diagnosed with oestheoarthiritis today please help

claireemma1974
claireemma1974 Member Posts: 4
edited 19. Mar 2015, 07:39 in Say Hello Archive
Hi ive been diagnosed with ostheoarthiritis at the hospital has said now to go through my doctor for pain relief and sent off for a appointment for hand splints so why wudnt i be under hospital im 41 and in agony elbows knees wrists hands back they said it was good new that it wasnt rheumotoid like my 22 year old daughter has don t ubderstand specialist said oestheoarthiritis cones and goes mine never has took me 2 years to get doctor to refer me in pain everyday for 2 years and feel like getting worse can anyone help . PLEASE

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello, it's nice to meet you but I am sorry you have had to find us. I have a creaky foot in both camps, with having both an auto-immune arthritis and osteo, and it is clear who deals with which one.

    GPs are the ones who deal with osteoarthritis and they do so with pain relief and maybe an anti-inflammatory drug if needed. Gentle exercise is also recommended to help keep the muscles that surround the joints as strong and flexible as possible. You may also be referred in due course to an orthopaedic surgeon, in case joint replacements become necessary, but they won't be offered willy-nilly, a certain amount of deterioration have to be achieved first.

    Rheumatologists deal with the other kinds of arthritis, those which have an auto-immune base (there are around 200 of those, it's a complex business). Of the two I have I prefer the OA because it is much more straightforward to deal with, live with and manage. My osteo was diagnosed via Xray in 2011 and I admit I haven't known it to 'go away' as such, but there are times when it doesn't hurt as much so the doctor may have been referring to that. Like many on here I find my OA a little easier in the summer and harsher in the winter.

    Pain is fact of our lives and very hard to live with. The stronger pain relief removes us from the pain, not vice-versa, and it always comes back. We use the term 'pain-dullers' on here because that is all they do, they dull the sharper edges. Tiredness is also a factor because we have to work harder to achieve our day-to-day goals. It is important to rest and keep well-hydrated and to eat a good diet - not too much in the way of junk or sugary foods because they tax the body even more.

    Come and talk to us, we know what it is like and I hope we can help with information and support. I wish you well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello clairemma and welcome from me, too.

    I think DD has explained very well the difference between OA and RA and how they are treated. Like her, I have both kinds. My rheumatologist deals only with the RA, keeping inflammatory levels down, and my GP deals with pain relief. There are no consultants for OA.

    You might like to have a look, though, at how to make the best of things by self-management (http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Selfmanagement ) There's no getting away from the pain but exercise, distraction and just a friendly chat all help.

    The hand splints will help too though I used to have to keep taking mine off to wash up etc :roll:

    Please join us on the Living With Arthritis forum. You are not alone. There are many of us who understand the pain, difficulties and frustration.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright