Can I ask a couple of questions please

kellerman

Hi all,
Dr told me I had OA. Is it possible to diagnose this as I have only had a bone density scan on my hips. Pain is right hip,right thigh, both knees and right foot.
I had a mri but that was upper thoratic back because of fractured verabrae due to fall before christmas. No bloods taken at all.
Knees burn but are not swollen.
Pain is really bad at times and I find I am dragging right foot.
My GP is on holiday and 1st appointment with rheumy isn't until end of October. I am only taking co codamol so do you think I should make an appointment with another GP as these aren't helping much and I sleep very little at night usually up before 5 every morning.
I sound pathetic but it's been one of those days.
My hubby was attemting yorkshire puddings for the 1st time today and my oven decided to pack in. Bless he thought he didn't have it hot enough.!!!!
Any suggestions please. Not about the oven it's like me past it's sell by date.
Pain free wishes to you all
May

valval

first would like to say welcome i am suprised your gp is sending you to rhummy if it oa they do not often do that unless there swelling that could be something else. i would go see another gp as just pain meds will not be enough by sounds of it naproxen is often given and can help i am not a doctor so can only give advice not what you need really so go back they should do some blood tests as well your rhummy will keep a pain diary for when you go and pics if you get ant swelling good luck val

skezier

Hi May,

Welcome from me as well, tis a good place.

OA is evil and in 1st and 2nd stage you don't often get swelling but the heat and the feeling someone has a red hot bar through the joint is sadly 'normal'.

I think its fair to go back to the gp's and well its a good idea to have something for inflammation and something for the pain as well once its got a bit of a hold..... I personally didn't do too well on the co-do's (they weren't called that back then) and moved on through a whole array of different ones till they found ones that helped.

May December seems a long way off but its about the time scale now a days and its good you have the appointment. You might be able to get it brought forward but they don't normally with the first one here... we don't get the best service though and it might be worth asking.

Its a case of labouring the impact the bones are having n you/ maybe a bit of physio could help in the mean time?

Once you have been seen, with luck it will all get a bit easier and nice to meet you. Cris x

hileena111

Hi May,
I'm suprised you are getting sent to a rheumy....thats usually only for RA not OA......OA tends to be an orthopaedic surgeon.
Yes you should go and see another doctor while yours is away....cant do any harm.....Its usually pain killers and anti inflammatories for OA until {and if} surgery is necessary
I've got OA in hips, lower spine ankle and neck.
I'm on paracetamol, I'm also on slow release naproxen 2 x day
I'm on morphine at the moment but thats more to do with a fractured pelvis that I have at the moment than with arthur. Also on omneprazol [stomach liner} when you tke anti inflammatories. On other things as well but not really to do with Arthritis
Make a list before you go to your doc because if you are like most of us here as soon as you get in there your mind goes blank
Love
Hileena

tj66

Hello May,

I'd definately go back, being in constant pain is not good - there are other things that can be tried - it seems a shame that we have to keep making a fuss before we are tried on different meds! Sadly it's been the same for me OA in spine-discharged by orthopeadics. I'm going to see a Rhuemy too! I think its because of the tiredness which is overwhelming at times. Oh I understand your frustration. Talking of yorkshire puddings, thats just what my knees look like!

At least we are managing to keep a sense of humour. This site has been a god send to me in recent months-welcome from me and keep posting.

I'm just going to chop of my left foot!

Tracey xxx

kellerman

Hello and thanks for the replies.
I think she is sending me to to rheumy because she really has no idea what it is as she has never examined me.
The only thing she knows for certain is I have a fractured vertabrae and this is something I knew myself as I have the scan.
The other thing she said was "Your disks are shot to pieces" but what she expects a rheumy to do about this I don't know.
I'm totally confused.
Pain killers don't seem to be no good now although they did help when I first got them in April.
I will try to get an appointment to see someone else.Like you say nobody should have uncontrolled pain, especially in this day and age.
I have turned into such a moaner and so bad tempered. I'll give myself a good talking to.
As an afterthought if your knees are swollen my OH yorkshire puddings weren't.
Will ring GP at 8 and let you know.
Take care
May

dreamdaisy

You do sound more like an OAer than an inflammatory type. I have both sorts and the OA pain is totally different to the PA pain. With the PA my knees would routinely hit 19-24 inches when full of fluid, with the OA the pain burns but the knees are currently the smallest they have been for years, just measured them and they are 16.5 inches - but the pain . . . . . .

There is no treatment as such for OA, just the dullers and maybe an anti-inflammatory. Surgery may occur when the deterioration of the joint has reached a certain level. GPs manage the condition, rheumatologists rarely become involved as OA is not an immune-system based arthritis. As for pain management, well, there is not a lot one can do about that. Pain killers don't kill it, they only dull it, and one can become used to a certain level of relief and start taking more and more dullers to try to achieve it. It's better to try to adjust to the pain, one idea is to build in more rest periods during the day so you can sit with your feet up and ease the strain on the joints. What strength cocos do you have? Mine are 30/500 - they can cause constipation so I have docusate capsules to help with that. DD

kellerman

Hi DD,
My co co's are the same strength as yours.I really do try to rest but have to move about quite often as I get locked in one position,especially my knees.
I can understand that my body is getting used to them so they are not having the same effect they did in April.
Will probably get thrown out by the rheumy by the sound of things.
The GP who left our surgery last year was married to an ortho surgeon,pity she left as she seemed to know a lot about arther,she sorted my mum out with meds.
Just been reading your post about your kitchen stool.Hope it wasn't 2nd hand so to speak.
I'm always grateful for any help I get on here so thanks and hope you are ok this morning.
May