osteoarth at 40 and exercise

madsport

Im new here - would appr comments.
40 years old, female, been very active with sport all of my life which has been tough on my body. Everything from running, swimming, gym, circuit training, weight training etc. Im ex-RAF and always carried on through pain.
Now my body is seeing the damage. I still train, swim a lot and go spinning (bike) I also stay active with kids and full time work.
Ankles - gone over a couple of times on each, ended up in a cast twice (in the last 5 years) X-rays revealed very advanced arth, consultant let me know I had ankles of a 60 year old.
Knees - Very very painful, even walking. Pain all of the time. Had arthoscopy in both, not done much good. Consultant says I have grade 4 arth in both kneecaps.
Back - Painful a LOT of the time, find it difficult in the mornings. Training doesnt help.
Chest/shoulders - Painful all the time. Went swimming 50 lengths yesterday as knees are so bad now cant spin, and chest aching so bad in the morning it worries me.

Does anyone else feel this bad with osteoarth? Should I go back to the Dr's? Should I be getting a proper disgnosis and taking more advice? What more can the Doctors do for me?
Should I be training? If I stop training - I'll put on weight, already overweight but not excessively. I enjoy training?
I can't walk properly a lot of the time, but some days - if im not bad I could manage a long bike ride of walk with the kids, but goodness I will feel it the next day!!
Am I disabled? Or a whinger?
Really appr feedback Thanks

sharmaine

Hi

I would suggest you see your GP again. Especially if you're having all this pain and problems with walking. I used to jog everyday; swim 50 lengths twice a week; in the gym etc! Those were the days! Now I'm lucky if I can do 15 minutes on the exercise bike! I have OA in knees - well effectively one knee now as I had a total knee replacement this year and will be having another one soon.
In the early days I found that I had problems with sitting for long periods; standing in one place and sometimes I could hardly move.
Regrettably OA doesn't get better with the years but worse.

Regards
Sharmaine

madsport

Hi Shar.
Thanks for reply.
I will have to take on what you say and look after myself.
Tell me, did the knee replacement work? Would I still be able to spin/train after knee replacement. I have been offered one, however I worry that it might affect me forever and I'll be worse of mobility wise?

tjt6768

Good morning Madsport, I'm afraid that things could get worse for you... I am 42 and have had OA in my spine and knees for a few yrs now, I try my very best to walk as much as I can, which ends up being not very much most days.. love walking too..
Swimming is good though, keep that up, but do go back to your GP, see if you can get a referal to maybe a pain clinic, they may be able to help, if they can get your pain under control you could maybe do some of the things you enjoy..
I have recently been diagnosed with RA in my wrists too... Good fun eh? LOL

You have to try and stay positive though.. This forum is great for info and help, so keep posting..

Are you on any medication?

Hope you get sorted, keep us up to date, wish you all the best..


Tony

elnafinn

Hi Madsport

Welcome to the forum. I would say that your body is definitely trying to tell you something. Don't you? I feel you are pushing your body way to much with all the exercising you are doing when in pain. As you say if you overdo it one day you are good for nothing the next. We have to learn to pace ourselves and also unfortunately we may have to change our lifestyle. Swimming and cycling are meant to be good exercise for arthritris as they are non weight bearing. Spinning is probably rather too much for the knees, shoulders arms, etc.

I would get back to your gp. You need medication ie painkillers and anti inflammatory pills. I think your gp will tell you to slow down on all this exercise as I am sure deep down you know that too, but I fully understand you do not wish to give it up but as you can see you body is rebelling.

I have had two TKRs and am so glad I had them done. They have a lifespan of around 15 years. I was finding walking most unenjoyable although cycling was always ok. It is a big decision to make to have a total knee replacement. Quite a few of us on here have had them and been successful, but some unfortunately have not fared so well.

I wish you well,

Elna x

madsport

Hi there.
Thanks for encouraging words and advice.
I will be prescribed diclophenac when my stomach settles down, but until now I'm taking co-codamol for pain. Nurofen dont seem to touch me!
Hot water bottles halp me and my knees starpped up help.
For got to mention I have really sore pain in my left thumb but when I went for an x-ray on it Dr said no arthritus - cant be right!
Also got tennis elbow in right arm and starting to feel pain in my hands afetr preapring a meal.
Looks like slippery slope

elnafinn

Hi again Madsport

Wheatbags are good. You heat them in the microwave. I find them more manageable than a HW bottle because you can mold them around your neck, shoulder, knee etc. Heat is of great comfort but not very long lasting unfortunately. I take it the gp has prescribed the cocodamol because if bought over the counter they are not very strong. I was taking the highest strength, ,maximum dose daily of those. Not a miracle cure but did help. The anti inflams helped me more I thought.

