Time to introduce myself

ritnew

Hi
I thought it was time I introduced myself. I've been lurking around for a few weeks now and I think I must of read almost all the posts in the forum, so I feel I know you all so here goes. I have to say I've read nearlybionics posts avidly as my dr believes thats the next step for me, glad it's going well for you nearly, and Colin you have made me laugh a few times, love some of your jokes, not any good at lyrics though despite being married to a musician. I hope you eventually got some sleep tonight.
My name is Rita, I'm 57 years young been living in The Midlands for 7 years now, although I do come from London. I was diagnosed some years ago with arthritis, just told it was the normal wear and tear for someone my age so no treatment offered or suggested, except to take Ibruprofen or paracetamol if and when needed.
Last year I fell and broke my ankle, after 4 weeks I came out of plaster and had a MRI scan which showed up degenerative arthritis, which I have since found out is just another name for osteo, anyway once again no treatment offered or suggested. I was actually told my hips were shot to pieces. Well because of all the extra pressure I'd had to put on my so called good leg it allowed the arthritis to take hold and oh boy did it take hold, I just wish it would release it's grip if just so I can get a nights sleep, hence me writing this at 2 am. I did eventually, when the pain become to much to bear go to my GP. I have a fantastic dr who has tried every combination of drugs but I can't say I've been really painfree since last I can't remember it's been so long. I've had an xray and blood test as he thought I may have some gout, nothing showed up. The pain is mainly in my knee, sometimes it feels likes someones prodding me with a sharp stick, sometimes it's aches really bad sometimes it feels like its bruised or has a bad graze. I'm now getting bad muscle spasms in my upper leg, the pain is spreading down to my ankle. The dr has given up so he's referred me to the Primary Care Orthopaedic Service, whatever that is, but they have said after reading my notes they don't think they can help me and have sent a referral to the hospital, so I'm now waiting for the appointment to come through.
I'm taking all the usual painkillers, Tramadol or co-codamol and anti inflammatories, can't remember the name of them not Diclofenac as they did nothing for me and I take something to protect my tummy because the damage these pills cause.
I use a stick or crutches to get around, can't sit or stand for long. I did suggest we put a couple of hooks in the wall to hang me from, with all these pills rattling around in me I'd make a great wind chime.I gave up going out a couple of weeks back as it wasn't worth the pain it caused just walking round the supermarket, so my husband and daughter manage the shopping between them. I'm lucky that my husband likes shopping for food and I think is secretly pleased he's been given free reign to do this, he's also a really good cook so when I can't manage he just gets on with it.
I could go on forever but fear I'll bore you all, I do tend to prattle on too much sometimes, perhaps it's being up in the middle of the night in pain, it does get a bit lonely with just my cats and dogs for company, who by now are snoring and wondering why I keep disturbing them night after night. Well they can and do make up their sleep during the day my husband and daughter do have jobs to go to so I can't expect them to keep losing their sleep. So I'll go on reading all your posts getting more and more aquainted to you all and waiting for the pain to subside enough for me to be able to get into bed.

elnafinn

Hi Rita

Welcome and sorry to hear that you are in so much pain. One of the worst things is endless nights of being unable to sleep - everything always seems worse then, I think so anyway. Often they are bad enough in the day!

You do not say there has been any mention of hip or knee replacement ops offered to you? I have had a total knee replacement January 08 which stopped the pain and mobility is good.

This forum is great, which is proven by the fact that I must have been posting on here for over 2 years now on a fairly regular basis. It can get very addictive. Hubby gets home and asks where his dinner is

Luv
Elna

alicea

Hi Rita, I am new to the site and has you i have been reading all the posts for a couple of weeks , I had to post a line to you has you seem to be in the same postion I was in a couple of years ago (I was 57 at the time) my hip was driving me mad the pain was to much to stand the medication did'nt touch it. I went to see the specialist and within a couple of months he replaced my hip ,he said I should have been and sorted it out before I did but the doctor did'nt seem to think it was that bad. It has left me an inch shorter on the operated leg but the pain has gone and thats what matters. I was so happy it was the best thing i have ever done.
The OA is ongoing and I had my knee replaced last year, it seems to be in most of my joints, at the moment my shoulders and neck are driving me mad I hope the warmer weather will make me feel better, I think I need a body replacement I will order a younger one size 12 will be good lol. anyway has you say we could go on all day, but better to make the most of life and keep smiling.
Hope you better soon chin up bye .....Alicea

