so frustrating. It wasn't many years ago I was able to hike in the hills for a few hours but now I make myself walk for an hour or so but it can be painful.
My physio has told me I still have a little space between my hip bones so not bone on bone just yet but can deteriorate quickly.
I know it is getting worse.

I’m loathe to see a doctor because when I was really bad years ago they were useless. It was an osteopath that helped me. When I finally got to see a consultant after months of struggling to walk, when I mentioned that I’d seen an osteopath he got up, left the room and didn’t return. When the arthritis in my hand first got bad I went on a one day course at the hospital but all they did was show me how to adapt my life. I don’t actually know how to make an appointment to see a doctor these days. I don’t think you can even go to a surgery to make one.

Mine is worst when I'm heavy.
🙄

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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’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.

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

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.

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.

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.