Living with arthritis- new to it all

Bowiefan

Hi folks. 5 weeks ago I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my® knee. About 8 or 9 weeks ago after attending the Dr with increasing knee pain, my Dr had said I was in a flare and sent me for an xray . I have been feeling OK the last few weeks, really good actually. However, yesterday and today, the pain is beginning to increase in the way it was before. I haven't changed my exercise routine. Long story short- how often can flares occur for example in a calendar year ? Or is this a " how long is a piece of string ?" query. Being new to it all I would appreciate any advice. Thanks

helpline_team

Hi @Bowiefan Thank you for posting on the Online Community. I am sorry to hear that the pain in your knee is increasing again. It is good that you went to the GP when you first had symptoms and had an X-ray to ensure the right diagnosis and treatment. Pain limits daily activities and can drag you down. It sounds as if it was beginning to settle down.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee tends to be a fluctuating condition. The frequency of flare ups varies from person to person. Pacing yourself and balancing activity with rest is important. Sometimes overdoing it can lead to a flare up as well as changes in the weather and other triggers. There is a lot you can do to help manage the pain and a flare up when it does occur.

The right pain medication and gentle exercises a little and often will help you to move more easily and be in less pain. The danger is to leave the exercises for a few days and then do too many in one go. It may help to talk things through further with your GP. Referral to the musculoskeletal (MSK) service or a physiotherapist and an orthopaedic specialist may be worth considering. NSAID gels, such as Ibuprofen or Voltarol, or naturally occurring Flexiseq bought over the counter may help to reduce the number of tablets you are taking. Heat or cold may help too. A healthy balanced diet and keeping a healthy weight will help to put less strain on your joints. A steroid injection may give temporary relief of symptoms.

If you would like to have more replies to your post, you are welcome to repost on our Living with arthritis — Versus Arthritis forum which is a supportive space where you can ask questions and share experiences with others. You are welcome to call our Free Helpline on 0800 5200 520 weekdays 9am - 6pm if you would like to talk things through informally and in confidence.

I hope the information given below will be of some help.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-knee/

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

Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on.

Best wishes,

Fiona, Helpline Advisor

Bowiefan

@ Fiona. Thanks so much for the advice. Very muchc appreciated