New Diagnosis - Welcome to new members in March 2022

Brynmor

Welcome Everyone! 😀

You don’t need to face arthritis alone. You have come to the right place.

As a result of the Versus Arthritis campaign to reach out to people with a new diagnosis of arthritis, quite a lot of new members are signing up to the Online Community every day.

Members are great in offering support and advice - please join them to help others.

The great thing about our community is you can turn someone’s whole day around by giving a kind and supportive word where you can.

Join in our poll When was your diagnosis? and do join in to say how you felt on learning about your diagnosis

Additional Support

If you need to talk to a person directly, then please do contact our Free Helpline. Our advisors aim to bring all of the information and advice about arthritis into one place to provide tailored support for you.

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Itstootsie

Hello! Susan here!

anneb82

Hello @Itstootsie

Welcome to the online community and thank you for joining us. I hope that you will find this a safe and friendly space to continue sharing your story with us all.

I noticed that you have osteoarthritis so have included some information below that you may find interesting.

Please do get in touch if there is anything specific you require help with. If not, I hope that you enjoy getting to know everyone and we look forward to getting to know you better.

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

Take care

Anne (Moderator)

bnd007

Hi..I was diagnosed in July after not being able to cope and went to a&e. After around 3 years of continuous visits to local doctors. I was fobbed off saying I'd got tendinitis..pulled muscles..pulled blood vessels .After eventually seeing the consultant I have rheumatoid arthritis which is carried around in my blood causing swelling and mobility issues every day as it attacks different areas of my body. I have nodules and am at stage 3-4 .

Poppyjane

Welcome @bnd007 to the online community, I am glad you found us after what sounds like a frustrating time being "fobbed off" by numbers of incorrect diagnosis. Now having seen a RA consultant you are coming to terms with rheumatoid arthritis which is causing swelling and mobility issues. We are here to support you in a safe and friendly place where you can share and learn more about living with arthritis.

I attach some links which I hope you will find helpful

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

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/55791/full-body-stretching-routines

Many of us living with arthritic conditions find the community exercise videos fun and really helpful to keep our muscles and joints more mobile. You can do as much or as little as you like at your own speed , so give it a try and post a comment to let us know how you are getting along .

We look forward to hearing from you soon

Take Care

Poppyjane

nickmac60

Hi there, my name is Nicky and I live in Motherwell. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hands and fingers around 13 years ago

PeterJ

Hello @nickmac60 and welcome to the community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that that will be your experience as well.

I understand that you have osteoarthritis in your hands and fingers. Our website has a lot of useful information and I would recommend having a look around it. To help I've put a couple of links in below which may be of use.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-hand-and-wrist/

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

Please do keep posting and let us know how you are getting on and I am sure that others will connect with you and share their thoughts and experiences as well.

With very best wishes

Peter

nickmac60

I hoping to get some ideas about how to manage this. The links sent by the moderator were very useful, thank you

Trud

Hello I'm Trud, I was diagnosed in April 21 and was told that I had about a year left before I would need to have a hip replacement. In September while at work my hip gave way twice and I was told that my hip has now deteriorated to bone on bone. I have now been told I need to get my BMI down to 35 before they will even see me again. I have lost a stone but I'm struggling to lose the weight.

As well as that I was mentally suspended from work in January even though I've had 3 OH assessment saying I am fit for work with restrictions on working down stairs, but still my employer won't let me back to work . Has anyone else ever experience this at work. I am only 52 , so I still have many years of work in me.

Ellen

Hello @Trud

Welcome to the Online Community. I see you are really ready to have your hip replaced, but need to get your BMI down before surgery. Congratulations on losing a stone it's not easy when you have mobility issues. I will attach a link for you to read which might help a little:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2021/september/top-tips-to-manage-your-weight/

I can imagine your work situation is very frustrating for you at 52 and with no prospect of your surgery being in the very near future. Have you taken any further advice other than Occupational Health? Some of our members have contacted ACAS in the past I know and others their unions.

This might be worth a read as might be reposting the work issue in this category as those interested in work placed issues are more likely to see it there:

https://community.versusarthritis.org/categories/benefits-and-working-matters-forum

Best wishes

Ellen.

Trud

Hello I'm Trud, I was diagnosed in April 21 and was told that I had about a year left before I would need to have a hip replacement. In September while at work my hip gave way twice and I was told that my hip has now deteriorated to bone on bone. I have now been told I need to get my BMI down to 35 before they will even see me again. I have lost a stone but I'm struggling to lose the weight.

As well as that I was mentally suspended from work in January even though I've had 3 OH assessment saying I am fit for work with restrictions on working down stairs, but still my employer won't let me back to work . Has anyone else ever experience this at work. I am only 52 , so I still have many years of work in me.

