Newbie with questions

lowsy54HW

Hi I am a newbie, I was just wondering what the "normal", time scale for seeing a consultant about my Oesteo arthritis? I am not quite sure how it all works? I am living in Bucks, and after a couple of visits to the gp, he sent me for a xray. I have arthritis in both knees. One worse than the other. The Gp, suggested exercises which I have been doing, I'm quite active until recently. I am 54.
Can I ask for a referral as I would like to know about, treatment options, not just pain killers? also do knee support help? I have spent a fortune on them, but I could be buying the wrong things? Do you become dependant on them? What about clothing and footwear? Would he send me to a physio, or Doctor, and do injections help?
I am worried as I have holidays booked, which sound trivial but have been booked for 2 years? Any way of pain control? Or am I heading for full knee replacement like my little sister?
Any info, Iwould be really grateful - Lorraine

[Deleted User]

Hello Lorraine and welcome to the forums from the moderation team.

I am very sorry to hear about your diagnosis of osteoarthritis in both knees – worrying I think particularly for you as you have long-awaited holidays impending. I can see you have already posted on the helplines, but hope some of this may be of use and apologise if any of it is a duplication of the helplines information.


This link leads you to Arthritis Care’s information about osteoarthritis:

https://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/do-i-have-arthritis/a-z-of-types/62-osteoarthritis

It is likely that your GP will undertake most of your care until your arthritis is classed as 'severe'. Absolutely he/she can and should prescribe pain relief for you. Your GP can also refer you for physiotherapy, (in some areas you can self-refer), possibly to a pain clinic where other therapies may be available to you. These may include hydrotherapy, acupuncture etc. Pain clinics are specialised in dealing with pain.

This link is a response to a question asked about Knee supports so should be of use:

https://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/q-and-a/living-with-arthritis/aids-and-equipment/can-you-recommend-supports-for-my-knees.aspx

This information by Arthritis Research UK is about osteoarthritis and is very comprehensive:
https://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/osteoarthritis.aspx


We have a great community here, with lots of experience of arthritis who I know will make you very welcome and help in any way they can.


I look forward to seeing you posting in future.

Best wishes

Ellen.

stickywicket

Hi there. I don't think I can add to Mod Ellen's reply except maybe to say supports are good but don't overuse them as they do encourage muscles to be lazy. Strong muscles support joints so pain is lessened but weak ones don't. Hence the importance of exercises and physio. Supports do have their value though for short periods ie about no more than 4 hours at at any time I reckon. I've always used neoprene(sp.?) ones.

Re holidays - do ensure your travel insurance company is aware of the arthritis. I doubt it'll make much, if any, difference to your premium but it could make an enormous difference if anything goes wrong.

dreamdaisy

Hello, it's nice to meet you but I am sorry you have had to find us. I have no idea what 'normal' means when it comes to things medical but it is usual for some time to pass before things are deemed bad enough for surgical intervention. Until that point GPs deal with OA; treatment options are pain relief, maybe an anti-inflammatory medication, physio and exercise. Rest is also helpful. Any form of arthritis is degenerative and progressive but is more usual for years to pass before referral to an orthopaedic surgeon.

I began with an auto-immune arthritis when I was 37, fourteen years later OA was diagnosed. Some joints have one, some the other and others both. It all began in my left knee, now both are bone-on-bone. Initially I used supports but realised that that wasn't helping matters, it was me denying the problem. I still do the physio exercises that I began back in 2002 and keep my pain relief to the minimum so I have an escape route for the poorer times; things are currently very bad thanks to the weather, something out of my control.

I hope you find the forum to be of interest, there are around ten million arthritics in the UK with the majority having OA so you are not alone: we get it because we've got it. DD