Hi from a newbie

Hev27

Hey guys newbie here. X rays confirmed OA a year ago. Took nearly two years of being treated for tendentious first. Doc stated it’s stage 2 of 3 in hands and wrists. Thumbs are the worst. He then told me he doesn’t know much about it and referred me to a specialist. Also advised I will likely loose my driving license. Have been trying to do some research to help slow down the process but it has left me more confused. The waiting list to see the specialist was approx 14 months so not sure where I am in the queue. I don’t know if I have bone on bone, Spurs or any thing else just that I have OA. Strangely I tried a challenge recently to add distance to a rowing event and found rowing 10000m 3-4 times a week on a rowing machine left my hands pain free?. Also having been diagnosed with severe stress several years ago after several years of unwanted sexual harassment I started having anxiety attacks. These had pretty much stopped but now they seem to be a warning sign that I’m about to have a flare up. Either I have a really sadistic sub conscious or a very clever one 😂 Anyway one very confused weirdo saying hi.

Brynmor

Hi @Hev27 welcome to the Online Community.

I understand you have a diagnosis of osteoarthritis in your hands and wrists. This is naturally worrying and when you now experience anxiety it acts as a warning that your osteoarthritis is about to flare.

We have a great general page of information on osteoarthritis that includes information on managing pain and living with the condition:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis/

There are also dedicated pages for hand and wrist exercises: do try them out and let us know how you get on:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/exercises-for-healthy-joints/exercises-for-the-fingers-hands-and-wrists/

Do join in across the Online Community, ask questions, give advice and call in for a chat to say how things are going. You will be most welcome.

All best wishes

Brynmor