AJM66

Hi “diagnosed” with fibromyalgia by a specialist over the phone after speaking to lots of different locum doctors, and nothing my go is unhelpful

AJM66

Hi after many gp visits diagnosed with fibromyalgia over the phone by a specialist, my gp unhelpful changed gp new gp equally unhelpful actually feel lost

Chris_R

Hi @AJM66

Welcome to the online community, good to see you posting.

You say you have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia over the phone but was unhelpful so you are feeling lost at the moment.

I am so sorry you are experiencing pain at the moment through your Fybro and that lost feeling because you cant seem to get answers.https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/fibromyalgia#:~:text=%20Fibromyalgia%20is%20a%20long-term%20condition%20that%20causes,pain%20signals%20from%20other%20parts%20of%20your%20body.https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/managing-your-pain/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/?f=21

Here are a few links that may help

Please keep in touch and tell us how you are getting on and chat on our forums it often helps to talk to people who understand

All the best Christine

SarahEP

Hi - Sarah here. I've recently been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and started on Methotrexate

Glad to find a community for support

[Deleted User]

Hi @SarahEP

Welcome to the online community- you are certainly in the right place for support!

Although a diagnosis can sometimes be a shock, it's a blessing in disguise because you now have some sort of an answer and can begin treatment!

Here are some links for information about your condition and your current medication:

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

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2020/january/all-about-psoriatic-arthritis/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/methotrexate/

I do hope that these are useful for you and that you start to see some improvements/ management of your condition with your medication!

Take care and keep us posted!

Sarah

Angie20

Hi , I’m new to forum , wonder if anyone else gets absolutely agonising muscle cramp/ spasm in buttock area and lower back pain , it happens all the time which leaves me unable to move and struggle to get to a safe place , first visit to physio who said I’m thinking too much about it , I feel like crying because it’s embarrasing and scary when it happens , thanks for any advice .

Shell_H

Hi @Angie20 - welcome to the online community!

I see you're getting lower back cramp / spasms which cause a problem not only because they're painful but because it makes it hard for you to move, so you need to try to get to a safe place when it happens. You've visited your physio, who told you not to think about it so much.

You haven't said what kind of arthritis you have, but seeing the physio is a good thing to do! Stretching and gentle exercise of the affected area can help reduce cramps and muscle spasms, which is good. While your physio may not have been the most sympathetic person, hopefully they have given you helpful exercises ad stretches for you to do. I've added a couple of ideas below which may help as well.

Another idea is massage - it might well help reduce your muscle spasms by helping your muscles to relax. We have some information on this as well.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/complementary-and-alternative-treatments/types-of-complementary-treatments/massage/

• Post on hip exercises
• Exercises for the back
• Exercises for the hip

I do hope you find a solution to this. You might want to start a new discussion with a title about back or muslce spasms if you want to have the rest of the online community to see your post.

Lovely to meet you!

Shell

lonegunwoman

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/692479#Comment_692479

lonegunwoman

Hello everyone, my first post. Wishing you all have a good easter and that you feel well. Take care.

YvonneH

Hi @lonegunwoman

Hi thanks for joining the Online Community, welcome. I know you have arthritis and you are looking for company, well this is the place. May I suggest you take a look at this category Living with Arthritis and have a read of some posts by other members - you will get to know what we are about and you might be ready to share more about your own journey with arthritis, and maybe post some offers of support and advice as you go along.

Here is our information on why it's important to talk to others about arthritis

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2022/january/why-is-it-important-to-talk-about-arthritis/

Take care

Yvonne x

FlippertyJibbert

Hi All,

I’m new here. Recently diagnosed with CMC joint arthritis (basal thumb) in my non-dominant hand. Both of my older sisters have it, so I’m guessing it’s a hereditary thing 😔

GP has offered me steroid injections which I want to put off for as long as possible. I can’t handle Naproxen, so am using ibuprofen gel and the occasional brace to help deal with the pain (which is pretty much constant these days). I’m off to see a private physiotherapist on Friday and may be offered acupuncture. Can’t wait!

Nice to ‘meet’ you all 😊

HelenS

Hi @FlippertyJibbert

Thanks for joining the Online Community, and welcome! I know you have arthritis of the hand and you may just be looking for some advice, well you've come to the right place 🙂

It might be worthwhile taking a look at this category Life With Arthritis there are lots of posts by other members and this is also a great place to share more about your own journey with arthritis. You could maybe also post some offers of support and advice.

You may find the following pages on our website useful, which also gives tips on how you can manage your condition.

Osteoarthritis of the hand and wrist

Please do feel free to let us know how you are getting on

Best wishes

Helen

rosie159

I am looking forward to talking to other people who understand how I feel!