Difference between arthritis and wear and tear

kittyboo

I am new here and sorry to be starting on a negative post.
My Dr says that the pain in my back, knees and hip is wear and tear and the physio says it is arthritis.
The Dr has prescribed everything from paracetamol to morphine type painkillers and referred me to physio.
I feel as though I am getting no - where and not able to manage the pain.
Somedays I cannot walk because of the pain in my knee.
I am not sure what to do next.
Has anyone got any suggestions?
Thanks

salamander

Hi Kitty, 'wear and tear' is a euphemism for osteoarthritis. I don't know why GP's use such patronising terms. Has your gp talked about referring you to a orthopaedic surgeon to see if a knee replacement is appropriate? You could ask him to do so. My mum suffered for a very long time before hers was done - much too long in my view as she could barely walk by the time she had it done. Your physio might have a view too.
Sally

skezier

Hi Kitty,

Welcome to the forum but sorry you have the bone thing. Its the same thing but for some reason they call it ware and tear, degeneration as well as arthritis..... I think they do it to confuse me actually

Often it takes ages to find the right balance of drugs to really help but what anti-inflammatory have you got? Its often helpful to have one along side the pain one. He physio can be really helpful and to keep it movement s much as you can often helps.

Just one thing though, what do your x-rays show? Take care and nice to meet you, Cris

kittyboo

Thankyou for your replies.
I started to have alot of really bad pain in my hip and kept going to see the Dr.
I was eventually diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism (too much calcium) and had an operation.
I was also diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Arthrotec was prescribed by the Dr and various painkillers.
The arthrotec upset my stomach and none of the pain killers have worked.
I now pay to see a chiropractor and get a deep tissue massage which does help but the relief is short lasting.
To be honest, I am thinking of changing my Drs altogether and looking for a practice that can be recommended by someone in the same position as me.

elnafinn

Hi Kitty

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you are suffering.

I agree, if I were you, I would change your gp. Perhaps you could ask around if there is one that has a special interest in arthritis. We have gps in our surgery that specialise in different ailments, perhaps we are lucky. You gp can refer you on. The options are physio, pain clinic, acupuncture, a surgeon.

I wish you well,

Luv
Elna x

dorcas

Hi Kitty and a welcome to the forum from me too.

I think Osteoarthritis is sometimes glibly referred to by some as 'wear and tear' but it's still a form of Arthritis and still very painful for you!!.

Has your doc checked you bloods for rheumatoid factor, have you had any other tests, x rays etc? how has he reached the diagnosis of osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis seems only to be treated with pain killers whereas the inflammatory arthers such as RA , PA etc are treated with NSAIDs DMARDs etc. so it's important to have a correct diagnosis so's you get the right kind of treatment.

As other peeps have said it sounds as though you need to be discussing this again with your GP (or another GP in the practice with more soul :roll: )

good luck and hope you get better support and pain relief...at least you've got us now and the helpline too to chat it all through with

Irisx

elnafinn

Hi again, Kitty

Osteo arthritis and wear and tear are the same. Have you been prescribed an anti inflammatory drug as well as painkillers? I wonder if pain in your back is referring pain to your knee or the way you are walking perhaps to relieve pain in your hip is affecting your knee. I wonder why you have not been referred to consultant. I find a heated wheatbag helps me, some prefer to use an ice pack on the painful joint. A bath or shower in the morning can help joints to get working better. Best to try to not rest and exercise too much. Easier said than done as on better days, we naturally try to catch up on things that need doing.

luv
Elna x

kittyboo

You are all so supportive.
Thankyou.
The chiropractor said it was arthritis in my knee and said it seemed to be the same in my back.
I damaged my sacroiliac joints some years ago belly dancing of all things and it never really got any better.
Since I had hyperparathyroidism and all the pain that goes with it, my back has got worse.
I do think that this has caused the problem with my knee and neck.
What a state to be in!
I am using wheat bags at the moment and the Dr gave me some co-codomol (again) and said go back to physio.
I feel as though I am back at square one again.
Thanks again for your replies.

dorcas

Chronic pain is very very tiring and if the painkillers that your doc prescribed are not helping then please go back and see him or another doc in the practice.

From what you've said you don't seem to have had a proper diagnosis, just assumptions based on the previous injury?
You are entitled to have this investigated properly so that you can get a diagnosis of the type of arther you have and then start on the right meds...it's so important.

keep posting and let us know how you are. Iris x

kittyboo

dorcas wrote:

Chronic pain is very very tiring and if the painkillers that your doc prescribed are not helping then please go back and see him or another doc in the practice.

