how oa affects you

elaine1033

would love 2 hear how oa affects ppl +were they ave it

bailey27

Hi
I havent officially got OA, but I have got wear and tear and need a partial knee replacement if that counts! lol
ooh and Left knee!

smillajasperson

Hi Elaine
I have OA in the knees and lower lumbar region of my back following an accident 18 yrs ago. I've had problems ever since the fall and have seen a chiropractor for the past 12 yrs. I did know my torn cruciate ligaments in both knees (which mean I limp if I walk too far and my knees are unstable) and that the damage to my spine could lead to arthritis much later in life, but didn't realise how disabling it would be before I was an 'old woman' - I'm 49 and have spent most of time since my accident in cronic pain! I was recently diagnosed with OA by xray and am waiting for an MRI scan as I may have disc damage too. I have everyday pain on a scale of 1-10 at 2-3/10 when fairly inactive - this increases to 7-8/10 by the end of a normal working day. I can usually cope on these 'good' days with paracetamol/ibuprofen combined, hot baths straight after work, hot water bottles, sometimes a bag of peas instead of heat and if I have a good nights sleep (very rare!) I can be back to my 'normal' self by the following morning. However at the other end of the scale I can have extremely bad spells when I end up bedridden for a week or 2, screaming in pain with over a 100 spasms in my back a day - and no medication I have been prescribed can touch the pain - even morphine patches did nothing but make me violently sick! During these times I just have to wait until I gradually get better - last year it took me 4 months to be able to walk without severe pain and unaided by a walking stick. I've just had another spell lasting 6 weeks and I am now 90% better. I can suffer everything between these 2 extremes too. I can be fine one day and have 'put my back out' when I get up the next. It can be totally unpredictable or I can feel off colour a few days before another bad spell so sometimes I do get warning signs. I don't sleep well - sometimes getting up 5/6 times a night. I get very tired and now I only work part-time so I can pace myself in the hopes of avoiding too much strain. Exercise is not easy but I try to walk and swim when at my best and find toning tables are beneficial for trying to keep me supple - though I've not managed to attend regularly at all this year. I'm also trying to lose weight as I believe even if I was a stone lighter it would help matters.
Smillajasperson

elaine1033

[quote="smillajasperson"
it must be hard for you .i ave good days and bad days i was beginning to think i was imaginein the pain as some days i am fine i feel if i cant work again then everything will go down hill,i go 2 physio on friday for first time. :? ave heard it can be painfull gettin physio?i am hopein it will help my sacatica not sure if it helps oa?

nick55

I have managed my OA for the past few years now, but recently, i have been walking with a painful limp, more especially when I get up each morning. and it is very painful. my right hip and knee are bad, more my hip, but I am very thankful most of the big jobs are done around the house and garden, so at least i can get prepared for winter.
last years was bad, very nasty at times, the house is cold, save for the odd room. I ripped my oil central heating out as it was becoming unviable, and have electric heaters in each room, which although saves me a lot f money now, believe it or not, it is harder to keep a warm house. out of one room into a cold room, or hall.
I am trying not tk take tramadol, and use them as a reserve, but driving is often the worst time when the joints are locked into a fixed position. long journeys are hard sometimes.
I am learning to live with the condition, and to acceot it at as deep level as i am able to, this takes out worry and frustration . my fortune is having money to live on and not having to work, and most of my time is alone, which is great for me. it is nice to choose ones company I think.

I am not anxious about surgery, have thought of minor things they can do, but would much prefer to manage things my own way, physio has stopped now, it helped at first, but in the end one has to face up to nature I think, and stop chasing down cul de sacs, once they are recognized.
I do believe there is a deep spiritual aspect to all illness so long as we recognize and accept this. I won't go into it here, but am sure it exists, and it s for each of us to find for ourselves. for me it is the acceptance of pain and now it seems less mobility. hobbling around the house is annoying, but who cares. it may clear up in a few days time maybe another short walk, again if we are accepting of it that for me is at least half the battle.
I question if I am being lazy, not getting exercise, but can find no fault here. so, exercise is vital but not always a panacea, I think one must use ones limbs even during a flare up, but again it is the amount and quality we should be looking for. vital to keep the limbs mobile, always.

