New member - how do you cope through the night?

smpritchard

Hi Everyone

I’m new to the group. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my forties and have always worked through the pain thinking it was just general aches and pains.

Last year at the grand old age of 50 I was supposed to have a total hip replacement. Unfortunately, it was cancelled the week before the operation which was devastating. When I then went back to see the surgeon, he decided that I was too fat to have the operation and no longer a priority. I was a standard size 18, 5’ 8” and this had never been a problem before as I have to take steroids daily due to a brain tumour.

Finally, this year, after the thought of suicide seemed my only option, my Husband cashed in his pension to pay for the operation privately. They don’t care how fat you are when you are paying for it!

I will need another hip replacement, but feel angry that we had to pay for it ourselves.

My nip hip is fantastic and I’m feeling the benefits already. However, I don’t sleep due to the arthritic pain in my neck, shoulders and knees. How does everyone else cope?

I think I am immune to drugs now after the medication I have been on for my brain tumour. Nothing seems to help and I lie there awake every night wishing it was the morning again.

Thank you for reading my story.

Susan x

Anna

Hello @smpritchard and welcome to the online community,

It’s good to hear that after several years of pain, your new replacement hip is working well, after having come through a difficult time. I’m sure all our members will understand the frustration of waiting for surgery, and also the problems of getting a good night’s sleep.

Here’s a thread from the forum where there are some simple suggestions for helping to sleep well. It’s an old thread, but the advice is all still useful: https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/19019/tips-for-sleeping.

Have a look at this link too - it might give you some more ideas:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2022/february/top-tips-for-good-sleep/

Do have a look round the forum and join in wherever you feel comfortable,

Anna ( Moderator)