Hi - after a long gap!

smillajasperson

Hi Everyone.

I haven't posted for a long time, but recognise quite a few old names here! I have Secondary Osteoarthritis in my lower back and knees due to an old injury. This year I've had X-rays to my knees as my right one has been swollen and painful since January, and was told as I expected, things are worse, come back when you're older (I'm 51 now) you'll need knee replacements. I've learnt to live with the crippling pain over the years and enjoy the better times and try to accept the bad!

For the last few months I've had trouble with my elbows, wrists and thumbs and following blood tests went back to the Dr this morning who says I'm showing all the classic signs of Primary OA in these areas!
I have been given a prescription for Naproxen 500mg and Lapsoprazole 30mg to protect my stomach. He's keeping off anything like Codeine as it makes me violently sick - even with an anti-sickness pill taken first!! He's asked to see me again in 3 weeks to find out how things are going. I would like to know how other people find this medication suits them?

And even more importantly how other people cope with their OA in the hands - its SO depressing! At least when it was just in my back and knees I was able to concentrate on doing things with my hands, but now everything is a struggle! (Using a keyboard isn't though as my fingers still work fine and I don't need my thumbs!!). I struggle with things like lifting a kettle or saucepan without spilling the contents, opening jars, bottles and tins, doing up buttons and zips etc and I'm really finding my part-time job hard going. All strength in my hands seems to have gone. Also I get a weird 'snicking' in my wrists and a vein or pea-sized lump will pop up for a few days causing painfull swelling and bruising. All this is making me feel so weary and I'm going to bed earlier and earlier!

Today I just feel weepy and pathetic and sorry for myself - which I hate!! I know there are people on here in a far worse state than I am, but a few words of encouragement would be much appreciated!!

frogmorton

Welcome back Smilla

Sorry you are feeling so rough though :sad:

I haven't tried the naproxen but a fair few have on here some think it's fantastic...others dont as you'd expect really However it might be just teh thing for you with you having problems with painkillers like you do with codeine in them :sad:

That must be hard.....there are other painkillers out there though and l wouldn't give up on trying different ones. I know it probably sound pathetic, but how are you with paracetamol?? If you add in teh naproxen it might make some difference???

What about asking your GP for a referral to a pain clinic??? they are teh experts on pain and you sound like you need an expert!!

Also maybe a referral to and occupational therapist maybe be able to give you some hand wrist support and suggest soem ides to make cooking easier etc.

Since you were lays on we have a 'sticky thread' above on this page with useful ideas others have had...maybe there will be some there for you too?

Love and hugs

Toni xx

traluvie

Hi..

There is no need to feel pathetic, we all get times when we feel sorry for ourselves..we are not super human and they say it's good to have a cry..
I take diclofenac and lansaprazole so cannot comment of the naproxen, but i know there are others on here that do..
I have OA in fingers but inflammatory arthritis in elbows and wrists so i know it can be very painful..I had a referal to OT from doctors and have had some aids installed to make things easier, i have a kettle tilter which is a god send so i can at least make myself a cuppa if no1 here, there are some good gadgets out there for opening bottles jars etc.. I am lucky My oh does the cooking and if i need anything opening i will ask oh or my kids, i know some people are on there own and it can be a struggle but there are things that can be done to help..
I use the comfi grip supports on my hands and also apply deep heat whe they are playing up..
I would say though that if your symptoms persist or get worse then mention it to doc as it is no good presuming it's something without thourough investigation..

stickywicket

'Words of encouragement' we're pretty good at, smillajasperson - it's the physical stuff that defeats us as well you know.

Mine's essentially RA, though these days with OA too, and I used to take naproxyn for a long time with good effect. However, we're all different. Some stuff works for some: others for others. Trial and error. It's good that your GP has prescribed a stomach protector straight away before any damage can be done.

I guess you get used to arthritis in the hands the same way you get used to it anywhere else - time and lack of alternatives. There are lots of good gadgets out there now - some on ordinary kitchenware sites: others in special disability shops and sites. Also you'll find some good suggestions on the 'Simple Ideas' thread at the top of this page. There are special kettles you can buy, electric jar and bottle openers. I use loopy things (Not the technical term!) on many zips to extend them and so make them easier to hold & pull.

We all get days when we feel 'weepy, pathetic & sorry for ourselves'. It's par for the course. And we all feel there are people on here who are much worse off than ourselves. And we're right. But that doesn't make our own situation any easier.

You have a lot of 'getting used to' and re-adjusting to do. You'll make it. And we'll help whenever we can.

smillajasperson

Hi Tracy!

I am very fortunate in that I do have a husband that chooses to do 90% of the cooking anyway - God only knows how people living alone cope! I also have a couple of grown-up sons living at home who will at a push make me a cup of tea etc!!!

I will have to find out about this kettle tilter which sounds marvellous, and I did know there were various other household aids available - I suppose part of the trouble has been my reluctance to admit I was struggling and it might be time to have some help! Perhaps I saw it as the start of the 'slippery slope' towards my house resembling a nursing home if I so much as gave in to one of those rubber jar opening thingys!!

Claire xx

traluvie

Claire..

I am 32 and my symptoms have been with me for a year, what started as a pain in my finger has spread to most joints..I have found it a struggle to adjust to my life as it is now,i used to be so active, full time work and voluntary i became embarassed about going out with my sticks, as my situation has got worse and worried about people coming round and seeing all the aids and adaptions in my home.Too be honest though now i don't care what others think..I have to rethink everything if i'm honest, my energy now goes on looking after myself and my kids and a kiss to the wonderful OH lol..everything else can pass me by..I take each day as it comes and try to remain positive but that is not always possible..
You will learn to adapt and listen to yoour body, may just take time..
You can look online for local dissability places closer to you for gadgets and like i said GP can also refer you too, i am sure you can do a self referal too?? but don't quote me on that, be def worh mentioning to GP though see what they advise..

Ella

I have some issues with getting used to OA and could not understand some of the effects it has with my hands how it all makes me feel and feeling so low as my life changes out of all recognition, trying to define what is what whether my situation living alone feeling so scared or the OS and sometimes I am feeling I am just dying but reading your forum it has helped and great to know my feelings are ‘normal’ is very reassuring to me. It certainly is a foul disease and I had no real idea what it was all about and how it is able to bring us down so badly. I had made an appointment to ask my doctor but you have so kindly contributed the information I am about to ask him.
Thank you so much all and God Bless
Ella

smillajasperson

Thankyou all so much for your encouragement and good wishes!

Does anyone else find friend's reactions irritating?!! One of my closest friends has always poo-pooed my back and knee problems - even when I was on crutches for 3 years - and this morning claimed it was all a case of 'mind over matter' and that she had 'a touch of arthritis' in her shoulder if she overdid the gardening, so knew what it was like!! Ggrrhhh!!!!

Claire xx

dreamdaisy

There are those who have arthritis and those who like to think they have. There is a difference, as we know, and if it makes them happy who are we to interfere? People are always telling me it's a case of mind over matter. They are right, I mind and they don't matter. DD

tjt6768

Hi Claire, don't think we have met, just wanted to say that I know what you mean with the hands.. Mine have always been great til recently, diagnosed with sero neg in them, wrists and elbows too.. Had osteo for yrs in spine and knees but the hands going is a very different and sometime depressing thing.
I hope that things improve for you and that you can get some sort of treatment to help.
Oh, and the others that say crap like mind over matter... Pffff.. Not worth a bottom burp mi dear.

Best of luck