best wishes,
Nick

frogmorton

Yes Nick is right - the range of movement exercises on this site - they should be done whenever you can!
You take care
Toni x

valval

hi only been told in last coup;e of months its oa untill then wear and tear lol. hands and feet bad, right lower back.also last couple of weeks kneck playing up(could be from a fall) tend to drop things and trip as when back playing up drag foot a bit(dont always notice) been getting quite a few flare ups so got naproxan and stomache protector. also this last week had to get doc to give some pain killers as could not sleep with pain in feet and back hoping things will settle back down as working is getting harder and harder . so fingers crossed things settle down soon getting bit fed up with it now

sharmaine

elaine1033 wrote:

would love 2 hear how oa affects ppl +were they ave it

I have OA in both knees the left knee is very bad; it has taken up residence in my hands (not as bad as my knees) and in my right shoulder. I use a walking stick to get about in and outside the house (up and down the stairs). I'm on lots of meds for the pain and swelling. I've been told I need 2 total knee replacements by the specialist. I need help putting my socks and shoes on.

Bending is a real problem for me ..I can get down on the floor but need help getting up! So I avoid doing that. If I go out I have to ensure I take frequent rests. I can't even walk into the village now (about 10 mins from my house). I resigned from my full-time job last year because I couldn't cope with driving into the city; walking up 2 flights of stairs - I was a Librarian which meant being on my feet a great deal.

What about you?

Sharmaine

nick55

use a walking pole, !!!!
started using mine again, this morning, had a walk along the country paths, i am sure it is a great help,

Nick

sharmaine wrote:

elaine1033 wrote:

would love 2 hear how oa affects ppl +were they ave it

I have OA in both knees the left knee is very bad; it has taken up residence in my hands (not as bad as my knees) and in my right shoulder. I use a walking stick to get about in and outside the house (up and down the stairs). I'm on lots of meds for the pain and swelling. I've been told I need 2 total knee replacements by the specialist. I need help putting my socks and shoes on.

Bending is a real problem for me ..I can get down on the floor but need help getting up! So I avoid doing that. If I go out I have to ensure I take frequent rests. I can't even walk into the village now (about 10 mins from my house). I resigned from my full-time job last year because I couldn't cope with driving into the city; walking up 2 flights of stairs - I was a Librarian which meant being on my feet a great deal.

What about you?

Sharmaine

skezier

Hi Elaine,

Physio can help some people quite a lot but moving things really does help to keep it moving. Sciatica is horrible and maybe you would be better going to the pain clinic than physio?

Your original question is hard to answer now a days. I was originally told I had oa in my knees when I was 15-16. I don't actually remember not having it now a days. My bones welcomed oa and I soon had it in my feet, ankles and spine, complicated by a big injury so I was medically discharged at 28 and became self employed. I then made a choice and now I have no choice but to keep working. Sometimes I think it did me a favour and on a bad day I fall apart not knowing what I can do about it all.

For me I think I cope by being in denial actually......... Its not necessarily a good idea but it works for me. I am now in denial for another kind as well but its easier now cus they have got me medication fairly well sorted and with the wonderful joint jabs as well its not as bad as I used to worry it would be. Just now and then I lose the plot a bit and panic over my future, especially when I first came here, but my normal 'bloody mindedness' is never too far away. I do a lot of visualization, relaxation coping things and I think we all have our own ways of coping maybe. Oh and they have also given me quite a bit of surgery and may still again, I hope. Take care Cris

woodbon

OA in my spine makes it hard to walk very far, and also makes me feel a bit unsteady in crowds. I can no longer bend over very far and as it keeps me awake at night, I feel tired during the day. I also had to accept medical retirement from my job as a Care Assistant. Thats about it - Love Sue

terryd

Hi
I have OA in both knees confirmed by X-ray. Right knee had a part replacement.
Elbows, wrists, fingers, ankles and toes all join in when they feel like it but not all at once thankfully.

I had to give up running and the gym.
I can still play guitar just, but not as much as I would like, about three times a week.

I have a sit down job, repairing electronic circuit boards, so am still working.
I find I need to move from sitting every 30 mins so I don’t get stiff.

Try and have a short walk at lunch time about 15 mins.
And use a bike at home four times a week 20 mins
Can’t stand for long, and need a stick to get down stairs
Weights, at home, help with the upper body, try and do them four times a week as well.

