Why is today so much more painful?

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NeverSurrender
NeverSurrender Member Posts: 13
in Chat to our Helpline Team

Hi I have Osteoarthritis of my neck knees back and hips etc and today I just woke up with severe pain in every Joint and. Muscle? Not a change of barometric pressure? I feel hopeless, and combined with my resistant depression and everything else I need help! GP'S are no good, MSK even worse, the only treatment I can get is to pay for private physio and she is miles away.

Sorry, I know lots of people are in pain - it's just so much worse today - I don't understand!

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  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,172

    Hi @NeverSurrender

    Thank you for your post. I am sorry to hear that you have osteoarthritis and woke up with severe pain. I understand from your post that you are also dealing with depression. Dealing with pain can really impact our mood. Symptoms of osteoarthritis can vary for no obvious reason. Or you may find that your symptoms vary depending on what you’re doing. The emotional effects of arthritis can have just as much impact as the physical symptoms. Severe or long-term pain that affects your daily life and possibly disturbs your sleep can affect your mood. From time to time, your arthritis may get on top of you. There are ways to help manage your pain, You are right to consider seeing a physiotherapist and I am mindful that you are finding your GP unhelpful, but they should be able to refer you to a physiotherapist through the NHS and with some GP surgeries you can self-refer to a physiotherapist. We have exercises and videos specifically for different joints, they are all designed for people with arthritis and joint pain and can be done at home as part of your self-management programme.

    Perhaps considering looking into the Nuffield Health programme could be an option for you which is free to access if you have one locally to you, particularly if you are struggling to see a physiotherapist.

    There’s not one ‘best’ way to manage arthritis conditions, as what works for one may not work for another. Using medications such as painkillers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), however it is important to speak to a GP to identify the best treatment based on your individual needs and circumstances. With all forms of treatment, whether it works, how quickly it works and how long it lasts varies across individuals and their conditions. In addition, you could request a referral to a pain clinic, these are specialised services that focus on the diagnosis and management of chronic pain. They provide specialist support with managing chronic pain and have proven to be very helpful for those with long-term conditions

    Self-management techniques can include keeping your body moving and doing gentle stretching and strengthening exercises which can help maintain mobility and reduce pain. However, it’s equally important to find the right balance between rest and exercise – too much activity may increase pain, but too little can make joints stiffen up. Using hot water bottles, electric blankets or wheat bags can help warm the joints and relieve pain, and exercise can strengthen the muscles around the joints and improve mobility. Cold therapy such as ice packs can reduce inflammation around the joints.

    Taking time for yourself and practising self-care can make a significant difference in how you feel day-to-day. Seeking support is equally important, and you can reach out to medical professionals about the way you are feeling and how this is impacting you, so they can refer you to additional support.

    You can also post on the ‘Living with arthritis’ forum if you would like to hear about others experience of arthritis and for peer support. You are also very welcome to call us here on the helpline if you would like to talk things through with one of our helpline team. I hope that this information is helpful.

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

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

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/emotional-wellbeing/
    https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/about-us/our-impact/healthy-life/joint-pain-programme

    Kind Regards

    Dawn, Helpline Advisor

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