I am very sorry to read your story. It is such a shame if we have to give up or are not able to continue all that we love to do and at such a young age too. I shall be 60 this year and looking back my arthritis started in my thirties but fortunately did not continue at a fast rate.I have alwayus been active but not to the degree you are My knee replacements have been in the last 2 years.

I do hope you can come to an amicable agreement with your body and exercise.

Elna x

tjt6768

madsport wrote:

Hi there.
Thanks for encouraging words and advice.
I will be prescribed diclophenac when my stomach settles down, but until now I'm taking co-codamol for pain. Nurofen dont seem to touch me!
Hot water bottles halp me and my knees starpped up help.
For got to mention I have really sore pain in my left thumb but when I went for an x-ray on it Dr said no arthritus - cant be right!
Also got tennis elbow in right arm and starting to feel pain in my hands afetr preapring a meal.
Looks like slippery slope

That sounds awful, I hope that the thumb etc is maybe just something and nothing...
Just be careful strapping your knees up, I started doing that just a bit at first but then got so dependant on them that I was strapping them up for about 8yrs.. It has taken me a yr and a half so far to get used to not strapping them, I now have zero muscle tone on my legs and they're that bad that it's hard to excersise enough to build them back up, which in turn really doesn't help the arthur situation...
The arthur I have been diagnosed with in my wrists and hands is sero-negative, I know it doesn;t show in blood tests, but it definately showed up on my xrays, they said I didn't have enough spacing in my bones where the wrist meets my hands or something..? The Rheumatoid arthur is still a bit new to me.
I take Diclofenac now but I am taking Lanzoprazole to help settle my stomach, seems a popular one on here.. I also take Tramadol, Paracetamol and Hydroxycloroquine..
Sorry, I went on a bit there eh? Lol

I hope that some of what I have posted helps, even a little..

Have you been on the chit-chat-forum, there's lots of light hearted banter for if/when you feel a bit fed up... They're a friendly bunch.. We have a virtual cafe, where all the drinks/food are calorie free!!
I have started a DVD library in there too, you can help yourself as long as you get a laminated membership card.

Tony

frogmorton

Just checking you are not my sister - you sound so much like her - she wont stop either!!

She has however changed most of it to swimming.

The Gp can give you some meds to take to prevent the belly issues with diclos. I had belly trouble too and in the end had to chane to arcoxia for the inflamation.

I have a friend who had both knees done and he cylces swims and plays golf

Love

toni xx

sharmaine

Hi

It's a serious undertaking having a TKR and one that only you can decide upon. I had no other option as there was no joint at all left and my leg had bowed inwards. It's bone on bone now in my other knee. I will be having the other leg done. The first TKR gave me back my mobility. I'm 54 .........you're still young. Mind you I started having aches in my legs around that time.

I think you'll have to do more gentle exercises with a TKR. Maybe swimming, stretching, walking, etc. A replacement knee is nothing like your own knee. I have dreams about jogging but I don't think I'll ever be able to do it again...unless there are new developments in medical technology!

Everyone is different. I've had to make some changes in the way I do things.

Take care
Sharmaine

mirabella

My heart goes out to you! I too used to jog and walk miles with my dogs,held down a full time,on my feet all day job! Realised that everyone on here is different but so helpfull.I know that I will never jog or run again,just to walk will be bonus.excersise bike only,but swimming hopefully soon,all low impact stuff.Keeing weight down too,easier said! Replacement surgery is good these days.I take dicloflex2 a day and zapain,if I need to.Get a good GP who understands.I wish you all the best. Mirabella.

dippydoodah

sorry to hear you've been diagnosed, its hard when you've been so active most of your life. im 32, was active like yourself and was diagnosed with full body OA and fibromyalgia.

if the diclofenac arn't working, you should definately see your gp. i was on diclo but they didn't touch my pain so it was changed to naproxen, together with painkillers and stomach protectors. im also on amitriptyline for night time. i was on co-codamol too but i found they were doping me right up. i felt sickly, dizzy and exhausted most of the day, slept for hours on end when i needed to be up, yet was awake most of the night so im back on just plain ole' paracetamol. still very painful but at least the dizziness and sickliness has settled a bit.

unfortunately, i can say 'oh it'll get better' because i don't know. for me its just getting worse. started out as just a foot pain and now i have it everywhere. can't walk, get up or down or do anything for myself.

i would strongly recommend you see your gp to make sure you get the pills that work for you. also, this is the best place for support and advice, from people who are going through the same thing. you couldn't find a better bunch of people x

tjt6768

Hi Madsport, just wondered how you were getting on? Have you thought about going back to your GP at all..? Keep posting.

Tony