New to this forum and new to arthritis

ninakang

Hello everyone

Just thought I'd introduce myself as I've been coming on here for a couple of weeks and finally got the courage to log on to say hello. You all seem like really nice, friendly, approachable people and I'm looking forward to being able to talk to others in the same boat as me.

I was diagnosed with arthritis about a month ago and I have my first consultation at the hospital in a week's time. The pain seems to move around my body, although my knees and ankles are the worst first thing in the morning (there has been plenty of shuffling downstairs on my bum just recently!). It's the unpredictable-ness of it that gets to me. Like, my fingers ache this morning but my knees aren't too bad?! Does anyone else have this or does the pain usually settle in one area or a couple of areas?

Anyway, I'm 32 years old and work as an Office Manager for the Fire Service. I went to see Occy Health last week just to keep them informed and they couldn't have been nicer. I do feel sorry for people who've had trouble with work, I don't think that's a problem I'm ever going to have to face. I work on the 3rd floor of a fire station and they said they can move me downstairs because there isn't a lift, but I find the stairs in the morning stretch out my joints and I feel better when I get to the top. For now anyway! I also have to visit my other Admin Offices in the other fire stations in the area so I do move around quite a lot. It's quite rare for me to spend the whole day at my desk really.

I think my main goal is to get more active as I could be fitter. I could probably also do with losing about a stone in weight, which I'm sure will take some pressure off my knees. Any ideas from anyone out there for a basically very lazy mum of three little ones who works full time?!

Anyway, I'll stop typing now, I promise not all my posts will be this long. I hope to make some good friends on here, because, like I said, you all seem like really lovely people

Nina X

elnafinn

Hi nina

Wow, you are a busy lady! Welcome to the site. Yep the aches and pains do move around the body. At least you have a hospital appointment coming up fairly soon and your workplace appear to be looking after you which is great. Has your gp prescribed any meds for you inbetween your visit to him and the consultant?

Any excess weight removed helps the knees because they do not have to work so hard! Sounds like you probably burn off calories with your job and looking after your kiddies. Perhaps just a tweak with your diet may do the trick, like boring salads etc now the weather is hopefully brightening up.

Speak soon,

Look after yourself,

Luv
Elna x

ninakang

Hello

My GP asked if I was taking any medication and so I told her that when the pain's bad I take Ibuprofen and she said to come back if that doesn't work. Sometimes it doesn't, but I think I'm in denial and not taking it as often as I should anyway.

Yes, work are being very good, I feel very lucky. And although my kids are 5, 7 and 10 years old, they are very good girls and understand when I need to sit and rest. We read and watch films together a lot when I feel like that, so I don't feel as though they're missing out. When the pain's been really bad and my husband's been on a late shift, my eldest has even shoved a pizza in the oven for tea :-)

The strange thing is that my sister, who's a year younger than me has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair bound. She got rheumatoid arthritis when we were teenagers and it's strange that I have the same type. No one else in our family has it - do you think it runs in families?

Nx

nearlybionic

Hi Nina
Hello and welcome to the site!
I hope you find the site as informative and supportive as I have.
I`m glad that your work have been so understanding, that must have been a great help for you.
As for losing weight, well, if you crack that one please let me know!! I have lost a bit of weight recently, but I think it has been a loss of appetite post op after hip replacement and due to medication changes, so can`t really recommend that!
Take care
NB

jackie1955

Nina, welcome aboard

I'm relatively new on here too, but already feel part of the 'family', everyone has been so nice and welcoming.

Its worrying when your newly diagnosed isn't it :?: My imagination went into overdrive and I visualised the worst scenarios - luckily I found this site and got things in proportion.
I'm due to start methotrexate soon - I'd never heard of it and have read lots about it on here!. Apparently as I am in the early stages of RA it will hopefully slow down its progression and joint damage. Can't remember now if you've seen a rheumy yet - surely you will be doing if you have RA? Similarly I would think you need to start on some med for it?

Anyway, Nina, hope you'll be posting regularly and I'll just mention the Chit Chat Forum is a great place to post on just about anything! I particularly enjoy the Quiz, the 'Guess the Song' and some of the 'debates' that take place

Jackie x

skezier

Hi Nina,
Welcome to the site. I hope you do indeed find a lot of support and make some good friends here.
Diets are strange things.... I have tried almost every fad one out there but need to reintroduce my self to one quite quickly as less weight may mean less pain! I have stated to try and do a partial workout, there are bits my stupid bones wont wear but it may help. With all you do I thin Elna is right about just tweaking your diet? Me I have to stop the comfort eating...........
Anyway I am glad you found the site and if you haven't fond them yet there are some incredibly good leaflets on the this site. For me these people here have helped so much but also I have been better since I had more understanding of what my bones are trying to do. Take care, Cris

ninakang

Thanks for all your lovely messages - I can see myself becoming a regular on here :-)

As for the weight loss, I think I need to try a combination of being more active and stopping eating so much junk food. I do eat quite well most of the time but give in to snacking in the evenings in front of the TV. I also LOVE my food, but probably a bit too much!

