46 years old and seriously struggling, and now virtually incontinent, I need support

Lisaasa14

hi all,

I’ve had RA for 40 years and I’m about to have my hips replaced, the first one being at the beginning of June. I am really struggling as I’ve had to come off my Tocizilimab infusions for my operation and I’ve now become quite incontinent and I dare not go out anywhere. My legs now just “go to sleep” as I call it and my muscles are shot. I am soooooo embarrassed because I used to be an extremely active person but I’m now virtually house bound. My hubby is amazing and completely understands and helps me with everything but I am just really struggling at the moment and it is seriously stressing me out. I have emailed my specialist earlier today to see if I am allowed to up my medication that I am allowed to take now and up to my operation date, and I have got occupational therapy sorting me out a comode. I have had to stop my hydrotherapy that I have been doing for obvious reasons but I feel so alone in this and it’s costing me my social life as I’m too scared to go out just in case I have an accident somewhere. I am honestly so overwhelmed by everything as I have RA in every part of my body and now have severe osteoarthritis in my hips and lower back. I just want to know that I am not alone. Does anyone else have this problem and how do you combat it because this is new to me and I’m normally a social butterfly but now I dare not leave my home. :(

PeterJ

Hello @Lisaasa14 and welcome to the Online Community. First of all you are not alone but now have lots of new friends - you just haven't connected with them yet! We are a friendly and supportive group on here.

It is good that you have a supportive husband and also that you have got back in contact with your specialist and I hope they sort your medication out. Each of us are on a journey and I am sure it will get better for you and you will get a social life back.

Have a look through the following article from our website, some of which I hope will be useful to you and of course we have our Helpline, number below, if you need to talk to someone about your condition.

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

With best wishes

Peter