OA in my mum's back

weebag

Hi All.. I am writing on behalf of my 84 yo mum who has been suffering with OA in the lower left hand side of her rib cage for the past 4 years which is gradually getting worse making her more frail. Here we are almost into 2011, 30 + years since we put a man on the moon yet there doesn't seem to be a solution to easing her pain. Perhaps there are people here that are sadly going through the same thing that may have found some way of eleviating some of it. I am living in hope.... So far she has been on a variety of pain killers as in paracetemol + co codomol based products of varying strength but these are also causing her terrific stomach pains due to the constipation. This she then has to resolve by taking Movicol which then makes her sick. Despite repeated visits to the doctor, pain clinic, consultants, trying alternative medicines (glucosamine, tens etc - all totally useless) all I see is a gradual deterioration in the health of my elderly mum who rarely complains but quietly suffers this excruciating pain in her back. I'd really appreciate learning from others experiences...

Thanks for reading

dreamdaisy

Putting men on the moon is, I suspect, seen as far more interesting and valuable to man's experience than finding cures for stuff like this. As yet OA cannot be cured, no form of arthritis can, all one can do is try to manage the condition as well as possible. There are alternatives to paracetamol and co-cos, anti-inflammatories may be an answer but a doctor is far better placed to advise on that. My mum (87) is also on movicol which she mixes with lemonade - apparently it makes a nice drink - and she has managed fine with it so far, but we are all different in how we react to these things. I take docusate to ease things as and when required, simply because I find the rather plasticky tablets easier to deal with than powders. Many on here find wheat bags a good source of comfort - they are heated in a microwave and hold their heat for a good while. I don't have OA but I can appreciate the discomfort your mother is dealing with: I hope someone can give you more help - you could try posting on the LWA forum as more people tend to hang around on there - there are a good few OAers about, I am sure they will have better ideas than me! I wish you and your mum well. DD (forum member)

tillytop

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I am so very sorry that your mum is suffering so badly. I do sympathise. My lovely Mum in law struggled for many, many years with similar problems and it is so hard to watch someone you love suffer so much isn't it?

I know that someone from the helpline will reply to your message in due course but, if, in the meantime you post on the LWA forum as suggested by DD I am sure that you will get replies from other forum members with OA.

Love Tilly x

helpline_team

Hi weebag
Thank you for posting, I am sorry to hear of the pain your mother is experiencing, this must be very frustrating for you and your mother, when you feel you have tried everything and nothing seems to be working. As you mention that your mother has seen various specialist, I am wandering whether she has been seen by a orthopaedic specialist to review her condition. You may also find it useful to read our booklet coping with pain, as it details alternative pain management techniques:
http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Listedbytype/Booklets/main_content/PainbookletJuly09.pdf

As dream daisy had already usefully suggested, I would encourage you to post this on our Living with arthritis forum as it tends to have more activity.

Best Wishes
Adele

weebag

Many, many thanks to you all for your help and advice..