From what you've said you don't seem to have had a proper diagnosis, just assumptions based on the previous injury?
You are entitled to have this investigated properly so that you can get a diagnosis of the type of arther you have and then start on the right meds...it's so important.

keep posting and let us know how you are. Iris x

You are absolutely right about not having a proper diagnosis and I think it is this that is getting me down.
I am in constant pain and trying to do the best I can to manage it and have paid for deep tissue massages, chiropractor sessions, TENS machines etc.
Nothing seems to work and then I can't get to sleep because I am tossing and turning because of the pain.
Nightmare altogether.
I am just looking on the NHS website to find a new Drs.
If any of you lovely people live in Chesterfield and know of a Dr who has helped you, please let me know.
I would be grateful

livinglegend

Do your joints get very red and feel hot, (inflamed)? With RA the flexible part of the joint becomes inflamed and gets hot and creates red patches on the skin at the joint. If they don't, then anti-inflams may not help. If they do then ask to be referred to a Rheumatologist for blood tests as some people can have RA as well as OA.

What happens with OA is that the ends of the bones in the joint rub together which makes them wear, rather than the flexible joint structure keeping them apart. So, OA causes 'wear and tear' on the bones and the doc was probably trying to put into plain language what was happening.

Joseph 8)

kittyboo

livinglegend wrote:

Do your joints get very red and feel hot, (inflamed)? With RA the flexible part of the joint becomes inflamed and gets hot and creates red patches on the skin at the joint. If they don't, then anti-inflams may not help. If they do then ask to be referred to a Rheumatologist for blood tests as some people can have RA as well as OA.

What happens with OA is that the ends of the bones in the joint rub together which makes them wear, rather than the flexible joint structure keeping them apart. So, OA causes 'wear and tear' on the bones and the doc was probably trying to put into plain language what was happening.

Joseph 8)

I wouldn't say they are red and feel hot.
The main problem is that I struggle to walk and go upstairs as my knee is painful when I put weight on it.
I cannot kneel on it at all and struggle to bend it to get in and out of the car.
When I stand up,and also when I start walking, it feels as though it is grinding.

elnafinn

[quote="kittyboo
The main problem is that I struggle to walk and go upstairs as my knee is painful when I put weight on it.
I cannot kneel on it at all and struggle to bend it to get in and out of the car.
When I stand up,and also when I start walking, it feels as though it is grinding.[/quote]

Your knee sounds like mine used to be and just got worse. Mine was OA/wear and tear. I have had two total knee replacements now. I am 9 weeks post op with the second one. :

Luv
Elna x

joyful164

Hi there kitty.

It's awful when you get mixed messages. During my X-Ray sessions and consultant appts, they all said wear and tear, normal for my age.
When I finally saw a chiropractitioner, on the advice of my dr, she immediately said I had got osteoarthritis, another name for wear and tear.
I am on slow release Tramadols and Pregabelin which is for the nerve pain I get. You have a TENs machine so that should help a bit, but perhaps you need a referral to a Pain Clinic to discuss your medication. Since being on the above medication, I have not had to touch Co-codomols, only paracetomols when the need has arised.

I hope you get your meds sorted soon and seek advice from your consultant or GP, but in the meantime, try and relax and rest.
Joy

hileena111

Hi Kitty
I only have OA which is referred to as wear and tear!!!!!! My doc only had me on parcetamol {7 yrs} until I went in and demanded to see someone at the hospital.....He referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon and from poaracetamol I was diagnosed as needing 2 new hips....had one of them done.......dont know when the other will be done or if LOL

Love
Hileena

lola9755

Some days I can hardly walk with the pain in my right hip/knee.and back Went to a physio last week and she said its referred pain from the hip, struggling to work at the moment..... starting with acupuncture next week, will try anything!! Im 54years old

sharmaine

Hi Kitty
I don't know why they use this term "wear and tear" - it's osteo arthritis!!

See your GP again with regards to the constant pain. You may need to review the type of medication you are on. You may need to have new x rays too. I have OA in the knees so can completely understand days when you can't walk because of pain etc. I had my first TKR 7 weeks ago but other knee is pretty bad and will need replacing too.

Rest when you're feeling like this and try not to overdo things.

I hope you feel better soon.

Sharmaine

kittyboo wrote:

I am new here and sorry to be starting on a negative post.
My Dr says that the pain in my back, knees and hip is wear and tear and the physio says it is arthritis.
The Dr has prescribed everything from paracetamol to morphine type painkillers and referred me to physio.
I feel as though I am getting no - where and not able to manage the pain.
Somedays I cannot walk because of the pain in my knee.
I am not sure what to do next.
Has anyone got any suggestions?
Thanks