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Outlaw

Hello.

I am 66 and have had arthritis for many years. NHS have washed their hands of me and have been passed onto a pain clinic. Dont have much hope with that. Just want to be able to reduce the pain but the Musculo Skeletal dept say there is nothing they can do for me. I suggest it is an age/finance thing !.

AlanM

Hello @Outlaw and welcome to the forum

you have had arthritis for a number of years, experience debilitating pain and have been referred to a pain clinic for further investigation/discussion.

When, as a charity, we ask people with arthritis what matters most to them, they tell us 'pain colours everything'. That seems to be the case for you and undoubtedly you've been through various options and approaches to managing the pain. It will be important to use your time at the pain clinic to explore as much as possible what might work best for you. There's rarely a silver bullet but there should be a way or ways to manage the pain more effectively.

If I'm teaching my grandfather to suck eggs here, I apologise but please also spend some time on our website.

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

And, of course, talk to other members here. You are certainly not alone.

Good luck and I look forward to seeing you on the forum.

best wishes

Alan

Outlaw

Thanks for that Alan. My perception of the NHS is that they are a wonderful organisation with limited finance. My symptoms are manyfold and the specialists that I have seen are overwhelmed. They say they can only address one area of pain at a time which is no good for me. I have tried physio on many occasions, acupuncture, osteopathy, had surgery on my back and knee and so on. I cant understand why the specialists wont assess my overall symptoms as one rather than individual areas.

dreamdaisy

Pain has been a part of my life since 1997 when my first arthritis began. People who have known me all this time remain surprised that I am still in pain because, to them, getting rid of it is simple which ideed it is if it is related to something transitory. I was referred to a pain clinic which did not help me because I was already doing what they suggested to diminish my perception of the hurt. Their other solution of more drugs or injections was not an option either, for me they are the equivalent of sticking plasters made from greaseproof paper. My view is it is here, it won't be leaving so dull the sharper edges then occupy the brain with other stuff so my focus is elsewhere. Other people, however, have benefitted from seeing pain docs which is good.

In my earlier times I flirted with morphine but, as I was still working and all that did was remove me from the pain, leaving me unable to function, I soon stopped it preferring to be alert and able as opppsed to dulled and incapable. With multiple-affected joints my hurts are constant and widespread but at least with the OA I know when it will be aggravated which makes it far easier to manage.

One danger of constant pain is that when another starts up it becomes merely interesting as oppposed to a warning sign but constant pain in varying degrees is part-and-parcel of the disease. The mechanisms of pain and its perception are not fully known, one man's agony is another's mild twinge. I help myself as much as I can with exercise, doing physio exercises that date back to 2002 and I hope to return soon to working with my personal trainer to further develop my muscle strength, flexibility and stamina. It does not, and will not, reduce the distress in my rotted joints but there is more to my body than the disease and I feel better in my psycholgical self for being active. I wish you well. DD