a few questions

sheenie

Hi there everyone. i'm still very new to this website and in fact to the arthritis....
I have it in my left hip and it only started in January.
I have had many tablets and injections and nothing has worked. Unfortunately due to a really really bad reaction to sulfa which left me jaundice back in july the rhumy wont put me on anything else but mexto and codeine for a few more months. Feb is the next appointment....love all the waiting around for appointments!

Anyhoo as im new to it all, a few questions:
is it me or does these cold cold days make it feel like my hip is extra stiff, its also like its frozen?!?

Anyone tried one of those foam mattresses? i been thinking of getting one as im so uncomfortable at night?

Also thinking of getting an automatic car next year, i really dont want to but on 'bad days' i find driving hard work, its the changing gear bit that does me in. anyone else tried this?

brought a walking stick last week, i feel a bit silly.

And lastly but more importantly, i have been reading a few posts about pregnancy with arthritis but im still really unsure on it all.
Im only 23 and me and the husband aren't ready for kids just yet but by the sounds of it, its something that really needs some planning.
i see its best to wait for 6months after being off the mexto.

Does being pregnant make it worse? i image carrying extra weight on my hip wont be easy, being that im only 7 and half stone myself my hip doesn't carry much weight at the moment.
And giving birth?? that's really gotta be difficult on the hip?
and whats best,
~if i wait to long will my hip be worse and it will be more difficult
~or if i do it to soon will it be worse as its all still 'new'?


sorry loads of questions, its all been building up in my head for the last few months.
:roll:

purvesrosie

HI there,
Welcome to the site. i'm pretty new to it myself. What kind of arthritis do you have? I have RA, I am also 23 and i have 2 little boys. during pregnancy i found my arthritis went into remmision. it was great i was doing loads of housework and everything until the day i gave birth. But a week or two after the birth ouch! it came back with a vengence. I can't comment on the effect on your hip as mine are ok touch wood. The human body is an amazing thing when it comes to pregnancy. I'm glad i had them young as i doubt i'd be able to cope the same in 10yrs.
Good luck hunni if you want to chat further you can send me a private message. It's nice to find someone the same age.
Rosie x

mash65

purvesrosie wrote:

HI there,
Welcome to the site. i'm pretty new to it myself. What kind of arthritis do you have? I have RA, I am also 23 and i have 2 little boys. during pregnancy i found my arthritis went into remmision. it was great i was doing loads of housework and everything until the day i gave birth. But a week or two after the birth ouch! it came back with a vengence. I can't comment on the effect on your hip as mine are ok touch wood. The human body is an amazing thing when it comes to pregnancy. I'm glad i had them young as i doubt i'd be able to cope the same in 10yrs.
Good luck hunni if you want to chat further you can send me a private message. It's nice to find someone the same age.
Rosie x

hi,welcome to this site,i brought a memory foam topper a few months back & its great,i have o/a nearly everywhere. i have found the mattress great because i lay on my left side i have o/a in left hip & it takes a bit of pressure of the hip.i find i can now lay on my back now as i couldnt do this on normal mattress :oops: its worth a try,quite a few of us on here have them,wouldnt part with it.cost me £99,but shopp around others have mentioned on here cheaper ones.will watch out 4 ur posts. debs

jenzie06

hi welcome to the site.
I've had RA for 10yrs and I'm 25yrs old.
I would really recommend the foam mattress, I've had one for at least 6yrs now and struggle to sleep on a normal mattress! You can also get a good deal if you shop around on internet - you also don't have to pay VAT if theres something wrong with you!
This year I bought a wheelchair for the first time. I use it when I'm bad and if we have to walk anywhere far. To start with I felt like I shouldn't use it or that I was giving up. But when I realised that the shopping could be done a lot faster and that I can get round town and still have some energy left for other things. Some people's reactions are a bit wierd, but the support of my partner helps. He makes me laugh, when I stand up out the chair my partner shouts 'its a miracle!'
We're getting married in March and plan to start a family about 6 months after - I was taking leflunomide so I have to be clear for at least a year before conceiving. When we start a family we know it can't be spontaneous as the doctors have to be involved too so there has to be a lot of planning. But the way I think is that most people plan to have kids, people save up to have them so this is just another part of the planning process.

Good luck, hope you're feeling better.

oneday

Hi there
i will try and remember all your questions!! (!!=my memory)

Memory foam mattress toppers lovely, buy one, also have you tried lying on your back with pillow under your legs?..i find that good.

Pregnany, um, this will put alot of strain on hips. I think i was alright until i had kids, sorry to say that....during pregnancy i had loose ligaments and had to wear a brace,hips very painful. All i can suggest is you use sticks to take weight off and dont stand too much, also try to exercise now to strengthen your muscles-everywhere.

Its good youre thinking ahead...........you will get loads of advice from other peeps.

lindalegs

Firstly, welcome to the site. I've had RA for 22 years and started overnight after the birth of my second child - I was 27 at the time. I can help with a few of your questions.

The cold damp weather does make my joints more painful - although not everyone shares this experience.