The good thing is that I won a competition last week - we're going to be one of the Dolmio Star families who want to eat healthier and get more active. So in return for trying out 6 new recipes and 6 new activities, we will get 5 bicycles and helmets, leisure centre passes, bowling vouchers, a trampoline, a Wii Fit and a digital camera to record it all! So I won't have any excuses not to get more active this summer.

Just look out for us in magazines and on a website called goodtoknow.co.uk - although I never did learn how to ride a bike so the pictures of me will probably be of me lying on the ground next to an overturned bike *lol*

frogmorton

Hi Nina
and welcome from me too!!!
That sounds like a good competition to win!!!
Trampoline eh?? That'll be fun
New bikes too and a wii fit!!!
You will be fit family and that will surely help lots with losing weight!!
It also sounds like a lot of fun.
Do let us all know how you get on
Take care
Toni x

yesmeducky

Nina,
Welcome and congrats on logging on and introducing yourself. Like you i'm in the early stages. I was diagnosed this March with RA. It started out as just one joint being stiff and hurting and the next day it was gone leaving no trace . I'd be ok for a few days and another joint would hurt and then go. This was the pattern for a few months. More joints became involved and the disease hung around for a bit longer. My fingers and wrists are the worst affected in the morning and evening but the pain is controlled fairly well with co-codamol though steroids are still being taken. Of course it could be the sulfa drug beginning to kick in (nearly 4 weeks). It's the fatigue that gets to me the most, making exercise something i put off until the next day! We really have to push ourselves. We have to think of it as medication. It sounds as though you have the potential to a varied fitness regime. Cartwheels soon for you then! Pleased to hear your work is behaving towards you in these difficult times. Hope your visit to the consultant is a successful one. Best of wishes, Heidi

hezmarie25

Hi Nina

Just wanted to say hi and welcome. I too am new to this site but already I feel like part of the family as everyone is so nice and you can find loads of info on here.
I have OA so I'm afraid I dont know much about RA but I do know that my pain moves around a lot (think the pain is fitter than me it moves faster anyway ) One day my knees will be killing me, the next my back and then knees dont feel too bad, then my shoulder it goes on and on. One think I do know is that arthur is very frustrating and at times it gets on my nerves. Its hard to stay positive also.
The comp you have won sounds marvellous but be careful on the trampoline. My kids had one and I had a bounce on it, within an hour I was in complete agony with my knees, so I dont think trampolines are good for knees.
Anyway I had better go and get something done.
Take care and I am sure we will chat again
Heather x

debsmartin

Hello Nina and welcome, I too was surprised how quickly arthritus gets a hold of you, mine started with pain in my feet, oh how I wish that was all that hurt now. Mine is behaving abit at the moment courtesy of a steroid injection. I bet its a big help to you have understanding bosses at work. This is a great forum to join and always very quick to help when you need any info

debs

ninakang

Yes, I've noticed the help available here this morning - so many replies of welcome! I'm well impressed, I've never been on a forum where the people are so helpful and friendly before!

I am very lucky with work, I count my lucky stars, I really do, that I joined the Fire Service 3 years ago. I can work flexi time too which helps as I can work childcare around my husband's shifts as a bus driver. My manager is great, he's really funny though. When I first told him about the arthritis, he said "get in touch with the Firefighters' Charity, they'll send you to one of those retreats for a break"! I mean, that will be good for IF the arthritis really takes a hold, but I'm OK for the moment. Plus, he keeps giving me lots of work to do!

woodbon

Hello, Welcome to the site! Its so nice to hear you being so positive about things, that helps a lot. It sounds as if your job is just right for you, my problem is that I'm a care assistant, and thats too heavy for me now, but I have managed to work since diagnosed. I have OA mainly in my spine, neck wrists and hands etc as well as carpel tunnel!!! :shock: But thats a long story. Anyway all I really wanted to say was WELCOME :!:
Love Sue

vonski

Hi Nina

Welcome to the forum I'm sure you'll be glad you joined. Have you been told which arthritis you have yet? sorry if I've missed this. Cotton wool for brains

