Osteoarthritis

Red

I'm newly diagnosed with osteoarthritis but been suffering for years in my knee, now in my hips, I'm off work with alot of pain in hips and groin, blood tests clear but no option to help me further, it's really affecting my everyday life, can hardly walk and my job is office based sitting but I can't sit long, I don't know what to do next as just suggested physio, I can't sleep and getting very depressed with no where to turn for help, any advice how I get some normality back

noddingtonpete

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

I understand that you have osteoarthritis in your knees and now your hips and looking for advice as to how to manage this. Our website has a lot of useful information which might be of some help, so 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/living-with-arthritis/work/

and

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/hip-pain/

If you have any specific questions you could either post them here, or call our Helpline team who are available Mon-Fri 9am to 6pm on 0800 5200 520

Please let us know how you are getting on and I am sure others will connect with you to share their support and experience as well.

With very best wishes

Peter (moderator)

CliveClive

Hi @Red, I can hear your frustration. Went through the physio route, denial and finally had hip replacement. Pain went, now working to get fit again. Sleep is still problem but improving. You need to hang in there, things will get better.

DebbieL

Hi @Red ,

I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in my lower spine in 2018. I also had an office job and was often in a lot of pain at work. I would take 2 x 8/500 cocodamol but they made little difference and I couldn’t take anything much stronger as I was at work. By the time I was driving home I would almost be in tears due to the pain. On arriving home I would often take two 30/ 500 cocodamol and go to bed.

When I received my diagnosis no plan of treatment was given. Just a suggestion of physio which I had already tried and had not helped at all. I was devastated and could only see pain and reduced mobility in my future and everything getting worse.

I just didn’t know what to do. I wrote a letter of complaint to my GP surgery and booked private physio. I got an immediate appointment with my GP and a referral to a specialist. My GP also discussed pain relief and changed some of my tablets. The specialist offered pain management/ well being or physio. I took the physio. After just a few sessions and the correct exercises the difference was amazing. I also reduced my work days from 5 to 3.

I did the worse thing for my back by not doing exercise. I took up ballet , stretch class, tap dancing and started going for walks again. The last thing I felt like doing when I got home from work in pain was exercising but it was the thing that reduced my pain and improved my mobility. Also exercise makes me tired and also helps me to sleep.

Now I rarely take painkillers during the day. I need them to be able to sleep and if I have a bad day.

Complain- push your GP for a referral. Keep making appointments till they do. Physio and exercise was a life changer for me. I can’t run anymore but walking is fine and a bit of cycling and my dance lessons. Balancing rest and exercise. Swimming is also good.

I hope some of the changes I made may help you but it really is trial and error. I am not back to normal but I can do a lot more than I ever thought I would.

I hope things improve for you soon.

Take care

Debbie