Hello ☺️

abee
abee Member Posts: 2
edited 19. Nov 2024, 17:27 in Living with arthritis

Thank you for accepting me into this community.

After years of grumbling knee pain, I was diagnosed with OA in both last year aged 39.

I've also had years of intermittent back issues, spasms and the like, but earlier this year I suddenly was waking up with lumber stiffness, stiffness in the ankles, shooting pain in lateral lumber back and pelvis. I've spent 6 months trying to establish what the chronic pain and stiffness is.

It's quite alarming when you don't know and suddenly can only use your energy for work and work is too hard.

An mri a few weeks ago diagnosed facet joint arthrtis lumber vertebrae 2 -5 mostly mild degeneration with lumber 4-5 moderate. 3 bulging discs, one of which has an annular tear and L5/S1 nerve abutment.

I limit my activity to my 40 hours work but I'm very grumpy, and easily emotional (privately) and cannot do much of anything outside of work.

My GP uses the term 'normal wear and tear' and I understand we all develop this degeneration over time but I still need to work and manage the pain. The physio sadly couldn't attend my appt today to discuss Conservative management and my results so his assistant went through knee exercises and achilles tendonitis exercises instead until I can be seen next week by physio.

I'm wondering if anyone else is in a similar situation? Debilitating pain but still able to work but inefficiently as your used to and the condition being referred to as normal. I'm not being negative to gps as I understand this is a normal part of the aging process but I still need to work and I would like a life outside of this if possible.

I appreciate anyone's time reading this. And I look forward to being part of this community.

☺️

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