New & newly Diagnosed

TINKS21

Good afternoon all.

So, I've suffered with back issues for the last 20+ yrs. I have a bulge in L5 and degenerative disc disease. Approx 10 yrs ago I was then diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. It took quite a while to come to terms with the diagnosis and I'm still to this day learning about it.

Last year I developed new pains. In my hip (left). At 1st I didn't want to do anything about it because I would just be told it's down to your fibromyalgia but it started affecting my sleep and was getting worse. After being to pain clinic & physio and no one any the wiser as to what was going on, I was eventually referred for an MRI. Results came back last week. Cartilage in left hip wearing away. Degeneration in both hips, but more so in left. Surrounding muscles are also inflamed. So, I am now waiting to so Orthos for advice and going back to physio.

The thought of Arthritis is frustrating, I struggle most days getting going. I'm still working, 30 hrs a week in Healthcare myself. I'm on my feet all day. I have spoken to my line manager and I'm waiting to speak to the Occupational Health team. But the thought of not being able to do the job I love or the things I love is worrying me a little, maybe just coz it's just early days and I need to get my head round things.

Does this get easier or is this it? I'm 48.

Thank you for reading. 😊

noddingtonpete

Hello @TINKS21 and welcome to the Community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope you will find that as well.

Have a look through our website which contains a lot of useful information which may be of interest. I've put a couple of links in below which may be of help.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2021/november/ways-to-help-manage-hip-pain/

and

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

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

Best wishes

Peter

frogmorton

Hi @TINKS21 lovely to meet you.

I'm not surprised you are worried we all are at the start of this malarkey, but already having Fibro you must feel extra gutted. The good news is they have found out what is wrong and possibly can help you.

I hope your Occy Health are good and know their stuff. Once you've seen the orthopaedic surgeon you'll be better placed to know what options you have.

To be fair it does get easier when you know more. At the moment you are still a little bit in limbo.

My own best advice is to get informed read those links the moderator gave you and try hard not to worry to much. Easier said than done I know. Oh yes and avoid Dr Google.

Take care

Toni x