Living with my arthritis

burns2025

Hi I'm Liz... I'm a new one thankyou for letting me join..

I have osteoarthritis and rheumatoid and phsoriatic in both my hands. Wrists and fingers and knees. Which I was diagnosed quite a lot of years ago . over last December and January I've had a massive flare up ( which I haven't had before ) due to having my Carpol tunnel op on my right hand end of November which hasn't worked. I'm still off work as I'm unable to do my job as I have to use both hands all the time ...I'm a nurse on a dialysis unit so I cannulate and set machines up etc....I have done this for 25 years now although I work part time now... so this is due to wear and tear part of the job .. I'm waiting for occy health to get back to me I've had numerous injections I have reactions to arthritis medication I'm a bit low at the moment wondering what my future will be .I'm 64 and can't retire for another three years as pension age is 67 for me . my boss is ok and assures me my job is safe but I'm always worrying what my colleagues think of why I'm off for so long if they think I'm having them on I'm hoping this flare up will settle.. sorry for going on .I just feel quite down at the moment about all if this ..

MaryL44

Hello Liz, @burns2025  and welcome to the Community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that will be your experience as well.

I'm so sorry to hear how down you are feeling. I have osteo and rheumatoid arthritis and I understand the distress caused by flare ups. The pain is enough to deal with without worrying about work. I know it is easy for me to say but you need to remember that your colleagues have worked with you for some time - they have seen how hard you work and the pain you are in. I imagine that most of them will be sympathetic. And, occupational health do have a responsibility to find ways of helping you return to work. Maybe they will be able to find you other duties that don't involve the intense work with your hands? It may also be worth considering early retirement, taking your occupational pension early, on sick grounds. I am no expert on the rules surrounding that but I'm sure it is a possibility. As for the state pension well from one Waspie to another I feel your pain!

Our website is a mine of information so do look at it. You might be particularly interested in:

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

I do these exercises and I do think they keep the pain at bay.

Also, our community members will have vast experience so keep checking back here for their responses.

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

Best wishes

Mary

burns2025

Thankyou for your response I certainly will keep looking here ..just to know some understand me helps .