My life has changed so much in 3 years

elsa56

Hi
I joined this site as I needed to see if everything I suffer is down to Ostio Athritis.
I have suffered for 15 years with degenerative dics but 3 years ago I was diagnosed with spinal oA and had to have an op on my shoulder to remove some bone and spurs as I lost the use of my left arm because of the pain and I could't move the arm without severe pain.
After this op I had Pyshio Therapy and was told my left shoulder blade had dropped and was given exercises to do to help.
Since October last year I have had so much pain in my hips, knees, lower and upper back and neck. I have to use a walking stick as i lose my balance due to pain in the hip and groin area when I walk. I have alot of burning sensation and alot of the time my elbows,hips ang legs are painful to touch . Trying to get up from a chair is impossible because of the pain in my hip after sitting for max of 10 minutes, and once im stood up I have to hold onto someone as I cant bear the pain until I have moved around a bit.
I have had xrays that show wear and tear on the hips and a scan on my kneese that show I have fatty tissue and Ostio Athritis. I am being told by ESA that I am fit to work with help. My problem is I feel that I am being pushed into doing these things and that no one believes the pain Im in.
I have always been Mrs Independant and have to have help to bath and dress is very degrading. I have been given anti depresants because these problems have caused me to feel totaly useless. I hope all this makes sense and that someone can say yes this is normal because right now I feel like higher up people think I am making it all up....sadly not the case.
I can only take Paracetomol and Ibufrofen as any stronger meds make me feel like im on another planet. And my doctor said only to take when really needed but when I take them there is no change in the stiffness and pain.

dreamdaisy

Oh dear, poor you, I empathise as I have an auto-immune arthritis (psoriatic) and the joint damage that caused has led to OA in both ankles and knees. Walking is foul - I started using crutches in 2002 after an op on my left knee and I've not been able to stop using them - in fact I recently graduated to a four-wheeled rollator and that is a boon. The auto-immune one also affects my toes, fingers, wrists and elbows, and when it flares my shoulders and neck jont the party. Yuk.

I think for the morons in charge of ESA if you breathe in and out at least once every five minutes you're fit for work. Twerps. Your Xrays certainly show the classic signs of OA degeneration - have you seen an orthopaedic surgeon yet? Given the fact that your spine and left arm are in such trouble rules out using crutches etc but a rollator may be a possibility. You can rest your hands on the handles, there's no need to lean on it, and your posture is more upright. There is no 'treatment' as such for OA, it is a matter of pain relief, maybe anti-inflammatories and exercise to help the muscles better support the joints. Joint replacement can be an option but not for the spine, alas.

I've returned today from a long week-end away and I am fuzzy with tiredness - I hope this reply has made sense and that I've my facts right regarding your situation. I wish you well. DD

welshgooner

Hi Elsa56
Sorry to hear about your troubles. I suffer from RA and I am in a bad way myself. Everything you have stated rings a big loud bell with me. I take very strong prescription pain killers, and yes they make me fly away! but at least I get some short term relief. As for the ESA, don't take it laying down, appeal, appeal and keep apealing. I enlisted the help of my AM here in Wales and within a two week period ESA changed their minds and placed me in the support group. I hope things inprove for you soon,
Den.

elsa56

dreamdaisy wrote:

Oh dear, poor you, I empathise as I have an auto-immune arthritis (psoriatic) and the joint damage that caused has led to OA in both ankles and knees. Walking is foul - I started using crutches in 2002 after an op on my left knee and I've not been able to stop using them - in fact I recently graduated to a four-wheeled rollator and that is a boon. The auto-immune one also affects my toes, fingers, wrists and elbows, and when it flares my shoulders and neck jont the party. Yuk.

I think for the morons in charge of ESA if you breathe in and out at least once every five minutes you're fit for work. Twerps. Your Xrays certainly show the classic signs of OA degeneration - have you seen an orthopaedic surgeon yet? Given the fact that your spine and left arm are in such trouble rules out using crutches etc but a rollator may be a possibility. You can rest your hands on the handles, there's no need to lean on it, and your posture is more upright. There is no 'treatment' as such for OA, it is a matter of pain relief, maybe anti-inflammatories and exercise to help the muscles better support the joints. Joint replacement can be an option but not for the spine, alas.

I've returned today from a long week-end away and I am fuzzy with tiredness - I hope this reply has made sense and that I've my facts right regarding your situation. I wish you well. DD

| know just how you feel
I feel totaly exhausted after a couple of hours out, it makes you wish you had never done it in the first place. I think I need to stop trying to pretend all is well and get my gp toget more scans done so I can see whats wrong rather than the gp saying its your OA thats causing that. Mind you they are very reluctant to keep using there money. My poor old mum suffered with this at my age, I can remember that she was in alot of pain and couldn't do much, sadly she died at my age as well, not because of OA though.
I have to go to a medical for ESA on Wednesday will let you know the decision when i get it. Take Care.

dreamdaisy

Ah, the benefit I have discovered by using the rollaator is that I can now last two hours in town - with the sticks I can manage about thrity minutes (and no queueing allowed) but the Clatterator (as I call it because it's a cheap model and does make one helluva noise) has extended that time to 'mighty' levels for yours truly. This past week-end has pushed me to levels I had forgotten existed but I now know what to do for next year.

I am sorry to read about your Mum, I think I am right in saying that some new research has maybe determined a genetic link for osteo-arthritis (and when you take into account the number of relative 'youngsters' that aquire it it's hardly surprising) but I think the general truth is no-one knows how or why any form of arthritis begins. I am 'fortunate' in that my life-long history of auto-immune rubbish explains my PsA and thus I know from whence the OA has sprung. :roll: Whoopy-doo.

None of us know when the final curtain will fall and I reckon that is a good thing. Your GP may be right in attributing things to your OA but that does not mean that you are denied the ways and means of finding out just what is what. It's far from easy telling the 'professionals' what they should be doing to help us find out what's what but sometimes we have to be politely insistent. DD

hileena111

Hi
I'm sorry ...you sound as if you have so much going on there.
I have OA in one ankle, both hips, lower spine, and neck. I also have kypho scoliosis and on Friday will find out {via consultant} if I have spinal stenosis as he suspects.
I'm not in the pain that you are.

I cant help with the ESA {know nothing about it}

As for people not believing you {docs etc} that happens a lot to us. Usually we change GP's. I have and it did make a difference. Even to a different doc in the same practice.

Ask for a referral to the hospital and scans etc.

I drive but when i park can only walk about 10 mins and then 10 mins back to the car. I have a scooter but couldnt cope with putting it in my car {if it would go} and its heavy to dismantle so i rely on OH when I have to take that anywhere.....but my 4 wheel rollator...well thats a different matter. I can put that in my car and off I go. A lot of the time its to our Metro Center {large shopping centre} whereas before I could walk 10 mins and 10 mins back i can now do about 3 hours there...with a break for coffee of course {only about 15 mins :oops: }
Let us know how you get on

Love
Hileena