diagnosed today with oesteo arthritis in my ankle.

KitMcF

Hi all. I've had a sore ankle for a few months now, and finally an xray has shown I have osteo arthiritis in it. I was a bit sheel shocked (was expecting xray to show nothing) and she was like ok so losing weight will help (I agree, I do need to lose weight) and take ibuprofen we can do nothing else. Im 30.

I now have questions I wish I had asked.

could this be casue by a very bad sprain I had 10 years ago? (research seems to say yes)

can I excercise on it? zumba is my favouite class (dance aerobics) and I really miss it.

could I get it in other joints or is it likely to be confined to just this one?

Ive also been reading how rocker bottom shoes - like tone ups can help but doc did not say anything about this. Also about taking glucosimin as a supplement.

Any experience or knowledge welcome. Bit shell shocked!

stickywicket

Hello KitMcF. Welcome to the forum though I'm sorry you had to find us. I can well understand how you must feel shell-shocked and it's only afterwards that the questions come to mind, isn't it? I'll answer what I can but PLEASE bear in mind I'm no medic, just a fellow arthritic.

I think the accepted wisdom is that OA can result from a former injury. I think it may or may not then go into other joints. Can you dance on it? I honestly don't know. Exercise is good but dancing might be the wrong kind of exercise ie it might put pressure on the wrong bits. Ask your GP or a physio. I can't help with shoes as I've been in surgical shoes for years. Others may know something about the ones you mentioned. Glucosamine? I don't think there's any real evidence in favour of it. If you're in the very early stages it might help a little. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot that can be done for OA. The ibuprofen should help and there are other paindullers. If you look at the top right of the page you'll se 'Publications & Resources'. AC put out a lot of useful information. Why not try some of it? And keep talking to us. We'll help wherever we can.

skezier

Hi Kit,

A welcome from me as well.

Its like being hit with a ten ton truck as I remember but I was lucky and got it young and I think that might be easer really..... though there is never a good time eh?!

They haven't really come up with the causes of oa.... it does seem to use an injury as a way in so the bad sprain might have been the reason. You do have to have a pre-disposition towards it though I think else everyone would have it.

It does seem to go to other joints as well. As the one effected becomes a problem you change how you weight bare and that puts additional strain on other things as well as it does seem to just spread.... through it really isn't understood enough to know why.... They are doing a lot more research into it and one day....with luck eh?!

The dance thing..... like sticky I shouldn't like to say except they do recommend exercise but high impact stuff may not be the best thing for you to do.... I would ask the gp or consultant if your seeing one about that one really.

The rocker shoes... they might help and some do find they do. If you can try to test them out in a shop cus its might be better than going in blind and find they are not for you.

hey there have been a lot of posts about shoes and they might help you to decide. One can;t be far down the page, maybe on page 2 but I haven't looked I'm afraid but if you put shoes into the search box you will find a lot of advice on the threads there.

Me I find boots the best.... shame they no seem to have to be full work safety boots but at least they help with the cramp I think my foot ware became functional but never fashionable.

I think that its generally believed that Glucosamine can help but only in the early stages..... Kit that is the veterinary view not the medical for humans one It can't be placebo though

The shell shock will fade... Its such a bang and really does knock you sideways.

As well as the publications Sticky told you about (they are very good a well) there is the helpline which are there monday to friday 10 to 4. (their phone number is at the top of the page) Talking to them cud help you as well.

Its a lot to get your head around but taking the tablets and making a few changes can really make it easier. Hang in there and nice to meet you. Cris x

hileena111

Hi Kit
Welcomne to the forum......I would say yes that if it was a very bad sprain it could have caused it. :shock:
I had a car accident....car reversed knocked me down.....broken ankle...pins and a plate in it and one of the things they said was you'll probably have arthritis in that in a few years time.....True...I did.
I had arthritis before that in my hips and spine {still do }
Exercises....I wouldnt like to comment on it....yes exercise is good ....use it or lose it.....but is that the right kind??? Do you have a physio? if not ask your GP to refer you to one and check it out with her or him.
Glucosamine.....well there are varying opinions on the forum about that.....think most agree that posibly at the beginning it could help but generally no. If it works for you great....give it a go......it wont do you any harm even if it doesnt do any good.
For OA there isnt a lot they can do......anti inflamm {Ibrup} and pain killer such as paracetamol......and if the tablets dont work be sure and keep going back to the doc until you get something that does help .....there are loads of different kinds......
Love
Hileena

frogmorton

Hi There!

Lovely to meet you, but so sorry about the OA so young :x I had back problems probably as a child and then the back became visible on xrays at 23 l think. I feel that overuse didnt help. I was a carer at the time.

The exercise class...mmmm.....l suggest trying some very very good protective trainers (if you can afford them!)might help if you really want to keep going to reduce the impact. Take your painkillers and anti-inflams (ibuprofen) and see whether you can iprove things. Stopping exercising is not good for weight loss at all!!!

If you find you can't solve the pain then you could move on to lower impact stuff like l do swiming and walking????

anyway lovely to meet you

Toni xxx

KitMcF

hello all, thanks for all the advice.

My first plan is to get my weight down, to be honest I am overweight by a few stone. I'm not sure how much of a difference it will make though.

