Best Of

Pets' Corner

As many of us use a photo of our pet as our account photo I thought that it may be a nice idea of setting up a Pets' Corner to put larger photos up, photos of them doing something daft, accounts of things that they do, how they support us and so forth. Vixen is the third cat that I have had since leaving the RAF in 1988. My first was called Arnie but he disappeared when my ex-wife moved in with me, I found him elsewhere in the village and brought him home several times but on each occasion he legged it again, if only I had known then what I was later to discover I would have legged it with him! Fluffy was my next cat and she passed away 4 years ago which drastically affected me, more so than my parents passing. I went spiralling downwards until friends presented me with Vixen, initially I was told that she was a boy so I called her Vulcan, that was until I took her to the Vets for her first check up, on chatting to the Vet he announced that he was a she and it was the quickest gender realignment he had ever done! Living alone and virtually housebound (especially now), I would not be without her. I have the names of all 3 cats tattooed on my arm beneath a picture of a Sabre-toothed tiger.

Mike1

Re: Does anybody struggle with exercise?

@Jamielee I have OA in both of my feet and have had my big toe fusion in 2012 because of the pain and have OA in mind of my left foot since 2014, have had loads of steroid injections for pain which gives temporary pain relief and on daily painkillers.

I have sports massage once a month which helps abit and I am going to take up swimming as it's ment to be good if you have arthritis.

I hope you find some type of exsersice to relif your pain it's not easy living with pain.

Christian78

Re: Does anybody struggle with exercise?

I am beyond exercise due to being too crippled, physios have said they can do nothing for me, hydrotherapy not applicable either. Depressed when so much is made of the need to exercise without recognition that some of us simply cannot. My "exercise" consists of getting dressed - sometimes that is enough effort for hours; hobbling from the lounge to the kitchen to make a brew; feeding the cat; and generally doing what I need to do to survive as I live alone and only have a Home Help once a week. Promoting "exercise" all the time is depressing and could even be construed as being a form of discrimination to those of us who are unable, indeed Disability Rights UK in conjunction with Durham University have labelled this "ableism" and are to publish a letter in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Mike1

Re: Will new vaccine work as I take methotrexate to suppress my immune system?

Hi @Stephd

Welcome to the Online Community, it's great to have you join us.

To get straight to your question. We know the Pfizer vaccine is NOT live, which means it MAY be suitable for those of us on immune suppressant medications. Each of us needs to have a conversation with our health care teams to work out if it is suitable for each of us individually.

I would like to have concrete simple advice to give, sadly we are, each of us, unique in the number of conditions we have and how they present and the variety of medications we take and the dose of each that a simple answer would not work.

I can say that we are on the case and as we have any updates on this particular vaccine we will share it as clearly and simply as we can. As other vaccines are proved to be effective we will do the same with each of those too.

I'm looking forward to seeing you posting, offering support and companionship to fellow members as we wait for answers

Take care

Yvonne x

YvonneH

Re: Struggling at work

Hi @Username

Welcome from me too, you have come to the right place to share you story and get help and support while you decide what you need to do.

I think this is the link you need to help make the best decision

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/living-with-arthritis/work/

It includes getting assessments and help to complete your work and their is a link to the gov.uk sie for benefits. The 2 you would need to look at are Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payments (PIP). PIP is a benefit you can claim whilst in work.

Biologics can work really well but it's not guaranteed and it may be you would need a second biologic. Scroll down here to see about different biologic drugs

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/disease-modifying-anti-rheumatic-drugs-dmards/

Take care and keep posting

Yvonne x

Would you like me to change your username?

YvonneH

Re: Struggling at work

Hi and welcome @Username ,sorry you are suffering and you need to do whats best for you - if that be ESA then so be it - yes there are people worse off than you but that's a minority,many claim and are better off.

there's a link that may be of use

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/

or you could phone our helpline - 0800 5200 520

hope this helps

Re: OA in both my knees Plus plantar fasciitis in both feet

Hi @Virgo

Welcome to the Arthritis Community,so sorry that you are at your whits end with pain and OA in both knees and Planter Fasciitis it is a lot to bear as we can all say on this forum pain is no fun.

it doesn't help that you stand on your feet in your current job either.Has any one suggested Knee replacement surgery with you if as you say it is bone on bone it might be and option,also if your medication is not helping your pain I would suggest going back to the GP to have a review.

Meanwhile I have a few links that may help youhttps://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/managing-your-pain/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/media/21790/plantar-exercise-sheet.pdf

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/plantar-fasciitis/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/diet/#:~:text=Cut%20down%20on%20fat.%201%20full-fat%20dairy%20products.,its%20shelf%20life.%20They%20increase%20...%20More%20items%23:~:text=Cut%20down%20on%20fat.%201%20full-fat%20dairy%20products.,its%20shelf%20life.%20They%20increase%20...%20More%20items%23:~:text=Cut%20down%20on%20fat.%201%20full-fat%20dairy%20products.,its%20shelf%20life.%20They%20increase%20...%20More%20items%23:~:text=Cut%20down%20on%20fat.%201%20full-fat%20dairy%20products.,its%20shelf%20life.%20They%20increase%20...%20More%20items%23:~:text=Cut%20down%20on%20fat.%201%20full-fat%20dairy%20products.,its%20shelf%20life.%20They%20increase%20...%20More%20items

Hope these links help you to achieve your goals and help.Just chat to others as they may have answers as well.Our forums are full of friendly and understanding people,the most popular are Living with arthritis,chit chat and vals café.

Please let us know how you get on. If you want to speak to a person you can call our helpline on 0800 5200 520.

All the best Christine

Chris_R

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. 😊

kathleenT

Re: Anyone with IA & suspected lung disease?

Hi @MsP

You are in the right place. I have chronic lung problems too though I'm not sure it's my arthritis that caused it. Difficult to say as I am an ex smoker who gave up nearly 20 years ago now 😕 Lung problems for more than that but only diagnosed maybe 3 years ago.

I know that breathing is extremely likely to cause us to panic I am very capable of doing so myself, but I hope you aren't being dismissed as just anxious.

There are people here whose lungs are also affected, but I nip into the British Lung Foundation forum for information when I have lungie questions. I hope someone more use than me happens in soon.

Take care