Hello

TheLordFlasheart

Hi all, its good to find somehwere for Arthritis support.

Im Alastair, 35, and have been trying to live with Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis for the past 5 years, although this was not diagnosed until 2 years ago after my GP reffered me for an MRI scan.

I have good and bad days (and really bad days when the pain is near unbearable), been on various pain medication including naproxen. Im now wating for a corticosteroid injection at my GP surgery after hearing it can help reduce the pain.

[Deleted User]

Hi LordFlasheart and welcome to the forums.

The website has a good section on managing pain that you may find helpful: https://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/managing-arthritis/coping-with-pain

If you have any technical difficulties with using the forums, please do ask us for help.

I look forward to reading your posts.
All best wishes

Mod Bryn

stickywicket

Hi there Alistair and welcome from me too.

I don't know much about patello femoral arthritis. I have knee replacements but, as with most arthritis in the knee, my kneecaps themselves are unaffected.

However, pain is pain is pain. Are you on regular pain relief or just when it's bad? Steroids are strange beasts. For some, they don't seem to work at all. For others they're like a miracle. However, we're limited in how many such jabs we can have as they do harm as well as good.

Have you been given physio to do? Given that patello femoral arthritis appears to affect ligaments and tendons, I'd have thought it was very important.

I hope the steroids help, anyway.

TheLordFlasheart

Hi Sticky,

Forgot to mention the OA is just in my left knee. As for pain relief im currently just taking when the pain is bad, and not taking it on a regular basis.

I decided on the steroid injection as I dont really want surgery at this time. My GP did advise me the injections can be a bit hit and miss, but im up for trying anything right now.

Have had physio in the past and that did help strengthen my left leg, its just the pain is the main issue right now.

Thanks for the support.

barbara12

Hello Alastair
You are so young to be suffering with this, I count myself lucky that I got to my 50s before arthritis struck..am I right in saying this the knee, I suppose you have tried the supports you can get, I have had the injections in my back and hips some worked some didn't..I do hope you can get some relief form it..

stickywicket

Anti-inflammatories work better if taken regularly but they can cause stomach problems so always take them with food and, if taken regularly (which might help quite a bit) ask for a stomach-protecting med to go with them.

The thing about physio is that it keeps the muscles strong and strong muscles support the joints so they don't hurt as much. You might feel you get more than enough exercise in daily life but sometimes we can end up working one set of muscles too much and others not enough. I have to do my quad exercises daily.

I do hope the jab helps but don't get carried away if it does

TheLordFlasheart

Thanks again for the support, some days you feel like your the only one whos suffering.

I know the risks about anti-inflammatories, and do take with food, so I take them sparingly.

I may take up physio again, next time I see my GP I will see if its wort going for again. I try to keep fit as possible, I walk to work everyday to and from Piccadily Station in Manchester (takes me about 20mins), and I try to go out on walks round where I live - nothing too demanding, which is not easy when you live in the High Peak!

daffy2

You may have already thought of this but do you have enough cushioning in your shoes for your walk to work? Hard surfaces like pavements are not kind to dodgy joints.

Ladybrown

Hi Alistair
Hope you are finding the forum helpful. I also have OA in my knees (both but left is worse) which was diagnosed at 30. I am now 40 and heading back to the surgeon so we will see what happens there.

I would echo what Sticky says about taking the anti-inflamms. One of the mental adjustments I had to make was getting used to the idea of taking medication regularly but the pain is much more controllable when you don't wait for it to peak. You might find a regular naproxen works for you or that you may need to consider this in the future. My knee is down to the bone and I take co-codamol, an anti-inflammatory and stomach protector and I have amitriptyline which guarantees a night's sleep (mostly) - but I did work up to that over a period of years and if I didn't work I don't think I'd need all of it! I also find heat helps so I have some lovely microwaveable items for that.

In terms of work I find wearing comfortable shoes helps and I actually find sitting at a desk painful so I asked for a footrest.

Don't be afraid to go back to the physio if you need more help with exercise - I've been a number of times as my preferred exercise has become impossible and they have helped me to review what I am doing. I think adjusting to this at a time when most of our peers are still much fitter can be difficult.

Take care
Fay

TheLordFlasheart

Hi Fay,

I starting to get inot a routine before I got to bed, taking co-codamol and having an ice pack (I find cold works best for me) on my knee around 1 hour before seems to be effective.

I take ani-infalms/co-codamol when only needed, my GP said this was fine.

As for physio, im thinking about going back again as last ime I went for 6 months it did help, so will be getting that arranged, just need to fit it around my work - who so far have not been helpful)

Im going to push again to get reffered to OH when Im back in work tomorrow.

Alastair

carolina1954

Hi, I am Caroline, and due to have a trapeziectomy on the 29th June.
I have osteoarthritis in both hands and they are doing the right hand first. I have had 2 steroid injections in that one, first in 2014 and last in March this year but they were of little use.
I was very lucky in being seen quickly, from 10th Feb to my op on the 29th June.
I am going on holiday to Italy on the 22nd July and the surgeon said that would be fine as that would leave just over 3 weeks, time for the plaster to come off. I am assuming he will put a splint on after.
It was either take that date and have the summer off or leave it until later, by which time my work will be busy. In summer we really slow down and I though it might be good to be away on holiday with people to look after me. I am not really sure what to expect after the op, will I be ok carrying a light suitcase and flying and then going to a hot destination?

[Deleted User]

Hi Caroline & welcome to the Arthritis Care forums.

We are here if you need any support to do with using the forums. Many of the mods have some of the many varieties of arthritis and we all know about the feelings that go along with having it.

Do read and post across the different topics that you will find here.
All best wishes
Mod Bryn

stickywicket

Hi there, Caroline, and welcome from me, too

I've not had a trapeziectomy (I specialise in knees and hips :roll: ) but I found some old threads on it for you here
http://tinyurl.com/zt9hyay

In particular, this thread by 'drewa' might be useful as it's very comprehensive.
http://tinyurl.com/gnqss82

It's fairly quiet on here just now and, unfortunately, not many people look on this 'Say Hello' forum. I suggest you copy your post onto the Living With Arthritis forum and give it a clear title eg 'Trapeziectomy recovery period'. That will hopefully attract those who have had the op. Good luck

carolina1954

stickywicket wrote:

Hi there, Caroline, and welcome from me, too

I've not had a trapeziectomy (I specialise in knees and hips :roll: ) but I found some old threads on it for you here
http://tinyurl.com/zt9hyay

In particular, this thread by 'drewa' might be useful as it's very comprehensive.
http://tinyurl.com/gnqss82

It's fairly quiet on here just now and, unfortunately, not many people look on this 'Say Hello' forum. I suggest you copy your post onto the Living With Arthritis forum and give it a clear title eg 'Trapeziectomy recovery period'. That will hopefully attract those who have had the op. Good luck

Thanks, will do!
Caroline

bubbles

Hi Alistair and welcome to the forum - I am sure you will find it helpful and informative, as well as being a good place to chat away in the cafe about everyday things that we do. Sounds like you are doing quite well with the walking. I can sympathise with the pain side of OA and knee problems.
I am past the physio stage and just sort of into the Chronic list at my GP's lol. A gammet of pain killers and depo medrone injections into my knees as and when I feel I need them. They do work, to a point.
I have the GP saying whenever you need them and my cardio saying don't have too many............
Look forward to seeing you posting. Take care Aidan