What to do? Please help!

tkachev

Fedup wrote:

Hi Decky

Welcome to the forum from me too, I am new here too and have to say the people here are so nice, I have had some really great advice in the short time I have been here and hope you will too.

As for work I cant really help much, I also have Crohns and have recently been diagnosed with Enteropathic arthritis, I am a nurse and I have been quite lucky with my employer, I have decided to change my job as I was working in a spinal unit which was really heavy and very hard work, I am starting out in the community in a few weeks which will be much better for my joints as I will get more to rest the reason im saying this is maybe you could look at changing your job to something less heavy on your joints or maybe talk to your employer about the possibilty of doing the job you do now a couple of days a week and then maybe something less hard on your joints for the other days, I also have cut down the hours I work as I have found 5 days a week is just too much for me so I now only do 4 days which gives me a day off to sleep so I dont spend my whole weekend shattered, again maybe this could be something you may be able to look at doing.

Just my thoughts and im sure others will be along to give you some great advice.

Take care, and good luck with wahtever you decide.

J x

Hi Julie, I lived in Aylesbury when I first got diagnosed with R.A.I was diagnosed by a local GP, went to local hospital(not allowed to mention names on here). Sadly I had to move away 8 years ago.
I hope you are being well treated.
Elizabeth

dreamdaisy

Hi Decky, I hope the injections have gone OK - remember to rest well after them and to keep up with the pain dullers to help with the post-jab soreness. Let us know how you get on with them , please. DD

tkachev

Good luck with the injections Decky. I was going to say on my last post but got called away and DD posted while I was gone (hope you had a nice break).
I think most people wouldn't mention they had a form of arthritis if it wasn't causing problems.It is hard enough to get a job nowadays as it is. Just stick to that story and that you could not forsee or know that it could get worse.

Elizabeth

dreamdaisy

:oops: I hope I haven't offended, tkachev, I had not realised you weren't there. I apologise. :oops:

tkachev

dreamdaisy wrote:

:oops: I hope I haven't offended, tkachev, I had not realised you weren't there. I apologise. :oops:

Oh no DD no offence! I just got called away and I thought it looked rude of me not to comment on Decky who started the thread. I got excited at finding a fellow sufferer from Aylesbury! Its a lonely life having R.A !

Elizabeth

Decky

HI

Well here i am a day after my injections in my shoulders.
I was supposed to get my knees injected too but while they were doing my shoulders i got dizzy and felt faint so the doctor decided to call me back another day for my knee injections.

Never slept much last night this could be a side-effect but i am resting . The pain is sore but manageable.

While i was there i got to see the results of my X-Rays they took afew weeks ago.

My shoulders are not in the right place they said they are higher an slightly out of the socket.. and if the injections dont help they will consider surgery which was quiet a shock to me.

But there was worse to come they said looking at my X-Rays my knee pain could be coming from my hip and that in the future i could need a hip replacement which was a further shock to me.

Trying to hide some tears :oops:

I came home last night and went to bed thinking is it time to give up my job?
Because if i can avoid having any surgery i would.

The nurse suggested that i should watch out for the likes of a job in a hospital doing porter or something which isnt heavy an a warmer job.

Can i ask what would you folkes do??
What can i do??

(i know there is a helpline here but im not a talkative person)
And i wouldnt usually ask people to help id rather help others i always try to hide my pain.

Im sure some of yous are the same?

dreamdaisy

I'm glad to hear you had your shoulders done and yes, keep resting so that the stuff has the chance to really sink into the joint and get to work. When things are feeling better make sure you pace yourself really carefully for a while - I think it was roseycheeks who recently undid in less than forty-eight hours all the benefit the injection brought by working too hard as she felt so much better.

Surgery is a good thing as it usually works. In my experience it has worked far more effectively than the drugs I take and no way would I baulk at a new hip (very straightforward surgery) or a new knee (more complicated as that is a different kinda joint). OK, the recovery time after is lengthy but the benefits can be tremendous - a life with seriously reduced or even zilch pain - how good is that? Mind you, I am used to ops and feeling grotty, so maybe that helps me deal with it without fear.

As for work, I am self-employed tutor and my little business is gradually decreasing. I began seventeen years ago, the arthritis kicked in after two years and I have had to adjust again and again to the reduction in energy, stamina and physical strength. Luckily Mr DD is in full-time employment so I am very fortunate in that respect - he can just about afford to keep me in beer. Don't get too down-hearted Decky, take life one day at a time, keep as well as you can, rest as much as you can, listen to the advice of your doctors etc, and keep talking to us. We will do whatever we can to help you along. DD

frogmorton

Oh Decky

l bet you are tearful at the moment most of us would be :sad:

Sounds as though the shoulders were priority at least for the jabs. I have heard of knees being painful when it is actually the hips which are not good before.

