Hi

lynnhb

Hi, I am Lynn. Age 55. Have been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis. Suffer lots of pain in knees, some in lower back. Feel depressed often. I work part time; my Employers and job are most supportive and suitable. My social life is severley diminished due to pain and my house is no longer a haven - it looks like a bomb site! I like to work to be with people, but cannot manage housework very well at all. OT has visited & was helpful & I now have a Blue Badge for which I am eternally grateful.
I feel ill much of the time, flu-like, hot/cold, nauseas. I take paracetamol & tramadol. I find the medication causes me to feel tired and 'out of things' at times. My concentration levels are not as good as they used to be.
I suffer with very swollen ankles and lower legs.
Sometimes I think I have accepted my condition and trundle on more easily; other days it hits me hard & I find it difficult.
Have had MRI on both knees & await result.

dreamdaisy

Hello, I think you're my cyber twin! My name on here is dreamdaisy, I have Psoriatic Arthritis that affects my toes, ankles, knees, sacro-iliac joints, my hands, wrists, shoulders and neck. I too have an understanding employer, me ('cos I'm self-employed) and my house too is a bomb site. I too feel very tired much of the time, take some horrendous meds and get fed up. Everyone on these forums will know exactly how you feel and that is the best thing about being here - you can moan and vent and groan and shout and we don't mind. We fire back with advice and thoughts and comfort, and it really helps. Hope to see you posting here, there and everywhere. Dreamdaisy

tillytop

Hi Lynn - and nice to meet you! As DD says you will be in good company here so do keep posting! This LWA forum is best place for general arthritis related posts, but we also have chit-chat forum for more lighthearted stuff - good when you need cheering up! Love Tilly x

sharmaine

Hi Lynnb

I don't think I've seen you on the site so a warm welcome to you.

I too have OA (I had a total knee replacement in February this year) and will have another one. Having OA in the knees is tough. At one stage I found it fairly exhausting - especially when I was working full time. I gave up my job (thankfully my OH has been very supportive and couldn't bear to see me struggling and in pain). When I gave up work I went to see my GP the following week she said I was suffering from fatigue (I hadn't slept properly for about a year) and prescribed amytriptilines and co-dydramol. Prior to that I was only on diclofenac.

My mobility steadily got worse and I was in a wheelchair for 6 months but since my TKR I can now walk without crutches and no longer need the wheelchair. My OH has to help me around the house and garden. It is hard to accept that you can't do the things you used to but accept them and take all the help you can get.
The OT fitted hand rails up the stairs and in the bathroom plus I got a few other bits. A perching stool in the kitchen has been a blessing.

Try and rest when you can. I found a memory foam mattress topper helped to cushion my joints. If you watch tv prop your legs up on a couple of pillows. I find a combo of cold packs and heat helps (either a heat pad or a wheat bag) with inflammation. For the first 6 weeks after my TKR I had to use ice packs 4 times a day. I still use an ice pack before I go to bed. Try and pace yourself with regards to housework. I set myself things to do everyday instead of trying to do it all in one go. It makes life easier. When I cook I try and make more to freeze and this way when I'm having a flare or can't do a thing all day because of pain there's always something in the freezer.

When you get your MRI results then they should be able to treat your condition properly. I never had one of those... I keep telling them about other pains and they keep saying it's probably OA.

Please keep posting on the site. There are many wonderful people on here who will go out of their way to help you with sound advice.

With warmest regards.
Sharmaine

lynnhb wrote:

Hi, I am Lynn. Age 55. Have been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis. Suffer lots of pain in knees, some in lower back. Feel depressed often. I work part time; my Employers and job are most supportive and suitable. My social life is severley diminished due to pain and my house is no longer a haven - it looks like a bomb site! I like to work to be with people, but cannot manage housework very well at all. OT has visited & was helpful & I now have a Blue Badge for which I am eternally grateful.
I feel ill much of the time, flu-like, hot/cold, nauseas. I take paracetamol & tramadol. I find the medication causes me to feel tired and 'out of things' at times. My concentration levels are not as good as they used to be.
I suffer with very swollen ankles and lower legs.
Sometimes I think I have accepted my condition and trundle on more easily; other days it hits me hard & I find it difficult.
Have had MRI on both knees & await result.

carola

Hi Lynn

I don't have OA but have RA. I am on Tramadol too which I only take at night time so although I wake up alot during the night I fall asleep again as it makes me feel spaced out.

Good luck with the MRI on knees and thinking of you.

