New to all of this!

FifiFlamant

Hi guys - I'm 43 and have been diagnosed with stage 2 osteoarthritis in both hips. It would seem that the Gabapentin I had been prescribed for bulging disc pain in my back had masked the arthritis, so it all came as a bit of a shock. I also have issues with both thumbs and my left shoulder but doc doesn't seem much interested so no idea if these are also arthritis!
So, the back consultant told me to come off gabapentin and to see a hip specialist - neither of which my GP was happy about. I'm allergic to anti-inflammatories so am currently receiving no pain meds - this makes it really difficult to sleep as my hips hurt and send pain all the way down to my ankles.
My doctor also said there is no point in seeing a hip specialist as basically there is no other treatment other than replacements and I'm too young. Is that true?!!

[Deleted User]

Hello

Welcome to the Versus Arthritis forum. You will find the members are friendly, will offer support, hints, advice from their experience of living with arthritis and can emphasis with you. I am one of the moderation team and we all have one or more of the Arthritis "hangers on" or look after family members with similar conditions.

There are quite a few members of the forum who have osteoarthritis, and there are also people who have had hip replacements. Your GP doesn't sound very helpful to you, even though it has been suggested by another hospital consultant that you are referred to someone who specialises in hips. There are different treatments that can be offered to you to ease the pain of your hips. Is it possible for you to get yourself an appointment with a different doctor in your surgery that could be able to give you a different opinion. Also you could explain that you are in constant pain and ask if there is any pain killers he could prescribe to help you.
Versus Arthritis do many handy booklets and fact sheets which may be helpful to you. At the top of this page you will see several buttons which when pressed will lead you the various subjects and conditions Versus Arthritis cover.

I look forward to reading future posts from you and see how you are coping with things now.

Best wishes
ChrisK

FifiFlamant

Many thanks Chris. I did manage to get the doctor reluctantly to refer me, so I'm hoping I'll get that through soon. My back consultant wants me off pain meds at the moment so they can establish which pain is from my hips and which is from my back, so I'm currently just managing by heat (I have a hot tub which really helps and would recommend to anyone with chronic pain if they can possibly get/use one). I'll take a look at the info on the page, thank you, I haven't had any leaflets or do's/don'ts so I am looking forward to chatting on here and getting some advice, especially on exercise.
Thanks again,
Amanda

[Deleted User]

Hi Amanda

Nice to meet you and welcome you too.

You say you are after information about exercise? I hope this link will help:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/exercise/about-exercise/

also given your level of pain:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/exercise/exercises-to-manage-pain/

Hope this helps

Ellen.

stickywicket

FifiFlamant wrote:

My doctor also said there is no point in seeing a hip specialist as basically there is no other treatment other than replacements and I'm too young. Is that true?!!

To be honest, it's not far wrong. They don't like to do replacements too soon as that means more will be needed and, to replace a replacement, is more cómplicated. Unfortunately, Stage 2 is regarded as 'mild to moderate' whatever it feels like. Exercise is your best bet as that keeps the supporting muscles strong. There are pain meds other than anti-inflamms so it might be worth asking your GP as this is something we have to learn to live with.

Has your GP suggested physio? A tailored programme might really help. For sleeping, try (you'll hate this - we all do ink:) sleeping on your back. And do make sure you have a good, up-to-date supporting mattress.