Portering with bad shoulders?? Mmmm....not ideal l would have thought :???:

Some of us work still a lot have reduced to part-time and some volunteer. Advantage being you can Not go if you are rough. Finances need to be checked before making a big step like that of course.

Love and HUGS

Toni xx

Decky

I think i was just in shock once i heard the word surgery an hip replacement scared me a little :shock:

If i ask my work to make any changes they could sack me because i mightnt have told them id RA before i started my job.
So im in abit of a spot

Should i put my head down an carry on run the risk off causing my problems to worsen? :oops:

Wish i could get a job that was less demanding but its difficult the way things are today....

Would like to thank everyone whos posted here its been great help!!

tkachev

Hi Decky,

Please don't be worried about surgery. It might help you a lot and you would hopefully be able to cope with work. You are at the investigative stage and you might need different/more medication and/or surgery. Let your work know you have had a very sudden deterioration (not your fault) and you are doing your best to get help and to get better. When you took your job you didn't know it would get worse and at the time you were coping well. Don't let them make you feel guilty or that you were hiding anything.

We don't know what the future holds do we? Its only with hindsight.....

Elizabeth

Airwave!

Hi,
Don't forget the CAB advice service if you need more help about work or legal matters it may make your mind easier and relieve you of the tension.

dreamdaisy

Hi decky, how are things today? I hope all is well and that you are feeling a little less flustered about it all. DD

frogmorton

tkachev wrote:

Hi Decky,
. You are at the investigative stage and you might need different/more medication and/or surgery. Let your work know you have had a very sudden deterioration (not your fault) and you are doing your best to get help and to get better. When you took your job you didn't know it would get worse and at the time you were coping well. Don't let them make you feel guilty or that you were hiding anything.

We don't know what the future holds do we? Its only with hindsight.....

Elizabeth

Well-put Elizabeth

Decky hope you are doing ok today and feeling more yourself?

Love

Toni xx

barbara12

Hi Decky
Sorry I cant offer any help, I just want to add my support and wish you well with everything x

Decky

Hi everyone i feel good today not sure if its because of the injections or because i've been off work an hav'nt been over-doing it...

I just get the odd twinge in my arm whatever way i must move. But the main thing i've not been waken up from pain during the night

I'll have a look into the CAB advice service thank you for the advise!

My mother thinks if its to much for me an the pain comes back during the night when i go back to work on monday,, then i should consider looking at part-time..

Any of yous had to go part-time??
How does it work?

Really am greatfull for all these posts THANKS EVERYONE

Decky

Back to work today wasnt too bad tired now tho so get my tea and rest to do it all again tomorrow..

Got my date for my injections in my knees 3rd Jan!!
(Such a start to the new year lol)

tkachev

Look on the appointment as a good thing and a great start to a New Year. It can ease the pain tremendously.

Hope work goes well tomorrow.Good idea to rest when home as much as you can.

Elizabeth

Decky

Thanks Elizabeth!!!!

Decky

Maybe sound like a funny post but does any of yous get :

Frustrated easily
Short tempered
Hot headed
Angry over silly things sometimes??

valval

Decky wrote:

Maybe sound like a funny post but does any of yous get :

Frustrated easily
Short tempered
Hot headed
Angry over silly things sometimes??

mood swings are a part of arther not sure if it lack of sleep or arther its self val

tkachev

When you are struggling through the day with constant pain a lot of things others take for granted can get you down so it is easy to feel upset and angry. Having to pick things up off he floor used to get me. Others could do it safely and pain free but left it to me. I have a grabby stick now and that has made a difference!

My daughter was working part time( she has CFS). It really helped her pace herself and she still had an income of her own.

Elizabeth

dreamdaisy

I think we all do, Decky. As tkachev said living with constant pain is tiring and it does wear away at one so much, plus there are the side-effects of the meds to consider too. We have to find ways to adapt what we do and how we do it, but even that may not help on the really rough days. Arthritis and meds do affect my temper, my concentration, the constant tiredness is a drain too, but you do adjust over time. Finding ways to vent the temper that won't hurt anyone is a challenge - I find bottle banks good for that. DD

Decky

After my shoulders injections im not as sore tho my shoulders make a loud clicking noise sometimes like a loud cracking sound must be whatever way i turn or move.
Any of yous having this are heard of it happening?

x:-?


Wishing everyone a peaceful christmas!! x;)

dreamdaisy

My knees crack all the time, my neck too. I believe it's to do with nitrogen in the joint (that's what people release when they crack their knuckles) and I thinki it is a natural phenomena but if it's concerning you then mention it to your GP when you next see him/her. DD

Decky

Thought id drop by to wish everyone on here a very merry christmas!! x;)

(got my letter yesterday to see the Occ Health in work) on the 3rd Jan!

x8-)