33yrs old just been told I have severe osteoarthritis, help!

tillypink

dreamdaisy wrote:

Hello tillypink, thank you for asking. I am struggling today, much pain in my toes, ankles and knees. Never mind, it's what co-codamols are for! DD

Hi DD sorry for not replying back straight away, had a bad week and getting back on track now. Hope ur pain's being a bit better.

thanks

Lisa(tillypink)

hileena111

Hi Tillypink,
Sorry not been here for a while...Welcome to the forum....I have OA as well....the MRI willtell lots about whats going on...more so than an x ray

Love
Hileena

tillypink

hileena111 wrote:

Hi Tillypink,
Sorry not been here for a while...Welcome to the forum....I have OA as well....the MRI willtell lots about whats going on...more so than an x ray

Love
Hileena

Hi again Hileena, just replied to u on my other post..sorry

Can I ask how long have u had OA? how u managing it with it, if u don't mind me asking please.

Thank

Lisa(tillypink) 8)

speedalong

Hi Speedy

Thanks for your reply it was lovely, I've got the wheatie bags and they do help got to go dr's this week now and change my tablets now so hopefully that will help.

Can I ask how old where you when you had plates and pins please? I was 10 when I had pins in my hip, was expecting to have that done again when I was at the consultants on friday, but no he turns round and said about the arthritis so still a shock really, but getting there. Plus this site is helping loads

OOh Tillypink BIG apologies, only just seen this - I had my pins and plates put in aged 2 to 3. The plate was removed after it had done it's job and the pin was left where it was. When I went to my docs in my 20's I thought he'd say similar to you that I needed some tweaking to my hips ... I SO did not expect him to say I had severe OA. I was devasted and also cross with myself for not going sooner (and also for the hospital for not checking up on me.)

I'm glad you are finding this site helpful - I wish I'd discovered it years ago.

Speedy

hileena111

Hi Lisa,
I was diagnosed with OA about 8 years ago in both hips and lower spine. Later came my ankle and my neck.
My GP {absolutely useless} had me on paracetamol for most of the time until I went and said I wanted something that would help the pain.{More than paracetamol} he referred me to the hosptial. Orthopaedioc surgeon.....He sent me for an x ray and I came back to his office and he said...Right you need 2 new hips!!!!! Gobsmacked!!! from paracetamol to 2 new hips LOL. So had my first hip replacement at the beginning of Feb this year { just over 6 months ago} Six weeks today and I'll have had the 2nd hip replacement ....it will be the day after the op.
Anything else...just ask
Love
Hileena

hileena111

Sorry...how am I managing it you asked...forgot that. I will be able to tell you better after the 2nd replacement.
Before I had a hip replacement....I was balanced...had 2 wonky hips LOL and you just learn to adapt gradually.
When I had the first replacement....I was unbalanced!!!!! LOL they'll say whats new???? on here LOL
One wonky hip and one good hip.....and I'm compensating by putting all my wait on the good hip at the moment...so hopefully I'll be balanced again when I get over the 2nd operation.
At the moment I use my mobility scooter for long days out....eg Bank holiday Mon. it will be in the back of the car...we will be away for the day....I might not use it but towards the end of the day and a lot of walking I might use it.....We have a large shopping center here and i use it on a Sat for that. If I dont I can only do a few shops and if I carry anything it hurts my back so by the time i get to the car I'm sore and havent enjoyed it but now....I can be in for about 3 hrs....stopping and getting off and going round a shop/store and then using it again to get further.....I call it a coping mechanism
Love
Hileena

tillypink

speedalong wrote:

Hi Speedy

Thanks for your reply it was lovely, I've got the wheatie bags and they do help got to go dr's this week now and change my tablets now so hopefully that will help.

Can I ask how old where you when you had plates and pins please? I was 10 when I had pins in my hip, was expecting to have that done again when I was at the consultants on friday, but no he turns round and said about the arthritis so still a shock really, but getting there. Plus this site is helping loads

OOh Tillypink BIG apologies, only just seen this - I had my pins and plates put in aged 2 to 3. The plate was removed after it had done it's job and the pin was left where it was. When I went to my docs in my 20's I thought he'd say similar to you that I needed some tweaking to my hips ... I SO did not expect him to say I had severe OA. I was devasted and also cross with myself for not going sooner (and also for the hospital for not checking up on me.)

I'm glad you are finding this site helpful - I wish I'd discovered it years ago.

Speedy

Hey Speedy no worries !

How mad is that, u sound so similar to what I went through, even though ur pin's/plates u had early on in life!

I too should of gone to the Dr's earlier than I did, but kept thinkin it will go away, I know it will.. but deep down I was scared stiff that they'd say "were gonna open u up and put pins in again".. the thought of it scared me totally! then March this year, I overstepped something on the floor, and thats when the pain got too bad, I then admitted defeat and went to the Dr's! and just been on painkillers ever since,waiting for my Hospital appt, which was last week.

Like u I was't expecting the answer to be OA.. ! All's I did this week was cry and mope about and today I got up thinking wot I'm doing.. there's worse people off than me! so gonna try stay a bit more postive and take it day by day and also come on here more and not shut my self off like I have done!

Anyhow enough of me rattling on..lol. sorry :oops: !

