How to cope with pain

scotbabedonna

So I have OA in both hips and knees. I now have crutches to help with my everyday life. Only on co codamol for pain relief as well as votarol gel. Doesn't even hit the surface of pain. Was in left hip first now progressed to right which I find hard to walk. Have cleaning job but I have to say I am struggling with it. Only 4 hrs per day 5 days a week. But need money so can't quit it. But coping really hard with pain. Any help would be appreciated

jamieA

Hi @scotbabedonna

If your local health authority has one ask to be referred to a pain management clinic. I was referred and the pain consultant I saw - online during covid lockdowns - was very good and thorough. She prescribed me capsaicin cream and lidocaine patches which have helped - though you now can't get capsaicin cream off the NHS.

noddingtonpete

Hello @scotbabedonna and welcome to the Community.

Some good advice from @jamieA - it is a shame about the Capsaicin cream as it helped me. You can still but it but no longer get it on NHS.

The pain clinic is a good idea if you can get referred. Also depending where you live have a look at the following:

Nuffield Health Free Programme

https://www.versusarthritis.org/research/research-achievements/escape-pain-exercise-to-reduce-the-pain-of-osteoarthritis/

Hope it helps.

Best wishes

Peter

zaychick

Recently diagnosed with arthritis in my left knee. Cannot take codeine so trying to manage with Paracetomol and Ibuprofen. Not really managing the pain. Any suggestions? Waiting on a physio appointment. Any advice greatly appreciated. Silly question, does the weather have anything to do with the pain?

janger

I too have been diagnosed with osteo in my knee, which is swollen but not red. But it is badly affecting the back of my leg from hip to ankle and the tightness and discomfort is far worse than pain from the knee. Can anyone offer some helpful relief for this? I can’t get comfortable at night and sitting at the moment is affecting the thigh muscle at the rear. I’m using Ibuprofin tablets and gel, and paracetamol.

Janettoz

This sounds like sciatica - I have bad knees also but I gave sciatica atm. I am seeing a physio but a break for Christmas. Look up exercises on line fir sciatica and see if it helps x

Ellen

Hi @Janettoz and @janger

Here are some exercises for the back which might be of interest?

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

Best wishes

Ellen.

Janettoz

Thankyou