The majority of people feel silly with a walking stick - how many really old folk refuse to use them when they should? I don't use one all the time only when really necessary but I look on it as a tool - you wouldn't dream of getting things out of a hot oven without oven gloves - so why not use a stick if you need a bit of confidence walking. It's also a visual aid for others to see that you need a bit of a wide berth or consideration when crossing the road etc. I've got a very pretty one and dangle from the handle a very small teddy bear with 'No 1 Mum' on his chest - a present from one of my sons.

Advice from the others in the posts above about pregnancy is great. When the time's right you and your partner won't be alone your rheumatology team will be behind you and any questions or worries the real experts on this forum will be at your beck and call 24/7. Swimming or exercises in the pool will be brilliant [See note from moderator*] for building your hip and leg muscles which will support your joints for carrying a baby and remember the weight gain is gradual and I would think that your body will adapt as the pregnancy progresses.

I do recommend regularly going to a pool for anyone with arthritis, if at all possible, it's the best non weight bearing exercise we can get and will help maintain the mobility you have in your joints.

Hope my little bit helps.

Luv Legs


[* note from moderator – remember pool exercises may not be appropriate for everyone – we recommend you consult a health professional before exercising]

frogmorton

Hi Sheenie
Welcome to this lovely and supportive site! Everyone here is so helpful just ask anything and everyone tries to help!
There is a huge thread on pregnancy so I should have a read of that when you get time.
I feel silly with the walking stick - eben more so when I took it on holiday with me (incase) and was carrying it round the airport looking perfectly fine!! :oops:
Most people reckon that the weather has a bearing on your joints - sorry!
Beds...mmmmm....some people swear by memory foam - others hate it. Same with those electronic beds. I think a good mattress is essential, but the height of the bed off the floor is important too so you can get in and out easily. Someone recommended a pillow under your legs, I agrtee and if you lie on your side, put it under your knees!
Good luck and again welcome
Toni x

debatat

Hi

Sorry to hear that you are suffering when you are so young. I find that the weather really affects my joints, which is a bit of a cliche!

I also feel so silly using a walking stick or my wheelchair. But have learnt the hard way that if you dont, you place unnecessary strain on your other joints.

Hope you feel better soon

mash65

debatat wrote:

Hi

Sorry to hear that you are suffering when you are so young. I find that the weather really affects my joints, which is a bit of a cliche!

I also feel so silly using a walking stick or my wheelchair. But have learnt the hard way that if you dont, you place unnecessary strain on your other joints.

Hope you feel better soon

i went to physio today & really explained the pain in my knees & left hip told them i was having difficulty getting out.she said u have to keep mobile(i know that) came back with exercise sheet,told was to be moved on to weights next,& loads of walking.give up :oops: told her i have difficulty getting out 3 times now.when i do go out im ,arms crossed holding myself up,cause im in so much pain,huncked up(bent over)like a little old lady.best of all she was dealing with another patient at same time.feel like a robot on nhs converyor belt NEXT PLEASE!!!

sheenie

thank you everyone for the replies.
Its so nice to know im not alone on this. I was starting to think everyone, including doctors thought i was making it all up!

I will get the mattress, as soon as i have the money :roll:
Gunna try using the walking stick more.
And have decided to get back in to swimming, haven't been since all this started, been to scared to making it worse!

frogmorton

Hi Sheenie
I go swimming when i can - I reckon it's got to be good for us. Keeps the weight down and muscles strong.
Glad you are going to use the stick - if you need to you should. I know you feel a bit silly, but it can really help!
Take care
Toni x

woodie

frogmorton wrote:

Hi Sheenie
I go swimming when i can - I reckon it's got to be good for us. Keeps the weight down and muscles strong.
Glad you are going to use the stick - if you need to you should. I know you feel a bit silly, but it can really help!
Take care
Toni x

I'm sorry you have so much pain. I have a neck problem, and my phyiso told me to by 2 feather pillows, open one and stuff half the feathers into the other :? Well, although the cats would have enjoyed that, my husband bought me a memory foam pillow, and I find it a god send. My joints are worse in cold weather too. Hope things go well for you. Love Sue.

suzster

hi, i had oesteo arthritis in my hip when i had my 1st daughter. i had a epidural as i was advised it would be best for my hip, but i actually think that it wasn't the best thing as i was unable to feel my legs so ended up really hurting them and suffered for a while afterwards. when i had my 2nd child i had already had a hip resurfacing op but my hip was still very painful due to what i have now been told was the start of my rheumatoid arthritis. i had gas and air only and it was much better. i could feel if my hip was in an akward position and adjust my positioning to ease it. my recovery was much quicker and less painful. it wasn't until sarah my youngest was about 3 weeks old that my ra really took hold, but as i say i have been through having babies twice so i have some experience. i didn't really struggle to badly with my hip whilst pregnant both times until i got to about 6 months, and i was seen by a physio regularly and that really helped. i also used a support belt thing which did work wanders. my only issue was when i started suffering with my pelvis / hip towards the last month, i found i had to rest alot and listen to my body! i was indused with my 2nd child at about 37 weeks as the hip / pelvic pain was very bad but as i say the birth was not as bad as i expected!
so basically when you feel ready just make sure you are under the care of good specialists and listen to your body! if you want to ask anything please feel free to pm me.