Also, I think all of our houses are bombsites - I know mine is. Just remember that your body and pain management is more important than a show home! Anyway, I just say my house has the 'lived in' look
Keep smiling
Carol

dreamdaisy

Boring women have immaculate homes. DD

woodbon

Hi,
I have a pile of ironing that is always their and I just keep working at it, but its started to breed! :shock: As for concentration, pain and tirednes have certainly taken their toll. I'm the same age as you and have OA in quite a few joints including neck and back.

Try not to be too hard on yourself, I know its hard, but you need some time to just relax, My Mum used to say that the housework or whatever would still be their after she'd gone!
Love Sue

marion1952

Hi Lynn

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear things are getting you down at the moment.. at least when you get the MRI results you will know what you are 'up against'.

Please keep posting and let us know how you get on.

Marion

speedalong

Boring women have immaculate homes. DD

Well said DD - HEAR, HEAR!!!

Speedy

denpen

Hi Lynn
I too am 55 and have OA, in neck, shoulder, lower back, used to have it in both hips until 7 weeks ago when I had a replacement so only got it in one now yipee, knees, ankles (I think). I work part time in a shop not the best job in the world for someone with arthur, and my manager is not at all understanding.
Tramadol can make you feel spaced out and sleepy maybe try something different?
The pain does vary alot from day to day and I find that when I have a flare up I take the maximum medication that I have been prescribed i.e. tramadol, paracetamol, naproxen, then go back to taking the right amount that helps me live my day to day life more comfortable.
You will get great support from this site and most of us here are going through the same thing so dont ever feel alone just shout and someone will be able to help you out.
Take care
Denise

skezier

Hi Lynn,

Welcome from me as well, they are a good lot here.

I really know what you mean about concentration levels..... I don't seem to have any now a days, or if I do i don't remember having it and yep that bombed look would be relevant here as well Sometimes it can get you down and other times I kinda think I done all I have to do so does the rest matter really? Its lie this giant balancing act eh?

I hope the MRI goes well on Thursday and they don't keep you waiting too long for the results. Nice to meet you Cris

speedalong

Hi Lynn and welcome to the forum - I have OA too - had it in both hips and now have metal ones (replacements.) I also have it starting in my knees, but not too bad at present ... guess one day I might end up with bionic knees too ....!!

Feel depressed often. I work part time; my Employers and job are most supportive and suitable.

Good for you. Best of both worlds - working and enough time to rest. How fab you have great employers and the work is suitable - go on tell us what you do?!! (Only if you want to...)

My social life is severley diminished due to pain

This is a real downside of ather. I budget my meds - so I can take them optimally when I'm going out. Also save your strength and get your friends to adapt to your pace - don't even attempt to match theirs.

and my house no longer a haven - it looks like a bomb site! I like to work to be with people, but cannot manage housework very well at all.

Join the club. I know it can get you down the house being a tip - but you have to prioritise what you do with that precious energy ... and I for one put house work low on my list - I did blitz the house before I had my op - but that was a one off!! (and it nearly killed me!!)

OT has visited & was helpful & I now have a Blue Badge for which I am eternally grateful.

Good.

I feel ill much of the time, flu-like, hot/cold, nauseas. I take paracetamol & tramadol.

How long have you been on the tramadol? Just asking because although it was good for pain it made me feel ill and it took me awhile to work out that the yucky way I felt was the tramadol - and I 'm on different meds now - these give me constipation - but nothing more. Or the dose might be just too high. Some people just take tramadol at night. I'd go back to the GP for a meds review.

I find the medication causes me to feel tired and 'out of things' at times. My concentration levels are not as good as they used to be.

Definitely go back to GP. It is a fine balance - adequate pain relief versus feeling out of it.

I suffer with very swollen ankles and lower legs.

Do you take anti-inflamatories? If not - something else to ask your doc for. Different ones work best in different people - you might have to try a few and don't be alarmed if your GP also puts you on stomach protectors too... just precautionary - it's the new way with the NHS!! Also do you put your feet up enough and use ice ... Sharmaine will give you lots of great advice on this.

Sometimes I think I have accepted my condition and trundle on more easily; other days it hits me hard & I find it difficult.

We're all the same - enjoy the up days, and grin and bear the not so good ones.

Have had MRI on both knees & await result.

Keep us posted.

Speedy

efleure

Hello Lynn,

I'm quite a newbie on here too, but just want to say that I think you'll find this forum the best thing ever for people like us....everyone here has really helped me cope with OA and you'll get a lot of support....sorry to hear about your pain and problems...wishing you well....LOL Dreamdaisy re housework....x