arthitis in the lumber spine

BLEUGIRL

Hello everyone im new to this so please bear wiv me, 2 yrs ago i got runover & fractuered my spine t12 i was very lucky, iv now been told i have arthitis of the spine , i get so fed up & down wiv myself & sick ov all the pain i have can anyone on here plz relate to me, i would be very grateful

dreamdaisy

Hello it's nice to meet you though I am sorry you have had to find us. We can all relate to pain and how it gets one down, so you are not alone on that front. It sounds as though you have OA, that can result after a trauma to a joint/bones, so given what happened to you it's little wonder that it has set in. What pain relief do you take? It could well be that that is not sufficient and a meds review could help. OA is usually treated by GPs as it differs in cause from the other types such as rheumatoid or psoriatic. I have psoriatic and OA (as a result of the damage caused by the first lot) so pain is a constant companion. I empathise and wish you well. DD

BLEUGIRL

hi thanx 4 ur reply the meds im on are amytriplyne at nite, morpheine 10mg x2 twice each day, citalpram 1 each day. ive been also havin a lot of pain in my left hip :sad: i know im very lucky as im able to walk aided with my elbow crutch, but not very far my g.p as just recommened me 2 have a blue badge.

dreamdaisy

Well by the sounds of it you're on the heavy duty stuff already so I am not sure what the other options might be. I guess I am fortunate in that over the past fifteen years I have accepted it, I know it isn't going to change so I get by on maybe four co-codamol a day, saving the trammies for the really rough days. I have been on crutches since 2002, the arthritis affects all my toes, ankles, knees and sacro-iliac joints and when I flare the fingers, wrists, shoulders and neck join in. I too am on citalopram, the shock of finding out that I had OA on top of the PA was not a happy time, but as I want off them soon I have bought myself an SAD light, to see if that helps. I have had a BB for a few years now. DD

BLEUGIRL

hi dd also recently iv had pain in my right elbow & left shoulder & in my left hip it feels so sore :sad: how have u coped 4 15yrs i really feel 4 u, do u work & if so how do u cope, i used 2 be a senior carer in the community but since my accident i wrk in the office sortin the rotas out, i find if i sit 4 2 long the bottom ov my back goes numb my solicitor says i should be seen by occy health not sure wat they can do my gp is not happy wiv my job says the sittin is doin me no good :???: bg. but if i leave my job i dont know wat i will do :sad:

dreamdaisy

Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate them. I am fortunate in that I am self-employed so I can pretty much tailor things to suit my health at the time. Having said that my little business is dwindling due to the recession and my arthritis, but I will keep going as long as I can because I love what I do (I am a tutor for dyslexics). I currently have a smashing group of ten pupils, five weekly, four fortnightly and one monthly, and teaching them stops me fretting about stuff I can't change. I cannot sit for long as the sacro joints moan, so I lumber round my office every now and again - the children are used to it now! How people manage to work full-time and run a family etc is beyond me, they have more gumption than I. DD

suzygirl

Hi I have back trouble due to a variety of problems, not sure what causes what really. It is horrible to be inpain all the time, I can only stand for a short time before having to sit to relieve the pain. I use a walker to walk which I hate, but it gets me out!! :oops:

Speak to your gp, you can ask to be refered to a pain clinic to help manage the pain. Physio can help with exercises, walking aids, hydrotherapy etc.

Don't suffer in silence, the peeps on here are lovely and helpful.

traluvie

Hi..

Welcome from me too..
Cannot relate to your spine as i do not suffer with arther there but have pain in hips elbows etc so can understand where your coming from..
The forum is a great place to vent and share how you are feeling, so never feel like you are on your own..
xx

