Arthritis in the foot & spine

lizporter

Hi, as a relative newbie to Arthritis, I need all the help I can get!!

I have OA in the Talo navicular joint in my Rt foot.
Does anyone else out there have the same 'problem'?
(I also have the beginnings of spinal inc. neck Arthritis).

I was finally diagnosed after a farsically long period of time of being messed around. (physio, gait clinic, orthotics - all useless).
I finally put my (metaphorical) foot down & demanded an expert consultation.
The Orthopaedic surgeon duly looked at my xrays, & offered me a fusion. This I refused, & I sought a 2nd (private) opinion.
This resulted in having a steroid injection in December, which has given some relief. I stiil however, experience joint pain, stiffnes & poor rotation. I wear a support spint, which does help.

I get acid reflux, which means that I can't take NSAIDS e.g. ibuprofen, aspirin, diclofenac etc . . .
I do take glucosamine & chondroitin + Omega 3.

Does anyone know of any effective treatment, conventional or holistic, that I might try in order to counteract the symptoms of pain & stiffness??
(besides paracetomol).
I have a hot bath every morning, to relieve the stiffness.

Plus I have hyper-mobile joints that have affected my wrists over the years (not helped by 30 yrs of badminton (stopped 12yrs ago) & a career as a Theatre Nurse (still doing)!!)


I am still battling mentally with the limitations of this dis-ease.
Up to c18 months ago, I was blissfully trotting up & down 3000M Alpine peaks & glaciers, peddling up & down mountain tracks, hauling on boat ropes etc . . . (It saddens me that I will not be able to accompany my 11yr old son up our beloved countryside & hills, as my parents did with me).

Now, I can go on the odd flat(ish) bike ride every couple of months. Walking more than c1mile outdoors, however seems to be unattainable at present - I struggle to walk on hard or uneven surfaces, & downhill is a no-no (even with sticks), as the symptoms manifest the next day, & last for days afterwards. I manage at work, but 10 - 13hour shifts are a killer! (& the mortgage has 18yrs to go . . . :eek: )

Any advice gratefully received
cheers
Diz

lizporter

ps.
apologies for the length of the post - I guess I needed to get it off my chest!! :roll:
diz

caterina57

Well I have never heard of the talonavicular joint so have just looked it up and know eactly where it is now--- I will try to remember it ( might come in useful for some pub quizz!)
Sorry that you seem to have had the runaround with the medics and that you cant have NSAIDS.
Arthur is such a funny thing and affects us all differently Mine is back and neck and recently started having probs with knees and hips, at my physio assessment comment was made that my ankles are very stiff!

In relation to neck pain getting a good pillow and a wheat bag might help, I dont sleep well because of my neck tend to settle best on my right side with left hand stuck under my neck for support but can't stay like that too long cos of arthur in my wrists!

The only other suggestion is to be active and rest in equal quantaties and when things are very bad rest.
I cant give you any ideas about pain releif other than heat or ice because I dont know of any!!!
Cath

jhjm

Hi Diz,

Sorry to hear of the trouble you have been having with medics. I too have joint pain in my foot and ankle (RE: My recent topic, OA diagnosis??) which I have had for about 12 years. I'm not sure which joint it is, but I recently went to GP who told me it was probably OA, but with no confirmed diagnosis. I am going to see a different GP. I was taking prescribed nsaid's for that time as they were giving me some relief. I no longer take them due to having coeliac disease, but have started to take an alternative herbal medicine called Devils Claw along with the gel. I have only been taking these for over two weeks, I may be having a little relief from them, but unsure, and though costly I am going to try and stick with them for a while. I also take Glucosamine, Cod liver oil, and another herbal remedy called Urticalcin. A concoction I know, but I would do anything to relieve debilitating joint pain. Like yourself I really miss doing leisure activities, hillwalking, tap dancing, jogging. It is very unfair, and not made any better when you are getting no where with medical proffessionals.

Best Wishes

Janice

lizporter

Hi Janice,
thanx for the reply.
When did you last have xrays on your foot?
My first xrays 18 months ago were reported as negative by the radiologist. I showed these to an orthopaedic colleague just a week later, before I went back to my GP to discuss the results of the xrays & he diagnosed Arthritis of the TN joint immediately! - so I explained this to my GP. It then took a further 12 months before I was eventually got referred to see an ankle/foot specialist, who performed various weight-bearing xrays from differing angles on my foot. He also diagnosed arthritis of the TV joint. Unfortunately, he was over-zelous in his view of active treatment (Fusion). Which is why I sought a 2nd opinion from another foot specialist, who informed me that Fusion should only be considered as a last resort.

If you do go to another GP - please INSIST that you be referred immediately to an ankle / foot specialist for correct diagnosis - you have waited for too long - your quality of life is being severely damaged, & you have HAD ENOUGH!! It's hard to be tough, but this is, sometimes the only way to get answers from GP's - no matter how well-meaning they really are.
Hopefully then , you will be able to move-on. Steroid injections have helped me, but I'm not too sure as regards the safety of steroids & Coeliac Disease - that is a matter to take up with your Coeliac Specialist.
Kind Regards, & good luck with the new GP.
Diz

jhjm

Hi Diz,

Thanks for your reply and your advice. It must be pretty awful and frustrating waiting for so long to be refered if at all. I don't think these GP,s/medics realise that they are dealing with peoples lifes and how they are being affected, while waiting and waiting. I first had an x-ray around about that time 12 yrs, but it did'nt show anything, so that was that, nothing else was suggested. I just took my medication, which I did'nt know what I was taking for, and put up with it, but I must admit I did have long periods of time with relatively no pain. It's just been as of recent when I stopped taking the medication, but still getting flare ups while taking it, and wondering what is really going on that I decided I had just had enough. My partner is coming in to the consultation with me when I next go and I will take your advice. I will let you know how I get on. Just wanted to say you seem to have kept a sense of humour through everything, which is good.

Thanks again
Best wishes

Janice