Hi from a newbie

aching_feet

Hi,

I am new here just joined i have 2 unicompartmental knee joint replacements for trauma induced osteo arthritis, recently i was told that i have arthritis in my feet and that there is not much that can be done my feet ache so much, I was put on statins a few weeks ago and the pains in my feet got so much worse, then my statin was changed and they pain reduced BUT i still have some pain and aching which really gets me down, I dont know what pain killers to take? have been told by my doctor not to take ibrupfen but paracetamol and co codamol are ok to take? but i am not keen on either of them liver effect rise any suggestions greatly appreciated, I am 48 years old and female

aching_feet

skezier

HI Achin feet,

i love that name Welcome to the forum, they are a nice lot here.

I have pa and oa in my feet and they can't do much heel side of the toe joints. I had mine broken and reset and he said he took out a few bit of bone that had somehow gt into the tendons but that's all he could do with that bit. Thankfully, for me, he could and did do a lot to the toe joints and toes.

Your gp hasn't given you a anti-inflammatory and well personally i think you could find one helps so maybe you could ask? I also, like Lynn, wonder have they sent you for xrays etc?

Sometimes strapping mine up helps and footwear is kinda important..... I now use frankenstein's boots most of the time... they have so much steel in them they act as splints I get a huge amount of cramp in mine and well without the antiflam they are much worse. I really hope they can fin a balance of tablets that work for you soon. Cris x

valval

hi try soaking them in cool to cold water if they get hot and massage well.
just got some new sandles try to get some with soles that r spongy these are e spirit they only cost me £20 and great shoes have started getting half size bigger and thick comphy soles and in winter wear socks with padded soles anything to give more padding can no longer walk bare feet much to painfull. i take co codamol for when pain bad but also take anti inflams for other joints if you still getting probs go back there r other meds they can give you but they take it a step at a time to see what you need good luck

hileena111

Hi Achingfeet
Just a note to welcome you to the forum...sorry I cant help....OA in hips, neck and ankle. Hope you get some more info on here
Lov e
Hileena

aching_feet

Thank you all for your kind wellcome i had an xray on one foot and was told there was the start of arthritis in it, i have not seen a specialist though. I am wondering if its osteo arthritis seeing as I suffered from Trauma Induced osteo arthritis in both my knees (would the 2 be related)? I have noticed over the past few weeks some aching in my wrists not sure what that is? Think i may be going mad

aching_feet

oh meant to add i have some insoles from the podiatrist dont seem to be helping, am having some more reinforced ones being made for me hopefully they will help

frogmorton

Hi Aching

Good to meet you

was going to suggest insoles but you are already on the case with that one.

I reckon that may be the only way forwards for you that i can think of. you've had the x-rays...may be that the feet are connected with the knees (the way you walk?).

I expect you have tried using things like wheatbags heated on them? If so does it help? or some people find icepacks wrapped in a tea towel helpful?

Are you allowed to apply gels?? movelat??

I think I'd have a word with the doc next time you go if your pain releif isnt working.

Love

Toni x

aching_feet

valval wrote:

just got some new sandles try to get some with soles that r spongy these are e spirit they only cost me £20 a

can you tell me please where you got your sandals from?

aching_feet

frogmorton wrote:

I expect you have tried using things like wheatbags heated on them?
Are you allowed to apply gels?? movelat??

i have not tried wheatbags have never heard of them where would i get them? not sure about the movelat if it has ibpufen in them then i cant use them as i am also on a statin.

hileena111

Hi
Try online for wheatbags.....if you dont see them in any of your stores

Love
Hileena

dorcas

Hi aching feet and welcome to the forum from me too.

I agree with what everyone has said...you need to have your meds reviewed...more effective pain killers and anti inflams to help get relief from the OA.

I use a hot wax therapy unit that for my hands but have also used it to relieve my sore feet. It isn't a remedy for arther but is wonderfully soothing and I now couldn't do without it! you can use it as many times as you need to in the day...but I usually stick to morning and evening.
Costs £40.00 (for me it was money well spent) but if you haven't had this before you could ask if your local hospital physio provides hot wax treatment so that you could 'try before you buy!'

I hope when you next see the doc that you can get answers as to the OA in your knees and the pain in your feet and aching hands all being connected. :?
sore feet affects everything we do so hope things get better for you soon.
Iris x

dorcas

skezier wrote:

HI Achin feet,
I get a huge amount of cramp in mine. Cris x

Hi Cris,
Saw your post and wondered if you knew if cramp is related to the arther?
I get terrible cramp in my feet and toes...sometimes my leg too. It is awful when it starts and really difficult to shift..

