Help us improve our website, chatbot and online community
We’d love your help to improve our digital services. It’s important to us that our website, chatbot and online community continue to support and provide information people with arthritis in the right way. We’re excited to be doing research to understand more about what’s working for you and what’s not so we can continue to improve what we’re doing.
You don’t need to be familiar with our digital services or a digital native to take part. The research will take one hour and will be run by a research consultancy SnapOut. Simply fill in the survey below to get involved. Together, we can continue to do more for people living with arthritis.
Fill in this survey to take part
We’d love your help to improve our digital services. It’s important to us that our website, chatbot and online community continue to support and provide information people with arthritis in the right way. We’re excited to be doing research to understand more about what’s working for you and what’s not so we can continue to improve what we’re doing.
You don’t need to be familiar with our digital services or a digital native to take part. The research will take one hour and will be run by a research consultancy SnapOut. Simply fill in the survey below to get involved. Together, we can continue to do more for people living with arthritis.
Fill in this survey to take part
Best Of
Re: Anyone with IA & suspected lung disease?
How I feel for you. RA and Methotrexate are notorious for lung problems. I have Asthma and Bronchiectasis, but still take low dose MTX. Have you ever visited the following website?https://www.nras.org.uk/the-effects-of-ra-on-the-lungs
Packed with RA info and is very helpful. If you are on facebook, you are welcome to join our group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1441690062727293 Crazy Arthritic Creakies. It's for all with any type of arthritis, but the majority of us have RA and lung problems. Please join us if you can. 😊
Re: Hello everyone
Wow! @Achy_g
Go you!!!! Imagine living so off grid!! I love it and i though we were being adventurous buying a motorhome for COVID-safe holidays!!! I envy your travels and freedom.
I have cervical spond too and had back surgery many years ago then developed inflammatory arthritis too so you have my sympathy. I am vegan too, but take a vegan multivitamin every day it contains vit D which isn't always vegan. Health has to come first though in this case I am with Lilymary. We just don't get enough daylight in the UK
Do join in and do hang around sounds like you have a good attitude and might be what we all need at times 🙂
Re: Advice needed, feeling very low
Hi Ashley, I’m so sorry to hear you are struggling with so much pain. That does sound miserable for you, and I can see why it’s got you so low. All this isn’t helped by the NHS going into meltdown right now. Have you been referred to a pain clinic? It would worth contacting your GP for this, and they may be able to do it with just a telephone consultation. The pain clinic can give you support and strategies to help you manage your pain.
I would also really recommend you ring the Versus Arthritis helpline, sometimes you need someone who understands to talk to about where you are in your struggle.
Do have a look at the exercises on this site, designed for specific conditions. Some may not work for you or be too much, but just do what little you can and build it up very slowly. It’s important to keep your body mobile to help manage arthritis, and many people say this really reduces their symptoms.
Distraction is also a helpful way to get through the day, lose yourself in something that absorbs you mentally, be it something gently active, or just watching a really good box set. It helps you take your mind off the pain, and if it’s something gently active, it can even count as your daily exercise 🙂
Hope this helps, sending you a virtual hug ((()))
Lilymary
1
Re: Total Reverse Shoulder Replacement from a Rheumatoid’s Viewpoint
Hi Barbara, lovely to hear from you again! Sorry you're having eye problems and thank you for your lovely compliments. I'm so glad site-mum-Toni is keeping you updated. 😍
Re: Val's Cafe
Evening all..
Toni I am sorry I forgot to thank you yesterday for Lindas post...she writes brilliantly and I am sure it will help people facing the same..she is one strong lady..I must pop in lwa and have a look at the photos she has posted
I am glad you contacted Bill and passed on our good wishes, I didn't have a drink but lit a candle..x
Lucy is amazing ..can't believe how well she has done with her new shoulder.. another strong lady..and her mum of course..xx
Carol I am sure you will soon get used to the hearing aid..xit will be lovely to welcome Cookie when you come home.. if she is anything like the 2 we adopted quite a few years ago ..she will hide for a few days..but what a good home she is going to..I adore the photo of Graycie..a proper cheeky face..xx
Joan yes we have many memories here..our youngest son was just 3 months old and our eldest was 3..but the house was a struggle.. it was in such a state..we put a new light up and the ceiling came in🙄😅..amongst other things..but so many happy memories 🙂
Kath you put everything into the poem..I too wish they would all go away and leave you alone ..xx
Love to everyone
Xxxxxxx
Re: Readers Say Hi
Hello @DenialSubroutine and a warm welcome to the online community,
You’re in a great deal of pain and have been diagnosed with severe loss of cartilage in your knee - I can understand how shocked and upset this is making you feel. Most of us on this forum have experienced that same feeling when we’ve been given our diagnosis, and it takes some getting used to, but you will get used to it and things will be ok again. I am sure other members on the forum will be able to tell you how they cope and offer some suggestions for self help - we’re a very supportive group and have lots of good ideas.
Do make sure you talk to your doctor and your orthopaedic consultant - they should be able to start you on the proper course of treatment that will help you. PRP has only just started being used in some NHS hospitals here - are you writing from the UK or from somewhere that uses it more regularly? It is available privately and evidence has shown that it can help with the pain. There are all sorts of other treatments available though, and that’s why it’s important to discuss your treatment with professionals.
Meanwhile, you might like to have a look at the Versus Arthritis page on osteoarthritis of the knee - at the end it suggests some ways that you can manage your pain:
Please keep in touch and let us know how you’re getting on, and if you’d like to talk to someone, you can always call the Helpline - they can’t give you medical advice but they offer a listening ear as well as information and advice:
Kindest wishes,
Anna : )
Anna
1
Re: Total Reverse Shoulder Replacement from a Rheumatoid’s Viewpoint
Hi Toni, perhaps you could say what it was Lucy wore afterwards, if there are any additions? The poncho, on loan from Crinkly1, is used instead of a dressing gown too. This morning I came downstairs first leaving Mr Legs to sleep on as I'm wearing the poor man out! 😉 I've learnt how to wriggle out of my sling by bending and hooking the shoulder strap on a door handle. I can then slide it off my shoulder, slip my good arm and hand through then pushing it downwards (one handed), I step out of it! I'm not advising anyone to try this at all, ever, Both my shoulders were wrecked a long time ago so I have become an expert and well practiced with the door handle!
With the poncho I have to resort to my faithful door handle again! I put the collar part on the handle and threaded the cape part so it was bunched up on said handle. Making sure the door was secure, I bent down and pushed my head through! I also put shoulder bags on the same way. Necessity is the mother of invention after all 😄
Anyway suffice to say I was as snug as a bug in a rug till Mr Legs got up and got me showered and dressed!
A flower for you I painted just before surgery!
Re: Secukinumab
Hi @Gubby
Secukinumab (trade name Cosentyx) is a type of biological therapy which interferes with the function of IL-17A proteins. This action modifies the immune activity and inflammation that cause the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.
You can read more about Secukinumab here on this page from our web site:
Best wishes
Brynmor
Brynmor
1