New member and to be honest I’m struggling

SOS1

From being an active 58 yr old who cycles, walks and does the garden, DIY… I’ve gone to limping around with painful moderate - severe hip OA / degenerative disc disease and mild knee OA. Within 6 months, my world feels like it’s completely turned upside down. It’s 18 months since my first GP consultation to ask for help with my “ growling knee”, a year later after X-rays, MRIs and physio, I’m worse than ever.

Having paid private to see an orthopaedic surgeon, he said I was half way to a new hip but needed to live with it but would consider a joint injection to help manage the pain. I’m really hoping if I take up this offer, it will help with the bonkers stiffness that seems to be more debilitating than pain.

Any advice on the joint injection? I’m told it’s variable in effectiveness but right now anything would do. I can just manage a walk across the car park for a regular kilometer swim, but all leisure walking, group yoga, shopping and social cycling has ceased which is now affecting my mental wellbeing.

thanks in advance

stickywicket

I like the honesty of your consultant. He's not prepared to operate on a knee that's not ready for it and he's also truthful about the effectiveness of the jabs.

I'm assuming he means steroids. It's right that they work for some people (up to three months if lucky) some of the time. They're more effective in the earlier stages.

I'd say go for it but don't then assume all is well even if it feels so. You'll still have OA. Exercise is essential but it has to be the right kind. Cycling is very good: competitive cycling probably not. Yoga which takes the arthritis into account is good. Yoga which doesn't, isn't. Swimming .very good. Walking very good. Shopping? Fine as long as you don't push it too much. You get my drift?

stickywicket

jonr

Stickywicket's spot-on IMHO and a lot of what you'll be able to do will depend on effective pain management. I have severe OA in both knees which need replacing but can walk and cycle regularly thanks to a combination of gels, pills, supplements and various gadgets. What are you currently taking/doing? There is some excellent information on the website about pain management, it's well worth swotting up as I think this is key to managing Arthritis in all it's guises and stages.

Best,

Jon

frogmorton

Hi @SOS1

Your post asks for advice with a joint injection - I certainly think it's worth a try.

My main advice though is to rest after it. This allows the steroid to remain in the area it's aiming to help. Meaning feet up no washing up /hoovering if there's an OH they can do it for a couple of days. Obviously the loo and shower are ok, but rest as much as you can.

My own ex MIL used to get months (and I mean months!) of relief after these.

Take care

Toni x

SOS1

Thanks everyone. My pain relief is cocodamol 30mg ( x2 up to 4 times per day) as I can’t take NSAIDs (as a precaution against another health issue). Sometimes, I sneak a Naproxen if I’m really bad. I have a walking cane but that’s about it. As I live alone, I can’t just not do stuff as I need to go about my daily living. That in itself is exercise and movement ( stairs, garden, cooking etc). I’ve learned to pace myself, which is an absolute necessity now as I’m wiped out and need to sleep. I think I’m struggling to come to terms with taking an early retirement to improve my fitness for long term health and my hip has rudely spoilt the idea! I’ll give the injection a go and behave myself so it can take full effect.

Jackn

Hi, I’m fairly new to this community too, ii became a member in Oct last year.

Please believe you’re not alone, there are people you can talk to.

Daily life is a struggle for me too, cannot seem to find a drug which will help my RA, I can either not tolerate it or it doesn’t work for me. We paid privately to get a second opinion and the Consultant said there were other drugs I could try.

But, I’ve been waiting now to hear back from The Rheumatology Hub since I phoned on 19th April, I complained about the service before, hence my second opinion.

Like you, I had to take early retirement. I struggle with day to day life too. Some of my benefits help towards a cleaner , once a fortnight. Which takes some of the pressure off me.

Do you have any support of family or friends? I know I am very lucky to have a Husband who works from home and tries to be supportive and a Sister who helps me a lot.

I think having the injections you suggested, will help things settle down. They say to rest after you’ve had it done, to keep the steroid in that area.,

Anna

Sorry to hijack your post @SOS1, but just wanted to give a quick welcome to @Jackn who has just posted her first post.

It’s great that you’ve joined us and have already posted supportive comments - that’s really what we do here and I hope you find support from others members too.

It sounds like your pain has got worse, so its always worth talking to your GP to see if you can adjust your meds. I note in another post that you’re not sure if your appointment should be urgent, but I would say if you are in increasing pain then that warrants an appointment with your GP to discuss it, especially if you can’t get hold of your Rheumatology Nurse.

Please do let us know how you’re getting on. I’ve attached a link below for some ideas on managing your pain - you might find some useful suggestions there.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/managing-your-pain/

Anna ( Moderator)