nearlybionic

Hi Rita
I am glad that you are finding my endless prattle (sorry i mean posts) useful! I am writing this exactly 1 week to the hour that i was in theatre for my hip op.And I am pleased to say I have had my1st full nights sleep for.........well.......I can`t remember! Wow! My hubby invested in a memory foam topper for the bed and I think that really helped too. I was referred to the Muscular skeletal team initially , which sounds like the team you were first referred to. They also said I was too far gone for their help! I hope you are seen by the orthopaedic team soon, so you know what their plan will be for you.
I totally understand the awful knee pain. I described it as like cheese wire round my knee cap! However the different pain in different parts of my varied so much it was never the same.
I still have a lot of pain, swelling and bruising, but so far would recommend THR. I will need to discuss my right hip surgery when I see the consultant at my follow up in 6 weeks.
I am sorry you are having so much pain, but hope you find this site as invaluable as I have.
Nicola

eckstardeluxe

Hi Rita

Welcome to the forum, I'm glad you have found the courage to come and share, it really does help. I'm sorry you are having so much trouble just now, it really gets you down. I am glad you have your pets for company, sometimes they are more understanding than humans! You know I heard Mickey Rourke accept his Golden Globe speech and thank his dogs, he said when he was at his lowest ebb his dogs were always there for him. It's so true. You are right about the other posts, they are so helpful to me too. Sometimes the support I get here really makes me feel better when I start to get down again. I hope you can find something that works for you. Best wishes Alex, oh and hello Nicola, I hope everything went well and you managed to get everything sorted out at the house xxxx

joanlawson

Hello Rita
I know exactly how you feel in the middle of the night. I have sat up all night listening to music on my CD player with earphones, just to take my mind off the pain. I described the pain in my knee as though someone had put it in a vice and was tightening it up more and more. I had key-hole surgery before Christmas, but they discovered that the OA was worse than they thought. I now have to decide whether to have a knee replacement. I am having physio and acupuncture in the meantime, which is helping, but I also have arthritis in my ankle, other knee and now my shoulder. I have also handed over the shopping to my husband :!:
I would be interested to hear how you get on at the hospital. Please keep in touch. Have you tried putting one of those heated pads which you heat in the microwave on your painful joint? I find it helps at night. I've also started taking a supplement called Osteo BiFlex, which is high-strength gloucosomine and other things. I think it is good although quite expensive. You can get it at Boots.

All the best
Joan

jaspercat

Hi Rita, just wanted to welcome you, I am 50 now and have OA in my left knee and starting in my right knee, I also have RA, so am loads of tablets, I won't take Diclofenic or any other anti-inflams, they made a complete mess of my stomach, hope your pain eases love Jaspercatxx

woodbon

Hi I just thought I'd say hello and welcome!!! I too have OA in my spine, hands and hips. I have problems sleeping sometimes and thats really frustrating, as I'd never had problems before. Anyway, I hope the hospital are able to offer some help with pain relief. Love SUe

ritnew

Hi
Thanks for the warm welcome.
Still waiting for my first appointment with the hospital, it was my GP who decided the next step for me would be surgery but I suppose it's up to the dr's at the hospital to decide what's best.
Anyway after a nice lazy weekend pain not quite as bad today, and as it's my husband's birthday and I'm not up to cooking huge meals it's takeaway.
Have a good evening everyone and keep warm the cold weather is on it's way back.
Rita X

colinone

Hello rita,
A big welcome to you, i thought someone was lurking in the dark on my PC early hours this morning now i know who it was. Well i'm sorry to hear your in so much pain and discompfort it just about wears you out. It seems to take forever to get things on track with the hospital with all the toing and froing. I must admit i seem to be better with storyies than poetry but it helps to pass the time during those longs nights that you are familure with. Talk to you soon, take care and keep uour chin up.
Colin

skezier

Hi Rita,

Welcome to the site and I hope you get a better night tonight. take care.