Hello

lotmon89
lotmon89 Member Posts: 17
edited 7. Sep 2012, 03:46 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hello,

Im lottie 23 and im looking for abit of advice and support and this seems like the right place to be

my story

8 years ago i had a horse riding accident in which i broke my left hip, i had a dynamic hip screw put in and then removed a year later. Ive always experienced pain in the hip during the winter and after exercise or a long walk however i fell pregnant last year with my daughter and was diagnosed with a displaced pelvis one leg shorted than the other and had to wear a brace thing. had my daughter and noticed the movement had gone alot in my leg and hip, this year and the past few months ive had trouble walking and moving my leg/hip and in heaps of the pain all day and all night frankly its been rubbish! finally bit the bullet and went to the docs who seems to think it could be osteroarthritis in my hip hes put me on dicolofenic (sp?) and i had an xray yesterday but wont know anything until next week at the earliest

if anyone can give me any advice and what to expect please let me know i feel so scared and worried for my children and my husband as im an active stay at home mum

many thanks

lottie

Comments

  • kellerman
    kellerman Member Posts: 741
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi and welcome to this great forum.
    I have OA although I'm a lot older than you.
    Your GP can prescribe pain dullers as well as the anti inflams. You can take both.
    I know this isn't much of an answer but some-one will be along soon who can maybe help you more.
    It might however be a good idea to wait for the xray results and then talk things over with your GP. May
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi lottie
    And a warm welcome from me.
    I was diagnosed over 3 years ago not with OA of my hips and back , so I do know some of your pain, I have been on pain meds for most of the time, and the last year or so antiinflams....I was referred to a pain clinic, and they were brilliant, they gave me amitryptaline to help me sleep at night, and changed my pain meds to cocodamols from tramadol..I really didnt get on with it, so my next step will be a THR, I have put this off due to my back being so painful.
    I think at your stage I would ask for physio, this can be a big help just to help the joint and muscles ,
    You take care and I do wish you well with everything xx
    Love
    Barbara
  • lotmon89
    lotmon89 Member Posts: 17
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you for your kind words and advice they've really helped me get to grips with things today and see the light through the trees as it were :)

    Lottie
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,761
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm afraid we all spend much of our time waiting - for appointments, X-rays, results, operations etc. It's hard to get used to at first - and even later on too :roll:

    If you have OA the treatment is pain relief until such time as surgery is needed. Try not to worry too much about the surgery. I'm a walking (yes, still walking) prosthetics shop and they've all worked wonderfully.

    It's scary having arthritis and small children but many of us have managed it and others are still coming forward to have a go. You will find your own ways of coping (pushchairs make good walking aids) and your little ones will be blissfully unaware that Mum is doing some things slightly differently to other Mums.

    Try not to think too far ahead. Some things demand planning: few demand worrying. Ask whatever you like on here. It's almost certain that someone will have dealt with it and be able to offer suggestions. One thing we're all pretty experienced in is arthritis. :wink:
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • 7worlds
    7worlds Member Posts: 302
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hey Lotmon89. I have a different type of arthritis than you ( RA ) but just wanted to welcome you to the forum anyway.

    7Worlds
  • lotmon89
    lotmon89 Member Posts: 17
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm afraid we all spend much of our time waiting - for appointments, X-rays, results, operations etc. It's hard to get used to at first - and even later on too :roll:

    If you have OA the treatment is pain relief until such time as surgery is needed. Try not to worry too much about the surgery. I'm a walking (yes, still walking) prosthetics shop and they've all worked wonderfully.

    It's scary having arthritis and small children but many of us have managed it and others are still coming forward to have a go. You will find your own ways of coping (pushchairs make good walking aids) and your little ones will be blissfully unaware that Mum is doing some things slightly differently to other Mums.

    Try not to think too far ahead. Some things demand planning: few demand worrying. Ask whatever you like on here. It's almost certain that someone will have dealt with it and be able to offer suggestions. One thing we're all pretty experienced in is arthritis. :wink:





    I've been using the buggy as a nifty walking aid! It's just the waiting and not knowing that's doing me in! After trawling the net and speaking to the doctors and radiographer (I believe knowledge is power haha) we've all come to the conclusion about a diagnosis of oa so just to get a formal diagnosis would relieve some of my stress at the moment! Thank you for your kind words and support! I'm in a lot of pain today and this has made me feel a lot better :)
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lottie,

    Welcome to the forum. Aw, you were so young to have that accident. Unfortunately OA can set in the joint after an injury. :(

    At least you have been to the gps and are being looked after now. You will now have to wait for the xray result. If you find the diclo are not enough then you could ask to be put on cocodamol which is a painkiller (it helps). They can make you constipated - there always seem to be side effects from meds. :roll:

    It may be an idea if you asked your gp about a referral for a course of physio. You may have been walking in such a way to try to alleviate discomfort and some of the muscles in your leg have become lazy - just a thought.

    As others have said try not to leap too far ahead in your thoughts. Now that you have found us lot, if you would like to keep in touch with us then we shall help and support you as much as we are able to do.

    Do not hesitate to ask any questions, however silly you may think they are.

    Look after yourself and your family,

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,761
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I believe knowledge is power too but beware Mr Google :wink: There's all sorts of info out there and not all of it is accurate.

    As Elna says, there are stronger pain meds than paracetamol but I do remember the fine line between having enough pain relief to cope with my boys and not taking so much that I was too drowsy to cope with them. There's a lot of trial and error with arthritis but I'm sure you'll handle it, if that's what you have.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • lotmon89
    lotmon89 Member Posts: 17
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Mr google is being avoided :) thanks everyone! Feeling so stiff and sore today had to rush to pick my son up as there was a que in the post office! I'm going back to the doctors tomorrow to talk to them about a different painkiller they offered me quite a few and told me its going to take some time to find what's right diclofenac is making me feel very nauseous :(

    Lottie
  • deedeeitsme
    deedeeitsme Member Posts: 321
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I had the same problem with diclofenac. Been put on Meloxicam now, first dose today so see how I go with these. It's all trial and error isn't it, we all need a magic wand :lol:

    Dee x
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi again,

    It is good that you are going back to the gp to discuss meds. I was fine on diclo for a few years and had no side effects until wham, stomach problems, big time so I was put on etoricoxib, it has another name too, and no problems for me. I find I cannot stop this drug because after a couple of days, I can see how "kind" it is, in lessening discomfort. It is best to eat when taking diclo and if is is not coated with a protector then you should be prescribed a stomach protector. It is trial and error with meds as we are all different in how we react to them and what helps one person will not another and unless we inform the gp they will not be aware.

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • lotmon89
    lotmon89 Member Posts: 17
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you for your advice :) had a terrible night last night pain and exhaustion coupled with my daughter waking up all night :( little monkey! So I've missed the slot to ring the docs as hubby let me lay in before he went to work! Luckily ive got some co codamol to tide me over till Monday! It seems to take the edge off quite well without the sickness! Thanks everyone for listening and your advice I appreciate it so much :)

    Lottie