My doc apt yesterday was all such a whirl wind and she didnt say anything about physio - the physio's were the best thing for my when I sprained the ankle in the first place. Felt like they were the only ones who knew how to help me. (It was a very severe sprain)

I feel like my doc basically was like there is nothing we can do - I think was in there a total of 3 minutes. Bit reluctant to make another appt to ask more questions but I guess that is what I should be doing.

dreamdaisy

Hello, it's nice to meet you and I empathise: I have OA in both ankles and it is absolutely miserable. In one respect your GP is correct, the treatment for OA is pain relief, exercise to keep the muscles strong to better support the joint, and maybe anti-inflammatories if required. I am not entirely sure what movements constitute Zumba but if it's fairly vigorous then it may not not help your ankle, but cycling, swimming and even walking might be a better option for you. Cycling and swimming are non-weight bearing exercising, so the whole of you can benefit, walking is a little more gentle and how about using a stick (but on the opposite side to the affected joint)? That can take a deal of strain off the affected joint and thus lessen the pain etc. The shock will pass, of that I am sure - be kind to yourself, take the pain relief, rest the joint whenever possible and perhaps start taking some calcium supplements to help support the health of the rest of your skeleton. I wish you well. DD

kellerman

Hi
You will be shell shocked...thats normal.
Your doc is right as there is nothing they can do except dish out pain dullers and anti inflams if needed.
However I would ask to be referred to a physio.
They know what you should be doing and what you shouldn't.
As for it spreading to other joints...well I fell on ice last December....found out I had a fractured vertabrae OP and since then I have developed pains in knees/hip/back/feet and shoulders.
I had bloods taken on Friday as my GP was just saying OA and no xray/examination just the pain dullers. I really had to push for these bloods so now as daft as it sounds I hope it is OA even though there is RA in the family.
Before all this happened I was lively now I have had to adjust to living with pain which is always there but the dullers do dull it.
Come and talk to us anytime. This forum has some great members and there is always some-one there to listen if you feel like a moan.I've done plenty of that. May

KitMcF

thanks again to all - it is good to know there is support out there.

I was quite surprised as the pain I feel is mostly described as annoying, not severe - a bit like a mild sprain or pressing on a bruise.

Ironically, yesterday was the worst day I'd had, with the pain causing me to go owch! When I put my weight on it.

I am a teacher but I teach little ones (3 - 5 years old) and so am on my feet a fair bit at work running around after them. This is concerning me for my future in teaching.

I'm wondering how easy it will be to get a doc to refer me to physio. Hmm.

frogmorton

Hi Kit

we have a few teachers and ex-teachers on here so if you wanted you could put a post on working matters and see if they have any specific tips for you.

Seems to me sometimes that with OA it's a case of waiting (with painrelief) until it is bad enough for surgical options.

I do agree with you you should think now about writing a short succinct list and see your Doc with someone you trust with you. There is power in numbers

Anyway dont disappear from here...we will help all we can....if you serach this forum there were a couple who had ankle ops this last year....might be interesting for the future???

LOve

Toni xxx

skezier

Hi Kit,

Its evil and likes to remind you its there sometimes. I wish they would find a cure or a way of controlling it though.

Your gp .... Kit can you see a different one and ask for an orthopaedic opinion? It might be a bit soon but it wouldn't hurt to have one an also it gets you in the system.

There is a lot that can be done to help you so the gp isn't quite right there.

I have had the oa most my life really and have learned the hard way they don't offer the help but it is out there and we very often have to fight our corner..... it takes time to do that I know.

Kit, as Toni said there are a lot of teachers here and I am sure they will be able to help with the logistical side of things.

There was a post long ago on the working matters forum... I think it was entitled any teachers there so if you put teachers in the search box it might just pull up some helpful posts for you. Hey you could post in working matters and they might see it easier. Could be wroth ago.

I hope the pan will back off and you have a decent day. Cris x

amboritic

A close friends partner was a pro ballet dancer and is now a dance teacher.

He told me that pro dancers take supplements like glucosomine and chondriton for many years.

Run it past your GP as a precaution.

Though pereonally I have taken it for years.

I get all my bits and bobs from Holland&Barrett.

kellerman

Hi again,
If you ask for a physio referral it has to be on your notes. I don't think any decent doc should refuse.You really have to push for any help.
If it hadn't been for this forum I'd just be getting worse and popping pills still.
My GP is useless but I wasn't leaving until I had some sort of answers.
The more you read on here the more you realise what should be getting done no matter what the doc says.
To be fair mine did suggest a physio but tried to put me off by telling me there was a long waiting list.I said yes and waited 22 weeks.
You may find a more suitable painkiller....but nothing appears to be offered. It's all wrong...so stay around and find out from this excellent forum what others are doing and taking.
I'm not saying the same will help you as we are all different but eventually you will find something that does.
I hope you do. May

stickywicket

Unfortunately, there can be a long wait for a physio appointment but you can always see one privately in the meantime. Try to find one that specialises in orthopaedics or musculo-skeletal.

LolaCrayola

I am a teacher. I had to stop at Christmas. I have OA in my spine, I am 41. I have had physio for years before they discovered what it was, just ask the doctor to refer you. I have had 3 referrals, it really helps me now. I wear rocker soles but think they will stress your ankle more. Good luck and welcome.

In my area the wait for physio is a month.