I've not mentioned it as I didn't think it had anything to do with PA.

Iris x

sharmaine

Hi Aching feet

Welcome to the forum. I have OA in both knees and a few other places. My feet have been giving me problems for years but I've just put in down to my knees. I also recently had a TKR and will need one for the other knee.

Not sure what to suggest except that you consult your GP - have they done x rays? Even though my operated leg is stronger than the other leg I still have problems walking on flat surfaces. A topic I posted last week suggested I ask my GP to refer me to a Podiatrist and I've ordered some new footwear, a pair of MBTs - which have been recommended by a few OA sufferers on the forum.

I am on diclofenac and co-dydramol plus amytriptline which helps me sleep at night. I've been on these meds for just over 3 years.
If I have a really painful day I'm allowed to take Tramadol but stop the co-dydramol whilst I'm on the Tramadols.

The pain and discomfort does get you down and someone very wisely said to me that if you can keep ahead of the pain then you start to feel brighter.

I don't know what else to suggest but you certainly have my sympathy. Have you tried try warm footbaths to ease your discomfort?

With regards
Sharmaine

aching_feet wrote:

Hi,

I am new here just joined i have 2 unicompartmental knee joint replacements for trauma induced osteo arthritis, recently i was told that i have arthritis in my feet and that there is not much that can be done my feet ache so much, I was put on statins a few weeks ago and the pains in my feet got so much worse, then my statin was changed and they pain reduced BUT i still have some pain and aching which really gets me down, I dont know what pain killers to take? have been told by my doctor not to take ibrupfen but paracetamol and co codamol are ok to take? but i am not keen on either of them liver effect rise any suggestions greatly appreciated, I am 48 years old and female

aching_feet

speedalong

Hi aching feet - I wonder if your aching feet are due to referred pain from your knees or are a pain in their own right?! Did the pain start before or after you got insoles from the podiatrist?

I think you need to go back to your GP and if he can't help ask for a referral to a specialist.

Comfy footwear might help - especially footwear that allows your feet plenty of room and had really good cushioning/protection from impact.

You could ask for physio to see if that helps too.

Sorry can't be off more help. but welcome to the forum and keep us updated.

Speedalong

PS just a thought - could try the iboprufen gel - very little is absorbed into the blood stream, just works locally - but check with pharmacist first re statins ... I don't know anything about them ...

skezier

Hi Iris,

Oh I have to say I am convinced it is! I get cramp in all the bits adjoining the arthritis, be it the pa or the oa bits..... even my back gets cramp..... They gave quinnal and it does help a bit but they never said its to do with the bones but they didn't say it wasn't and in my case I have a donkey braying for them to pin the tail on and they haven't so it must be quite common? I really hope yours is less active than mine seems to be.... hey I get it as imaginary first in the toe that's been removed! See I think its to do with nerve endings being annoyed....

Iris if you do ask could you let me know what they say please? Luv Cris xx

dreamdaisy

Hi Aching Feet, hope you're not too bad today. I have psoriatic arthritis which began in my knees, spread to my ankles and is now affecting feet, hands and jaw. I take co-codamol 30/500 for every-day pain, and my liver has been fine and I'm not addicted. Constipated occasionally but not hooked! Sometimes I get away with none, then life is sweet. When things really deteriorate I have tramadol 50mg and when things are unbearable I resort to a liquid morphine called oromorph. I once met a doc who had worked in a hospice and he understood the importance of pain relief - many GPs don't. Haven't touched the oromorph for more than a year, I think my tolerances are increasing! I will sometimes deliberately deny myself pain relief, to make it all the sweeter when I take something. Its odd how arthritis can bring out your inner masochist, or is that just me? There are all kinds of pain relief available, and I would question whether you really need the statins. The Mail on Sunday had a good article on this last week, they seem to cause more problems than they're worth. I also live and die in my Crocs. They're godawful to look at but SOOOO comfy! My BF bought me Croc slippers for Xmas, truly one of the most thoughtful presents I have ever recieved. I cried. Regards, Dreamdaisy

dachshund

Hi Achingfeet.
what a good name i have aching legs and feet.
you can get the wheat bags from wilkinsons stores. i'm not sure if boots the chemist sells them.
i for got to say welcome.
Hi Cris Toni Val Speedalong,
joan xx

speedalong

Hi Iris and Cris
- can you describe cramp for me?! I think that might be what I get in the night in my lower leg and calf on the waiting for an op side. I've never suffered from cramp before so this is a new thing for me.

