Just joined

celiavl

Hi everyone. I have just joined because I really feel the need for support and advice. I have a complicated osteoarthritis history but the current situation is that I am 77 with advanced arthritis in both hips and I am on the waiting list for the first operation. I have been warned that I could be waiting a long time but they hope to be able to manage my pain meanwhile. I walk with two sticks at the moment and use a lot of aids but I am about to be assessed for more equipment such as a walking frame and a stairlift. Like a lot of other people on this forum I used to be a keen walker and gardener. I still try and garden but it's hard since I can't kneel - I have raised beds but I have to get other family members to do most of my allotment work now. My family are all quite a long way away and all have their own quite difficult lives so I try not to bother them too much, but I get quite down sometimes and I am hoping I can use this community to blow off steam!

jeddison1985

Hi @celiavl firstly let me welcome you to the forum I hope you find the information and support you are after from our wonderful community.

I can see from your post that you have had Osteoarthritis for a long time and waiting for your first operation on your hips as a result. Yes we hope the forum can be a place for you to blow off steam and build a support network for yourself.

The site is full of information and I wanted to signpost you to some information leaflets that could help, linked to as a starter general information on managing pain in your hips and advice on what to expect from the operation.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-oa-of-the-hip/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2020/september/ways-to-help-manage-hip-pain/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/surgery/hip-replacement-surgery/

Please feel free to search the forum for others with similar experiences and I am sure that some of our community will be able to help offer some useful suggestions.

Take care and I hope you get some relief soon.

Thanks

Joe

celiavl

Thanks for the welcome. I have had arthritis for a while now - I had both knees replaced seven years ago - so I am quite knowlegeable about drugs, treatment, etc. I shall be looking for some practical advice on here, though.