Advanced Osteoarthritis - Lumbar stenosis

Eloheh

I am new to this site and would like the opinion of other arthritis sufferers since my doctor has only 5 mins to spare on each visit it seems. Also I spent about three months having MRI Scans on the NHS vans but, they too, only have limited time to speak to you (well it seems you do all the talking and they sort of nod, now and again). Nothing gets answered to my satisfaction and I am left wondering and worrying after a visit. I also learned the "vans" only deal with one area at a time, since I was in pain all over it took 2 MRI Scans to discover moderate cervical arthritis and since I complained at their reception that my pain was terrible and I thought my lower back was more worthy of investigation, I was given the 2nd MRI Scan. That diagnosed Advanced Osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine (lumbr stenosis). This took over 12 months in all to get these scans and diagnoses, and the pain got so much worse and I was forced to continue in my very heavy duty factory industrial cleaning job in all that time. Bending near to the floor to mop and brush under 3 rooms of lockers in tight spaces and carrying 25 litre flagons of chemicals to clean beneath and mopping acres of floors and several sets of stairs, the list is endless and I was in so much pain and had 8 falls in the last 18months as my knee gives way. Is my condition serious???? The DLA have refused my application because they say I can walk, or virtually walk and I can make a meal for one? There are loads of things I can no longer do and have good days and bad. I have been off the heavy job since July 4th this year and am now in a situation where I have to be assessed by an Occuptation Health Doctor to see what duties I can do, that is tomoro. But the only alternative at the factory is a very fast production line, standing 7.5 hours a day after breaks and going like the clappers packing all day. I have had 3 spinal injections recently but this has dulled the stabbing in the back pain and I don't know how long these last but at least I have come of the dreadful meds for a bit. Any help with advice for future please, anyone. I will be back at work I am sure next week unless I learn of alternatives. Thanks buddies

stickywicket

Hello Eloheh and welcome to the forum. You sound to have had a long and frustrating time of it. And a worrying one too as your work is affected and is also affecting your arthritis.

Is your condition serious? Yes, of course it is. Arthritis doesn't kill you but it definitely makes life hard, as you have clearly discovered.

What are the 'dreadful meds' that you've come off, Eloheh? Usually, with any form of osteo, it'll be mostly paindullers. I know nothing of spinal injections or of work situations but I hope someone will be along soon who can be of more help.

Eloheh

stickywicket wrote:

Hello Eloheh and welcome to the forum. You sound to have had a long and frustrating time of it. And a worrying one too as your work is affected and is also affecting your arthritis.

Is your condition serious? Yes, of course it is. Arthritis doesn't kill you but it definitely makes life hard, as you have clearly discovered.

What are the 'dreadful meds' that you've come off, Eloheh? Usually, with any form of osteo, it'll be mostly paindullers. I know nothing of spinal injections or of work situations but I hope someone will be along soon who can be of more help.

Thanks Stickywicket, I am hoping that I am managing to reply to you as I am not sure how to work on this site yet. The painkillers were dreadful since I was on Zapaine 2x500mg paras+cocodomol x 4 times a day together with Celebrex and ibubrufen, the mix made me very drowsy and "foggy" brained. The 3 spine injections puts a strong block on the pain, at first it feels like a piece of wood in your lower back and the pain was terrible for about 10 days then the numbness came and I came off the meds for that. I am to see the Occupational Health Doc tomoro and don't know what to expect. I am feared of going back to such a physically demanding job, but can't seem to get any help with benefits. Statutory sick pay is all I can get and I don't really know what work I can do in the future. But thanx so much for your reply - my first. :roll:

dreamdaisy

Hello Eloheh, it is nice to meet you but I am so sorry to read your story: you poor thing. Of course your condition is serious, I think you are falling foul of those who do not fully understand the impact that arthritis has on one, and one's life.

There are other pain relief choices, butrans patches spring to my mind as there are quite a few on here who do not tolerate the cocos and tramadol-types that well and so they are on them - I do not know much about them, however. I never had much in the way of pain relief from the anti-inflammatories (the best ones for me were stopped by my GP as they cost him too much :roll: ) so now I don't bother. Having said that, my arthritis is very different to yours and it must be borne in mind that we all react so differently to the same kinds of meds.

Your job sounds so physical, hats off to you for carrying on for so long but it must be getting harder and harder. I know that employers have a duty of care towards employees but as I am self-employed I don't know much about that either (I am not being much help, am I? ). The working matters forum may be able to shed some light on that if you look back through some of the old posts on there.

