Frustration !!

diane56
diane56 Member Posts: 24
edited 18. Nov 2009, 21:11 in Living with Arthritis archive
I have advanced OA of the right hip, and have had little help from my new GP other than paracetamol.
My previous doc told me my hip is akin to someone in their late seventies.
I have quite a high pain threshold as a rule, but must admit it's hard going at times, some days the reffered pain in my knees is worse than the hip pain.
Some days i look at my stairs , and think ugh! going up and down are equally bad, as for getting in and out of bed, well that's another story.
Until my OA got really bad i was quite active, had to be i don't drive,(partially sighted) and we didn't have transport for a few years, so had to walk to shops etc;
but now i'm lucky if i get to the end of the street.
I find myself getting very frustrating not being able to do what i used to,is it just me? or does anyone else feel like me ?

Comments

  • luckybug
    luckybug Member Posts: 205
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Well that goes without saying, I think the most annoying part of any type of arthritis is the frustration of not being able to do the most simple things in life, my personal bug bare is I cannot get up if I fall down, and I'm no light weight... if only my knee would bend a little more. aaarrrggghh
  • diane56
    diane56 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    ouch! i know what you mean i had a bad fall a few months back that hasn't helped things and it's agony bending my knees,like you say it's the simple things that you used to do without giving it a thought, like going up and down stairs, it's like an assault course now! I have to get my son to do up my trainer laces!
  • trisher
    trisher Member Posts: 9,263
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello you awake as well?? :D

    We have a special place to go to if you cannot sleep. You generaly find some one is awake.

    Go to NightOwl and earlybirds, post on there and peeps might come on and say hello. Most of the time it's me but we do have chats in the night. If only one of you are up everyone will know where you are. :shock: ps it is on the chit chat forum.

    love trisher xx
  • wendylou
    wendylou Member Posts: 88
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    l
    diane56 wrote:
    I have advanced OA of the right hip, and have had little help from my new GP other than paracetamol.
    My previous doc told me my hip is akin to someone in their late seventies.
    I have quite a high pain threshold as a rule, but must admit it's hard going at times, some days the reffered pain in my knees is worse than the hip pain.
    Some days i look at my stairs , and think ugh! going up and down are equally bad, as for getting in and out of bed, well that's another story.
    Until my OA got really bad i was quite active, had to be i don't drive,(partially sighted) and we didn't have transport for a few years, so had to walk to shops etc;
    but now i'm lucky if i get to the end of the street.
    I find myself getting very frustrating not being able to do what i used to,is it just me? or does anyone else feel like me ?
    Hi Diane i to have OA in both of my hips and just diagnosed with it in my knee i know exactly how you feel regarding getting around in bed i cannot sleep on my sides because hips are so painful, I don't know about you but mine come on suddenly and seems to be getting worse very quickly, i am 58 and when i see other women in there 70s getting around i wonder whats gone wrong, i used to bee very active walking every were and dancing know i have gone from one extreme to another, i hope this helps to let you know your not on your own, keep well love Wendylou :D x.
  • diane56
    diane56 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    trisher wrote:
    Hello you awake as well?? :D

    We have a special place to go to if you cannot sleep. You generaly find some one is awake.

    Go to NightOwl and earlybirds, post on there and peeps might come on and say hello. Most of the time it's me but we do have chats in the night. If only one of you are up everyone will know where you are. :shock: ps it is on the chit chat forum.

    love trisher xx[/quote

    thanks for the info trisher, yeah i've had insomnia for decades plus the arthritis keeps me awake can't lay on my sides and can't sleep on my back, will chat with you on chit chat forum x
  • diane56
    diane56 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi wendylou,poor you, i have OA in my right hip but i expect i may have it in the left because i can't lay on either side in bed like you.
    i have always had restricted movement in my right hip and it was very clicky, but the OA came on very suddenly and with a vengence!
    at times it makes me feel quite helpless when i have to ask my son to do up my laces or help me up seems me and you are in the same boat , but i do resent my OA
  • diane56
    diane56 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    no your not alone, im only 47 and fighting the oa i say yes my body say no :shock: im lucky i can do most things still but not for long if that makes sence! :lol:
    HI,it makes perfect sense!
  • chris7
    chris7 Bots Posts: 2,696
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Diane and welcome