Having to plan everything, meds, sit down breaks and not being able just go is the most annoying.

Bedroom actives have suffered as well, more planning there.

I am new to OA and still trying to workout the balance between meds, exercise and rest, sometimes I get it right but it hurts when I don’t. When do you know you are overdoing things?

My family is very supportive, except my 3 year old grandson who likes to beat me up just for fun, gets it off the telly I think

Best wishes,
Terry

elaine1033

thanks everyone for replying. today was a good day so far ,but my hips r feeling stiff and sore at mo.if u just pushed urself everyday and did everything u did b4 u had oa .i wonder what would happen ?make u worse or keep u mobile> :idea:

valval

elaine1033 wrote:

thanks everyone for replying. today was a good day so far ,but my hips r feeling stiff and sore at mo.if u just pushed urself everyday and did everything u did b4 u had oa .i wonder what would happen ?make u worse or keep u mobile> :idea:

good question think would lead to flare up but not sure just know when do to much (which seem to manage quite often) end up with one so try to keep mobile while knowing limits just push them from time to time

alicea

Hi I have OA, lately it seems in most of my joints, it started in my hip which was about 16 year ago , I had it replaced 3 years ago approx which left me 1 inch shorter on one side, that gave me a lot of problems in my back and so i thought other hip , it turned out to be my knees I had one replaced last year and to be honest i have gone down hill ever since .It seems to have gone mad everwhere . My other knee my back , neck, shoulders, feet, hands and my throat , I did'nt know you could have it in your voice box , I read a post from Colin he has it but not heard of many more .If there is someone out there i would love to hear from you I find it hard to coupe with .
I am having a scan next week to confirm it. I have seen the ENT doctor and had a camera down he thinks that is what it is but i need a scan to confirm it he says he will inject directly into it if it is and that fightens me just because it is something I havent had before i surpose.
I must admit i have been really miserable this year and losing my voice as just finished me off. I have pain in my neck and ears all the time plus the pain in the rest of my body . Well that was a long moan was'nt it you have helped me get it off my chest . Hope you are feeling well today and not in to much pain ............. sandra

elaine1033

off 2 physio at 3 today first time ,dont no what 2 expect will it be sore or relaxing?

maz6850

elaine1033 wrote:

would love 2 hear how oa affects ppl +were they ave it

As a teacher 3 yrs ago i was going to school with walking sticks and Fentanyl Morphine patches .... usually throwing up if i did not snack ... broken painful sleep, tearful , feeling that peeps do not understand what sort of pain I was feeling. O/A in the hips does not give u any relief even patches tramadol and zopiclone at bedtime don`t have much effect ... I have prolapse discs and believed they were getting worse as going to bed for a rest only found that the pelvic floor just gave me tremondous pain down the long bone to the knees, and got no relief lying on back or sides...so had a shock in 2007 when diagnosed OA and needed new left hip; this was followed 12mths later by having the right hip followed 12 mths later by having the right shoulder filed and vacced ..SOOOOOO having had 3 sockets sorted think I might advertise myself as a recycled Pool Table...hmmm think I need a few more socket pockets ...P.S. now59 and the last 2 yrs dramatically changed my life... got no money got no job.. got ill health retirement in process ...But I do thank my God its just mechanical and with some tablets when in flare up and a good squirt of WD40 in the morning I can keep smiling .... Hope all goes well with you xx

dean76

Im a teacher too, at 32 with O.A in both feet and left hand who walks with a stick. I personally find walking up and down the stairs at lesson change overs with the hussle and bussle of pupil movement; aswell as trying to open heavy doors in the corridor the hardest part.

At home I am fine because I dont feel rushed to keep moving faster so I dont cause a hold up on the staircase or have someone stand on my foot for a joke.

Dean76

elaine1033

physio was great used a tens machine on my back.i ave also hurt my L4 in my back from the fall i had at work.was quite stiff down back this morn but hopin after a few visits 2 physio i will start 2 feel better,dont think physio can help oa just give a few exercises 2 do 2 keep flexible

denpen

Hi
I have had "wear & tear" this being doctors talk. I didnt know till this year that this is OA. for 16 years in my lower spine, then in my neck for years, now in both hips, pubis bone, jaw and shoulder, Iam getting a hip replacement in a few weeks "hopefully". thats me this week who knows what next week will bring!!!
Denise