Have been diagnosed wth OA in R knee and L thumb but strongly suspect its in most of my joints as I hurt from neck to (all) toes. My GP only deals with one thing at a time. Its frustrating and I feel a nuisance , I seem to live at the surgery, get naproxen and sent to physio for 10 mins.
I don't really know what I am asking of you all. I just feel, alone and slightly low at the moment so giving vent. Don't know if this is allowed.
Also wondering if when you have a knee replacement your leg feels longer. I already have a leg length discrepancy and worried this will make it worse
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As moderators we are here to help with any problems you may have using the message boards.
I am sorry to hear you are struggling and of course this is a place where you can vent your frustrations everyone here understands.
There are lots of lovely members who have a wide range of experiences with arthritis and the problems of living with the condition. Hopefully someone who has a similar experience to you will be along soon.
Please join in wherever you like you will be made very welcome.
I look forward to seeing you posting on the boards.
Best wishes
Moderator AC
Is your leglength discrepancy actually in the leg or the result of other issues? I have scoliosis which tilts my pelvis so I appear to have one short leg, but in fact it isn't. Whichever, the effect on the way you use your body may add to the OA and/or pain problems, and appropriate physio might be of benefit. The members with bionic knees will be able to answer your specific query.
There isn't a great deal GPs can do for OA other than prescribe pain relief and physio. The physio only helps if we continue to do the exercises regularly. You may find some useful ones here http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/Search/search_results_page_view?SearchableText=exercises on the left side of the page. The pills dull the outer edges of the pain but never remove it completely.
However, there's quite a lot we can do for ourselves. Have a look here
http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Selfmanagement
As for your question on knee replacements – no, a good surgeon can reduce, if not eliminate, leg length discrepancy while doing a TKR. However that will depend on other factors such as how well other joints articulate. As the proud owner of two TKRs and two THRs, and the not-so-proud owner of fused ankles and rubbishy foot bones, my legs are always a more matching length post-op though not usually perfect. (Perfect? What's perfect
\I am continuing with all my physio exercises, seem to add another joint each week.
am usually a pragmatic and realistic person, just bit down at the moment. Do you find that friends don't understand, mine keep organising things I cannot do. I think they think I just have a twinge now and again.
Anyway I hope I can get to the stage of offering advice to others.
Thank you for listening
I don't know if a TKR could correct a leg length discrepancy due to scoliosis of the spine. I doubt it but it might make things a bit better. (It certainly would for the knee
No, people don't understand and there's no real reason why they should. I don't understand how MS or MD or a whole host of other diseases affect people. We only become experts when we are affected. I've learned, over many years, to just tell it like it is. I try to do most things but if, on the day, I can't I just explain and say I'll hope to manage better next time. The trouble is that many older people have 'a touch of OA' so they think they know all about it. They don't.
Barbara
Deb x
Rest assured that when you post on here you are not alone and are talking to the very reluctantly initiated. We understand the ups and downs, we know that the GPs cannot do much but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with, we know the physio hurts but it is necessary, we have all had to alter what we do, how we do it and to learn to pace ourselves. Living with arthritis is a challenge but not one that has to be met every day: a slump is permissible (if not necessary) every now and again. I hope you feel better soon - keep talking to us, we know what it's like. DD
I've got a partial knee replacement and that leg is shorter than my other one! Found this out when I had to see an NHS Podatrist. I've got a 2cm difference in leg length.
All you can do is keep talking to your GP. Have you thought about keeping a basic pain diary so you can use this to explain to your GP how things are? It may help.
In the meantime, keep reading this forum and keep posting. I've had fantastic support from the wonderful people here.
Take care,
GraceB
I can't help with much else, but lots of people on here can!