BLEUGIRL

hello to everyone who has given me such a warm welcome & thank u all
To suzygirl iv been 2 pain clinic & they put me on pain patches which itched my skin like mad, iv also had physio & done hydro pool if u dont mind me askin u how old r u, im 40 & iv brought myself a mobility scooter,but i dont use locally because ov embarrasment but i miss walkin our dogs so my partner puts it in the car boot & off we go.
To traluvie where did ur arther start was it in ur spine then did it spread 2 other areas, & if u dont mind me asking wat started ur arther?
Thank you dd ur lucky to be self employed, im only doin 12 hours at mo but my gp not happy saying its not doin me much good, but the insurance want me 2 do more, as its a comp claim. i have tried to do 16 hours but it does me in :sad: i am the sort ov person if i can help out i will even not thinkin ov myself then im in pain so my phycologist said i need to make a choice to make myself happy, as i get grumpy at home due to my pain :sad: my phycologist recommeded me 2 try this forum to talk to others & may be able 2 help me wiv there experiences.

Has anyone tried a electric bed ????? as i cannot lie flat on my back since the accident ??????

elnafinn

Hi Bleugirl

Welcome to the forum. That was a great idea of your pychologist to point you in the the direction of this forum.

We have an electric bed, if you mean that you can raise the head/foot end or both at the same time. I love it!

I have recently had an op on my spine - neck end- and it has been very useful for me to be able to raise the head end in the early post op days. I am three weeks post op today.

Elna x

BLEUGIRL

thanx elnafinn where did u purchase ur bed from & how much was it iv had a couple ov quotes startin at bout 2,300 from dreams
look 4ward to ur reply

suzygirl

Bluegirl, I am 39. I refused to have a walker 5 years ago as I was too proud, in those days I still thought I would 'get better'. Now 5 years down the line, I have swallowed my pride as it is a case of either being housebound or using the walker. My walking has got increasingly more painful due to my back, and I am scared of losing the little mobility I have.

Physio assessed my walking and gave me the 3 wheeled walker. The only problem is, it is easy to overdo it. I went out today for a short spell today and am now in agony. However, I went out!!!! It wouldn't have been possible before due to pain, fatigue and frustration.

I totally understand the embarrassment factor, but at the end of the day, we only get one life and it goes far too quickly. Consider the aids to be enablers, they enable you to still enjoy life.

elnafinn

BLEUGIRL wrote:

thanx elnafinn where did u purchase ur bed from & how much was it iv had a couple ov quotes startin at bout 2,300 from dreams
look 4ward to ur reply

We got our memory foam, electric bed from Dreams. One thing we noticed was that if the head part was raised the mattress used to slide off the base of the bed. We solved this by putting anti slip material (that is used under rugs to stop them moving about) under the mattress and this did the trick. We also removed the legs on the bed and put casters as the bed was so high otherwise.

Elna x

BLEUGIRL

thank u elna 4 ur advise, its just a waiting game know for my solicitor to arrange wiv the third party to pay 4 the bed 4 me speak soon
thank you bleugirl

BLEUGIRL

hi suzygirl
thanx 4 ur reply did u av an accident to be in ur condition i do really feel 4 u, i know u only live once & i need 2 get over myself but since my accident i do find it hard wen ur mind says yes & ur body says no, but given time im sure i will adapt

hileena111

Hi
Welcome from me as well......bit late
I have OA in my ankle due to trauma {accident I had about 3 yrs ago}
The rest of it is just OA...have it in hips....{one replacement} and my neck and spine. My mobility isnt great. I have a scooter....I'm older than you but I dont think it matters...I fought against getting it for ages....My daughter said "You are not giving in mam.....its a coping mechanism....it will let you do things you couldnt normally do" She was so right. I dont drive it locally either.
I have a car and am OK.....drive so far and walk a bit. But it i go to our shopping center which is large {supposed to be the largest in Europe} My husband drops me off there with the scooter, I also use it if we go away for the day and I have far to walk or its hilly or on holiday....it lives in the boot of my husbands car
I'm on Morphine slow release 10mg x 2 a day but gradually weaning myself off them. the others are paracetamol and naproxen.
Keep in contact.....you'll get lots of info on here
Love
Hileena

BLEUGIRL

thanx hileena for ur reply & hello 2 u
how long av u been on morpheine ur on the same amount as me its good news 2 hear u r weaning urself off them how long was u on them, my doc as only just put me on them :sad: but i will see how i go.
the other thing they mentioned 2 me was havin injections in my spine but i really dont want 2 go there :sad:
im really gettin it in my hip & neck also comin up frm my spine :sad: i feel thats all i do is go on & on & on :sad: but the most frustratin is its not my fault im in all this pain & discomfort, i know i have 2 get on wiv it :sad:
iv got work 2 day so i must go & get ready please keep talkin 2 me as im really pleased 2 have people who understand wat im goin through sorry 4 moanin speak 2 u all later peeps & thank u all xxxx

julie47

Morning Bleugirl

and a warm welcome to the forum from me too.
I am sorry about your accident and the problems it is now causing you.

I have had RA since the age of 25 (after having my daughter who is now 23) I first started using a mobility scooter at the age of 33/34. I too felt silly at first but it was much more pleasant than struggling with pain. It also meant I could keep up with my OH and my daughter when on hol and going for walks. Nowadays there is a mobility scooter at every corner and the age range varies. Please....don't feel embarassed.

I think if the injections in your spine will help I would try it.

Good luck with the bed, I have also been looking at them, in the same shop. I am to have an op on my spine (neck c4/c5) in a few weeks and thought it would be a good investment, but, as you say they are rather pricey.

Have a good day at work
Juliepf x

hileena111

Hi Bluegirl
Sorry I forgot that I had got down to 5mg twice a day :oops:
I've been on them sinc May when I had a fractured pelvis but they certainly helped the OA as well. I was originally on 30mg twice a day so slowly slowly I'm getting off them....not a good time of year mind because the rotten weather affects me ,
I claimed for my accident.......stupid man....but it was only my ankle....not as much as you have suffered

Love
Hileena

elnafinn

Hi Bleugirl,

I hope work is not too bad for you today. I have had injections in my lower back via xray direction for horrid sciatica that I suffered with for around one year. The injections worked well for me and since (touch wood) 3 December 2009 I have been pain free from the sciatica.

Hugs
Elna x

skezier

hi Bluegirl,

welcome from me as well.

i also have oa in my lumber and well its not funny for sure! I got 4th stage in the s's and the l's are all still 3rd stage with a dehydrated disc thrown in, the other ones have been removed.

i have had a lot of injections and nerve blocks over the years (it stated in my 20's) as well as surgery and it all helps to some degree.

i take pregabalin and they made a huge difference to em. it might be worth asking about them to your gp cus they and gabapentin are good for long term back pain, better in my case then morphine ever has been to be honest.

working is hard with a messed up lumber. sitting wont be good for you but can they get you a special chair designed to take the weight off the lumber? Could be worth asking.

i had 4 by laterals done 10 days ago and they have helped so worth trying.

hope the day has been kind to you and nice to meet you. Cris x

lalla

Hi and welcome to the forum, have you tried a TENS machine ,Can work really well and they are not exspensive and you can get wireless ones also ((()))) Take care Linda

BLEUGIRL

lalla wrote:

Hi and welcome to the forum, have you tried a TENS machine ,Can work really well and they are not exspensive and you can get wireless ones also ((()))) Take care Linda

hi yes iv got a tens machine but i dont find it helps me if anything it aggitates me :sad:

suzygirl

Hi, I have heard that the injections in the spine are really helpful. I have had them in my hip and shoulder and they helped.

I believe they do them under ultrasound to guide them for the spine. Anything for a bit of pain relief!!

BLEUGIRL

Hi everyone sorry iv not been on but iv just been feelin so tired not just sleepin tired but really body achin tired :sad: feel so fed up im only 40 :sad: wished i didnt av 2 go 2 work this week its so cold :sad: anyone on here got any tips 4 me pleeeaaassseeee :sad: also can anyone explain to me about any dla whilst working im only workin 12 hrs a week but iam in the middle of a comp claim, my gp as just referred me 4 a blue badge.
kind regards bleugirl :sad: :???:

BLEUGIRL

hi suzy yes they have mentioned me having injections in my spine under xray :sad: iam really worried to have them as iv heard there is a 50 50 chance ov paralysis :?: my own gp dont recommend them.