Speedalong

dorcas

speedalong wrote:

Hi Iris and Cris
- can you describe cramp for me?! Speedalong

Hi Speedalong

the cramp comes on without warning...it can be during the day or at night, when I stretch or move my feet or toes......and it is so sore the toes go into spasm and the middle joints in the toes bend down (rotten description) and I can't straighten them and it is agony. I get the cramp/ spasms in the side of the feet too ..from the little toe along toward the ankle which I think is really odd. Sounds daft but when I feel it starting it makes me feel panicky as I know how painful it's going to be. It has happened when driving and that is a worry. :roll:
the cramp in my legs is in the calf muscle and goes tight as a drum and clentched into a ball....I have to jump (that's a laugh ....as jumping isn't in my repertoire of possible movements!) so...I get out of bed as quickly as possible and put the foot of the offending leg flat which is really difficult as the foot is spasmed too by the time I get out the bed and does not want to go flat and the calf muscle doesn't want to unclench .!

I have tried quinine...which is supposed to help but doesn't...crampex doesn't either; ( cold floor doesn't; heat doesn't...any suggestions?

Iris x (hope that helps?)

Cris flower, I will ask about it next time I'm at rheummy and let you know. sorry you have it too....murder isn't it. :roll:

Iris x

dreamdaisy

Hi speedalong. Try upping your salt intake. I never use salt when cooking, I never add it to my meals. I am convinced there's enough natural sodium if you eat a fresh, balanced diet, but occasionally I get cramp. Everything goes very tight, you can't flex the offending limb (usually legs) and I find the best cure is to get up as quickly as you can, despite the agony, and press the foot of the offending limb as hard to the floor as you can - it's the same principal that physios use with footballers, you see the grounded player with one leg in the air, the physio flexing the player's foot and leaning on it. When I get an attack, I have a bottle of full-fat tonic water in the morning, and a small bag of plain crisps during the day. That usually sorts it! Good luck. Dreamdaisy

skezier

Hi iris,

Ta muchly and i shall be interested to see what you get told they tell me its to do with the nerve damage and the bad circulation but...... xx

Hi Speedalong,

Depends on how bad I get it really. Its distorts the way the bit that's got it is shaped, often I get it badly when I am tired or really in pain. The bits that have it just lock up solid but its can be very painful (feeling almost broke) or not too bad...... Where do you think your getting it there?

Hey unlike Dreamdaisy I was told steer clear too much salt, in fact mine is better the less salt I have. We are all different I guess. Tonic water has Quinine in it and I have table quinine so maybe a tonic water would help you? Not sure what happens if you put gin in it

Hope you don't get much of it but if you do might be best to mention it next time your seen. Hope your having a good weekend? Cris x

dreamdaisy

Hi skezier, that was my point! I probably don't have enough salt 'cos I don't use it. I solved the problem with common sense. Cramp = lack of salt, therefore increase salt, but only briefly! It has worked so far. There is nothing worse than cramp. Oh hang on, there is. Getting my knees aspirated! Have a good weekend. Dreamdaisy.

frogmorton

dreamdaisy wrote:

Hi skezier, that was my point! I probably don't have enough salt 'cos I don't use it. I solved the problem with common sense. Cramp = lack of salt, therefore increase salt, but only briefly! It has worked so far. There is nothing worse than cramp. Oh hang on, there is. Getting my knees aspirated! Have a good weekend. Dreamdaisy.

Nice big bag of peanuts

Good excuse

Think the docs can give you something for cramps - is it quinine??

Love

Toni xx

dorcas

Hi Toni,
tried quinine, crampex tabs, hot & cold applications and don't think it's likely to be salt as there is enough in the diet. (I do like crisps though so that would be a good excuse to indulge my weakness )

Iris x

frogmorton

dorcas wrote:

Hi Toni,
tried quinine, crampex tabs, hot & cold applications and don't think it's likely to be salt as there is enough in the diet. (I do like crisps though so that would be a good excuse to indulge my weakness )

Iris x

Get yourself a multipack Iris

Reckon it HAS to be the arthur then...we all having similar probs....

Toni xx

dachshund

Hi Iris Toni.
when i had that i was told it was the salt your body makes.
you can get it from the health shop.
joan xx