Better late than never

discodave

Hi everyone. This is my first post and I wish I had discovered the community sooner.

After a long and sometimes very painful journey I have been diagnosed with RA and am finally seeing a rheumatologist next week.

So far over many years - I am 74 - I have seen every kind of consultant under the sun, the most recent being at a spinal surgery service who determined I had carpal tunnel along with a compromised nerve system and then moved me on to the rheumatologist. This was at the end of an 20-month process during which matters have been getting worse.

I have been a long-term sufferer of osteoporosis which, after treatment, has levelled out. In the past five years I have had both knees and my right hip replaced. Several years ago I also had a bout of polymyalgia rheumatica but regrettably was not referred to a rheumatologist.

I have never been given a clear course of medication and so I battle along with a mixture of co-codomol, ibruprofen and gabapentin. I now wear special gloves for carpal tunnel and a wrist brace, at night, all of which I had to work out for myself online.

The only advice given throughout is to keep exercising, even playing a few holes golf occasionally, although I think my golfing days are just about numbered, which depresses me the most.

Maybe the rheumatologist may be able to help but I think it may have taken too long to get to see one and any treatment offered may be too late.

Anna

Hi @discodave and welcome to the online community,

It sounds like you've had a long and challenging journey to reach your diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. You're right, though, better late than never. This community is made up of people who all live with arthritis. Everyone is friendly and helpful and I hope you find support and encouragement from our members.

You might like to read this story from Ash, one of our members who founded 'Enable Golf' to support people with a disability. It's a dramatic but inspiring read:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2021/march/ash-s-journey-from-self-loathing-to-self-acceptance/

The advice to keep exercising was important. Even though we may not be able to do what we once did, we should keep moving to stay mobile and control the pain. Here are some gentle exercises you might like to try:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/exercises-for-healthy-joints/

Do let us know how you're getting on,

Anna (Mod)