How's things going on with u now Speedy?

x

Lisa(tillypink)

tillypink

hileena111 wrote:

Sorry...how am I managing it you asked...forgot that. I will be able to tell you better after the 2nd replacement.
Before I had a hip replacement....I was balanced...had 2 wonky hips LOL and you just learn to adapt gradually.
When I had the first replacement....I was unbalanced!!!!! LOL they'll say whats new???? on here LOL
One wonky hip and one good hip.....and I'm compensating by putting all my wait on the good hip at the moment...so hopefully I'll be balanced again when I get over the 2nd operation.
At the moment I use my mobility scooter for long days out....eg Bank holiday Mon. it will be in the back of the car...we will be away for the day....I might not use it but towards the end of the day and a lot of walking I might use it.....We have a large shopping center here and i use it on a Sat for that. If I dont I can only do a few shops and if I carry anything it hurts my back so by the time i get to the car I'm sore and havent enjoyed it but now....I can be in for about 3 hrs....stopping and getting off and going round a shop/store and then using it again to get further.....I call it a coping mechanism
Love
Hileena

Wow.. u sound like super woman on ur scooter , that's really good for you to get out and enjoy ur self though fair play, and 3 hrs of shopping too !

Hope ur 2nd op happens sooner rather than later too, so ur balanced again then !

thanks again for the comment too, makes it so worth while talking to others who are going through similar things

x

Lisa(tillypink)

hileena111

Hi
Yes as far as I'm concerned the op is 6 weeks yesterday and I'm assuming its not going to change
Glad you're finding the forum useful

Love

Hileena

speedalong

I too should of gone to the Dr's earlier than I did, but kept thinkin it will go away, I know it will.. but deep down I was scared stiff that they'd say "were gonna open u up and put pins in again".. the thought of it scared me totally!

Tillypink that was my experience EXACTLY, too!!

How am I? Umm. Had a THR on my left side 13 years ago - was a very difficult op to perform and I had to have bone grafts and was non weight bearing at first. The joint is generally pain free, though the muscles stayed weak and ache sometimes. Able to work, swim, walk, use gym equipment etc Had a resurface-replacement on the right hip in May this year - was straightforward - great result - good range of movement, no pain (except when I overdo it...) I'm though still using one crutch as my trunk muscles are still weak and I lean to the right when stepping forward with the left leg. Can walk well with crutch, drive, swim, have a bath etc Still working on kneeling, sitting on the floor and doing other "normal" 43 year old activities.

How long to the MRI? Are you taking anti-inflammatories as well as painkillers? You could ask for hydro - that really helped me in the lead up to my first op. Have you seen a physio? How far can you walk before feeling pain ..??? How are you sleeping?

Speedy

tillypink

speedalong wrote:

I too should of gone to the Dr's earlier than I did, but kept thinkin it will go away, I know it will.. but deep down I was scared stiff that they'd say "were gonna open u up and put pins in again".. the thought of it scared me totally!

Tillypink that was my experience EXACTLY, too!!

How am I? Umm. Had a THR on my left side 13 years ago - was a very difficult op to perform and I had to have bone grafts and was non weight bearing at first. The joint is generally pain free, though the muscles stayed weak and ache sometimes. Able to work, swim, walk, use gym equipment etc Had a resurface-replacement on the right hip in May this year - was straightforward - great result - good range of movement, no pain (except when I overdo it...) I'm though still using one crutch as my trunk muscles are still weak and I lean to the right when stepping forward with the left leg. Can walk well with crutch, drive, swim, have a bath etc Still working on kneeling, sitting on the floor and doing other "normal" 43 year old activities.

How long to the MRI? Are you taking anti-inflammatories as well as painkillers? You could ask for hydro - that really helped me in the lead up to my first op. Have you seen a physio? How far can you walk before feeling pain ..??? How are you sleeping?

Speedy

Wow u've been through loads !! all going well now so to speak !

I got 9wks to wait for the MRI, had the letter yesterday to tell me that! went to my own Dr last monday who told me to keep on the tramadol, diclofenic, and salpatol if needed, but told me to try paracetamol instead of salpatol. He did't want to change my tablets till I've had my MRI, strange I thought.. but if it gets worse I'll be going back..lol. :!:

Its only been a week since my Hospital Consultation and diagnoses so gonna wait and see what the MRI says and go from the.

As for sleeping, i've gone from going to sleep and being dead to the world, (excuse the pun..lol), to light, restless agony sleeping, i've been uped to 100mg of tramadols from 50mg but still not helping!

How did u find sleeping back then , and what u like now? stupid question cause I'm still reading up on everything, but has ur arthritis gone now then?

xx

tillypink :P

speedalong

How did u find sleeping back then , and what u like now? stupid question cause I'm still reading up on everything, but has ur arthritis gone now then?

Hi Tillypink,

After recovering from the first THR, I slept well - as you say, like a log - but as the other hip got worse my sleep deteriorated - I had trouble falling and staying asleep and kept waking up and I was exhausted. My GP kept upping my meds - but the were never totally effective.

My sleep is better now than it was, but not back to normal. I use a memory foam mattress topper (though a thick duvet under me is just as good - that is what I use when away) and I also use a good quality body pillow, the sort pregnant women use to support my upper leg and trunk when sleeping on my side. I think my hip really prefers me to sleep on my back, but I fall asleep easier on my side. I think I wake up when I turn and am stiff from being in one position too long. Also as I sleep lighter I usually notice I need the loo and have to get up to go in the night (some might say that is my age!!)

Make sure the consultant knows that you are having trouble sleeping this one of the indicators they use to decide you need an op sooner rather than later ...

Speedy