    You have my very real sympathy. Yes Frustration seems to be part of the package we have all found ourselves with! You are certainly not alone in thinking that. Take care of yourself.
    Chris
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, I have arthritis too, in my right hip and now its coming on in my left hip. I know what you mean about not getting comfortable in bed, I used to sleep in my left side mainly, but now I sleep on my back. :? I have tramadol and amatriptylne at night, and I find that this helps quite a bit. Also a memory foam mattress topper and a memory foam pillow, these also help a lot and mould themselves to your body if, you kinow what I mean. The thing that helps the most is the amatriptyline. This really helps me sleep. Its not a sleeping pill, so it does'nt have the addictive effect that some of the sleeping pills have. It may be worth you talking to your GP.

    I hope that you find something that works for you, love Sue
  • cazaline
    cazaline Member Posts: 61
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Diane,

    Sorry to hear about the OA in your hip. I can totally understand where you are coming from. It is very frustrating when you find even the simplest things so difficult. I have RA, currently waiting for hip replacements but I also have been experiencing some serious pain in my knees also, never used to have this problem so I am hoping it is just referred pain which will pass after the ops.

    Luckybug, I'm also the same that once I'm down I can't get back up unless I have something to lean on. I absolutely dread it when people I know decide to go sit on the grass outside when the weather is good. There was a time we had a family and friend gathering, we all went outside to take part in some games, some of us sat on the grass and it took me a while to get down and in a comfortable position, then everyone decided to move somewhere else, I was just stuck there :(. Eventually my sister saw me and came to the rescue.

    Much love

    Caroline.
  • carol101
    carol101 Member Posts: 584
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Diane. I know very well what you mean. I am only 35 and have OA in my spine. I do a very physical job with lots of bending, heavy lifting and standing for 8hrs a day. Luckily i have managed to hold down my full time job but i have had so much time off where i can hardly move. I normally average 2-3 days off sick per year, normally with a cold or flu. In the last 4 months i've lost about 20 days off work. Luckily my work is very understanding and very helpfull. If i have a day when i'm feeling ok to go into work but feel i can't stand,bend etc, i just find something i can do. I am a supervisor but only have a few staff so do the manual work with my staff but my manager is happy if i just turn up and 'supervise'.

    I, like you, also have trouble with the stairs at times, during one of my last 'episodes' it took me 20 mins to get up 5 stairs! We have a down stairs toilet but i won't let the stairs beat me! Somedays i used to work a 16hr shift but now just my standard 8hrs takes it out of me. I also get very tired and sleep a lot. That also make me mad since i am missing out on time with my hubby. We have only been married 2 yrs and sometimes it really gets me down because i feel i am letting him down. We don't go out (we do work together though) sometimes i can't even get comfortable enough to sit and watch tv with him and end up going to bed and falling asleep.

    I WANT MY LIFE BACK!

    Carol X
  • diane56
    diane56 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    chris7 wrote:
    Hi Diane and welcome

    You have my very real sympathy. Yes Frustration seems to be part of the package we have all found ourselves with! You are certainly not alone in thinking that. Take care of yourself.
    Chris

    hi Chris, how are you?, i'm always up late so thought i'd pop on the forum, arthritis not too bad today, famous last words!though took me 10 minutes to get my socks on, its comical to watch, but not to do.going to make appt with my GP, See what else they can give me,but not holding my breath.! take care Diane x
  • diane56
    diane56 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi Sue, hope you are ok. Yes i'm going to make an appointment to see my GP as i am not happy with the paracetamol i was prescribed,i find the thought of putting up with the limitations i now have ver depressing. take care Diane x
  • diane56
    diane56 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Caroline, hope you are well, My knee pain is sometimes worse than the hip pain, i can hardly bend my right leg now at all, i used to be quite supple,not any more.my patience runs out after 10 minutes trying to get one sock on! take care Diane
  • diane56
    diane56 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Carol, well idon't know how you are managing to hold down a full time job and cope with your arthritis,you must be very determined.
    I never imagined how having arthritis changes yourlife when even the simple things seen hard, horrible! take care now Diane x