I hope that some others will be along soon with some better words of wisdom for you, we are a good bunch on here, supportive and encouraging, as we know how tough life can be when one is battling any form of arthritis. I wish you well and please keep in touch. DD

skezier

hi Eloheh,

welcome from me as well and glad you found the forum.

i have advanced oa in the spine both top and bottom and so sympathise with you cus the jabs only take it down a notch as do the tablets.

i don't know about your back but ,mine will not allow me to stand for too long, if i do it makes me flake out. so i kinda think you would do damage standing for 7 or so hours.

i think you need a different combination o tablets. i have diclo's, pregabalin, tramadol and oxynorn as well as a lot of intervention from the pain clinic and it just about keeps it bearable as long a i haven't done anything stupid.

might well be talking to your gp about different meds for sure.

have you had an ortho opinion? mine was helped so much by surgery and the stenosis was basically freed by them making the spinal canal wider. if you haven't had one its worth asking for one to see if their are any surgical options to help you.

i can't help you with the ot tomorrow but hang in there and i hope it will go ok. nice to meet you. Cris x

Eloheh

Thankx Chris,

I asked about an operation but they said there was no possibility of it. One consultant said arthritis doesn't lend itself well to ops and the pain management consultant said it would just be a matter of moving the problem further up the spine. I asked the only female doc at our practice if my condition was serious as my job is so damned hard and she just said "I couldn't possibly say, I would have to look at all your notes and you have a lot of history" - I didn't go docs for years till these pains began April, 2010 and have been shunted here there and everywhere since. But thank you so much for your reply, don't feel so alone with it on here. Eloheh x

stickywicket

Eloheh wrote:

I asked the only female doc at our practice if my condition was serious as my job is so damned hard and she just said "I couldn't possibly say, I would have to look at all your notes and you have a lot of history"

And her job is....????

Eloheh, I wish you all the very best for tomorrow. The only advice I can give, which others have given before on this forum, is not to minimise stuff. We arthritics tend to be the masters and mistresses of the understatement. Maybe tomorrow you should tell it like it is on your worst days. Whatever you decide, I hope it goes well for you. Please let us know.

lalla

Hi Elohah, I dont know how you have worked so physically, I wish you well for tomorrow and echo what the others have said, write down what movements cause you problems, and how it affects you and how long it takes to recover from it. On the painrelief side have you tried ice packs or heat pads or TENS machine (no side effects and can be useful) take care Linda

dreamdaisy

The best of luck for today, don't underestimate matters in an effort to appear brave and heroic, tell 'em how it is and please let us know how you get on. I am thinking of you. DD

frogmorton

Hello Eloheh

I am very pleased to meet you.

I have inflamatory arthritis, but like you have oA in the back and also neck and have surgery on the former. I have come into this a bit late so l am hoping all went well at your meeting today and they have suggested something you can do workwise or rest breaks or something??

Hope to see you soon

Love

Toni xx

elnafinn

Hello Eloheh

I too have seen your thread late. A big welcome from me. I do hope that today's meeting went in your favour and you are not too shattered after it.

How have you been doing such physical work?

I am just over 2 weeks post op from a spinal op via the neck. I am so sorry to read your story and the lack of support you appear to have received from the medics.

Do let us know how you got on today.

Elna x

tina19

hello eloheh, sorry to hear of your problems, hope you will soon be sorted with help you need. the people in authority and doctors have so many differnt views at times, i hope you will be lucky enough to get a medical person that is knowlegable and will understand and speak clearly and kindly to you. I have arthritis, gradually over the years it has got worse ie pain in joints and my foot shoe size has got bigger as my feet are painfull at times. I can not use the medication Ibrufen because I have had stomach ulcers and also peptic ulcers, I can take only paracetamol for pain.
I do have high blood pressure so I worry about various medications and adding any. good luck!

stickywicket

Hi Tina19. I've not noticed you around before so I'm guessing, from your joining date, that you're new to these forums. So, welcome from me. Arthritis is bad but this is a good place to be with it as there are so many kind, helpful people around who will support you through all the tough times.

Not many people are likely to notice you, tucked away here in the middle of another thread, so why not introduce yourself by starting a new one. I hope you'll be happy here.

Eloheh - any news yet?

tina19

sticky wicket

thanx for a kind reply, I ham not used to using this site so clicked on quote initially to reply, hence I am trying the reply tab! I will try to post a new thread cheers tina x

hileena111

Hi Eloheh,
Welcome to the forum.
Sorry I've just seen this thread.
Of course arthritis is serious....but like it has been said its not life threatening....just life changing.
Have you asked about the patches? Lots of people on here use patches {ones that cant tolerate some anti inflammatories}
We are all different in our reaction to various tablets.
I have OA in my spine, hips ankle and neck.
I find standing is the hardest thing.....much harder than walking.
I've had one hip replacement.....but nothing for my back. So cant help you there ......except sympathise with the pain and have an idea what you are going through.
I'm self employed in a part time job, and a volunteer for Arthritis Care but its a volunteering role I can do when it suites me {within reason }
Hope the meeting went well....let us know please
Love
Hileena

ironic

Hi Eloheh,

I hope your appointment went well and they have taken your concerns seriously. I really do not know how you have managed to do your job for so long with all the pain you have had to put up with.
I cannot offer you much in the way of advice as I am a ‘RAer’. But I wanted to welcome you to the forum and hope you will let us know how things went for you.

Lv, I x

woodbon

Hello, I have OA and I was a Care Assisstant working for the council. They have given me a pension and I have been retired (I'm 56), I used to work heavy 7 hour shifts but, it got too much for me. Its a long time to be on your feet and I got so that I couldn't concentrate because of the pain and knew that others were doing things to help me, but it was making their job too hard, leaving wasn't my decission it was the councils but I found life much less tiring! I hope you can get sorted out. Love Suexxx
PS Welcome to the forum!!!