Hello all you fellow stiffies

babette · 12. Aug 2009, 11:44

Hi, I have been browsing this forum for some time now and thought it was time I joined in. My name is Barbara, I am 43 and live in Fife, Scotland in a wee cottage with my two sons (18 and 14) and my OH. I have recently been diagnosed with severe OA of my lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint. Both my GP and Rheumy say that this is very unusual for someone as young (ha ha!!!). Anyway it has caused me quite serious pain over the past year and a half but I seem to be having a wee holiday from the worst excesses of Arthur this past month; long may it last! Rheumy want to do an MRI scan of my whole back to check for further damage and this is going to require me to lie flat on my back and stock still for 10 - 15 mins (my idea of hell!!!) At the moment I am not on any meds apart from the odd diclofenac. I do regular yoga and stretching and this has helped enormously. In the words of the song " Keep on movin'....."

Babette x

vonski · 12. Aug 2009, 12:34

Hi Babette

Welcome to the forum, sure you will enjoy it. I too have oa, severe in ankles and feet for 23yrs and then back for 21yrs, knees too. Told I had the bones of a 90yr old about 20yrs ago but all my 90 + relatives are much more mobile than me

Looking at ra now too. I also do the stretches and used to enjoy Pilates but can't get onto floor at the minute, would do it again.

When you have your MRI ask if you can have a wedge or cushion under your knees it makes it a bit more comfy. Hope it doesn't show anything too nasty let us know how it goes.

Love
Vonski x

babette · 12. Aug 2009, 12:52

Hi Vonski,
Nice to meet you. Shall keep in mind the wedge for when I have MRI. Was wondering how to manage the discomfort, thought I might have to grit my teeth and bear it. Back lying really is a killer for me, at yoga class I'm the only one who relaxes in a seated position. Everyone looked at me very strangely the first time I did it!

Babette

vonski · 12. Aug 2009, 12:57

Hi Babette

Yep the MRI is a bit uncomfy but I think the wedge helps a lot, it's the keeping still bit I find hard, want to shuffle

Have they got used to you sitting down now? If it helps you then just do it and ignore the funny looks.

Love
Vonski x

babette · 12. Aug 2009, 13:06

I think my fellow yogis were a bit jealous, they looked like they might like to sit up too some are fairly mature ladies and I suspect lying flat out on a hard floor doesn't do it for them either! It was my yoga teacher who suggested sitting she could see that wriggling did not make for successful relaxation. Everyone's fine about it now, they understand why I have to sit and are very supportive.

B x

carol71 · 12. Aug 2009, 13:10

Hi Babette,
Just wnated to say hi. I'm knew here about a week and don't really understand properly what having OA in my neck means.
So far I've experienced bouts of dizzyness and pains and a heavy feeling in my arms. It's like I am reading into every little twinge at the moment is that a normal ache or is it related to the OA, of which I have no idea.
Oh and I'm 38 and didn't realise people our age suffered till I came here, but from what I've seen it seems very common

Carol xxx

skezier · 12. Aug 2009, 13:42

Hi Barbara,

Welcome to the forum I really hope you find it as useful as I have. Hey they try very hard to make you as comfy as poss for the MRI, like Vonski I wanted to move and cough as well as just get out of it but its not too long and the benefits are that they will be able to see whats going on.

Like you I got it young, 24-25 for the oa in my lumber but it doesn't respect age I guess. It is best to keep moving and for me the neck jabs helped as did the fawcett ones in my lumber and I take buckets of pain killers and something to help stop the vertigo.

Sorry I have gone on some! Oh and welcome to you as well carol. Take care Cris x

heather1 · 12. Aug 2009, 14:13

Hi Barbara

How you doing in bonny Scotland!

I am 43 and have been diagnosed with arth in my lumbar spine so i very much relate to how you feel.
I can only lie on my right side as its agony lying on my left side or on my back.

Things like lying still for an MRI can be hell!
I remember going for a bone scan and you have to lie with your arms above your head and it was pure agony.

I do exercises at home and am trying out a new back device which is working really well-fingers crossed!

Best wishes

eckstardeluxe · 12. Aug 2009, 14:48

Hi Barbara

I'm Alex, I'm just over the water from you in Dundee. I have same as you, OA spine and sacral area. I am 33, had it 20 years but only found out in January it was going to end stage.

Mines was caused by an illness in childhood called Osteomyelitis, it is secondary arthritis meaning they know the cause ie trauma to the bone. Do you know if you have ever had anything like this or been in an accident or hurt your back? That could have been the cause, otherwise it would be primary arthritis due to age and wear and tear and yes this would be unusual for someone your age.

It is hard going, but the best advice I can give is to make sure you get your scans, xrays etc and get as much knowledge as you can about things. Once you learn about it, it's not so frightening, honest. Make sure you let the Dr know if your meds are not working. It took almost a year for me to get a balance that worked. Diclofenac doesn't sound enough, I'd speak to the Dr about that.

Welcome to the Forum 'hen'

babette · 12. Aug 2009, 16:37

Hi Alex

Not quite sure what has caused my OA. Have been involved in several RTA's (one at great speed) and neck and shoulders were very sore for a few days after but no signs of fracturing on my x ray so Rheumy kind of ruled that out. One possible cause she thought might be two v large babies and a 15 1/2 hr back to back labour (baby came out facing up) so must have put a lot of pressure on the spine on his journey to be born.... Other than that it's just dodgy genes. Am determined to find out as much as I can so that I am well armed with info about my condition. Sorry to hear you have had this more or less your whole life. It's "done ma heid" in for the past year and a half so I can't imagine what it would be like to have had it so long! I'm not the best of pill takers so will probably abstain from any heavy jelly until it's absolutely neccessary. Doc put me on Amytriptilene to help me sleep as I just couldn't get beyond 4 am earlier this year, but I stopped them after a week cos I couldn't function at work. I'm a primary school teacher and all it took was an interuption from one of my wee darlings for my brain to cease functioning, also felt as if everything was in slo-mo. Quite freaky!

Take Care!
Babette

lindalegs · 12. Aug 2009, 17:10

Hi Babette,

Just wanted to say Hello and welcome you to posting - I too sat in the wings for a while before I built up the courage to post and now you can't shut me up

Luv Legs

woodbon · 12. Aug 2009, 17:32

Hello,
Glad to welcome you to the forum, but I bet its one place you'd rather not have had to join!!!

I have OA in my lumber spine, neck and hips as well as a few other joints and I'm 54. I've had it for a few years, I can't say exactly when it started as it sort of crept up on me!

I had an MRI scan on my neck and its not too bad, a bit noisy, but some people are given earphones with music. My hospital doesnt run to that. :roll: They can hear you all the time and give you a buzzer to press if you want them to stop, but I was fine, apart from being stiff from lying on the hard metal thing that goes through the machine. If you are really worried I think you can have a seditive.

jGood luck and I hope you find out something useful.
Love Sue

Hello all you fellow stiffies

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