There is no way you can be lazy :shock: A mother of 3 young ones and working as well, more like super woman

Love
Vonski x

breane

Hi there,I am sure you will get lots of help and advice from forum members,I certinally have.I was diagnosed with OA last Dec. so it is still quite new to me.It's nice to be able to have a chat to other sufferers,especially when you are feeling a bit low.Take care,Breane.x

anaabh

Hi Nina

I'm a newbie to this site as well. Diagnosed with OA in my left knee about 7 weeks ago and due to have an arthroscopy in 3 weeks. I'm 39, a single mum with two boys aged 5 and 7 and a part time job as a county wide manager in Buckinghamshire.

I reckon a busy life if you can manage it is a bonus. If I'm rushing about with work, kids etc I notice the pain alot less than when I have a day off and can chill a bit. I also have a crazy labrador called Marley who needs his walks, at the moment he runs and I hobble but I hope the day surgery could make things better!

I find it great reading the posts on here as there's so much support and advice from people who are really knowledgable about arthritis!

Take care
Ana

joanlawson

Hi Ana
You are lucky to be having arthroscopy so soon after diagnosis. I had it done last Dec. and had been diagnosed ages before. The op went very well and I had local anasthetic, but didn't know anything because I think a sedative knocked me out.

For a while afterwards, I wasn't sure whether it had been of any benefit to me, but now I feel much better, so I think it did work to a certain extent, even though I've been told I will probably need a knee replacement. The pain is much less than before the op.

Good luck wiyh your arthroscopy.
Joan

Sorry, I meant to welcome you and Nina to the site

ninakang

I wrote a reply but then the website timed out because I got distracted! Aaaargh! Hate it when that happens!

I'm so glad to have found this site to talk to other people in the same boat as me. I feel quite isolated sometimes, like people who don't have arthur (love that name, btw!) can't fully understand when your joints freeze up or feel really hot. My knees feel fine this morning but for some reason my left shin hurts - WHY my shin?! I don't have a joint there, I haven't knocked it or anything! My left hand is also a little swollen and feels warm. Typing is getting easier as the morning goes on though, so hopefully it will go down completely.

Looks like exercise is the key! But moderate exercise and I need not to overdo it. I'm an all or nothing girl mostly!

Thanks to whoever said I can't be lazy (too many replies, I'm forgetting who said what!), but I am inherently lazy and automatically look for the easiest way to do things or not do them altogether! I'm sure that's why I'm so tidy and organised really!

Hope everyone's having a good day - not much sunshine out is there?

hezmarie25

anaabh wrote:

Hi Nina

I'm a newbie to this site as well. Diagnosed with OA in my left knee about 7 weeks ago and due to have an arthroscopy in 3 weeks. I'm 39, a single mum with two boys aged 5 and 7 and a part time job as a county wide manager in Buckinghamshire.

I reckon a busy life if you can manage it is a bonus. If I'm rushing about with work, kids etc I notice the pain alot less than when I have a day off and can chill a bit. I also have a crazy labrador called Marley who needs his walks, at the moment he runs and I hobble but I hope the day surgery could make things better!

I find it great reading the posts on here as there's so much support and advice from people who are really knowledgable about arthritis!

Take care
Ana

Wow Ana that is very very quick and you are really lucky x

anaabh

hezmarie25 wrote:

anaabh wrote:

Hi Nina

I'm a newbie to this site as well. Diagnosed with OA in my left knee about 7 weeks ago and due to have an arthroscopy in 3 weeks. I'm 39, a single mum with two boys aged 5 and 7 and a part time job as a county wide manager in Buckinghamshire.

I reckon a busy life if you can manage it is a bonus. If I'm rushing about with work, kids etc I notice the pain alot less than when I have a day off and can chill a bit. I also have a crazy labrador called Marley who needs his walks, at the moment he runs and I hobble but I hope the day surgery could make things better!

I find it great reading the posts on here as there's so much support and advice from people who are really knowledgable about arthritis!

Take care
Ana

Wow Ana that is very very quick and you are really lucky x

Hi Hezmarie

I am starting to realise how lucky I've been really. Both GP and consultant have been great. Reading other posts makes me think that treatment seems to be very hit and miss.

My consultant said that if I had no joy with the arthroscopy he'd just do a TKR in the near future. He made it sound as easy as ordering a takeaway! and the fact that I'm 39 didn't seem to concern him at all. He just said it was my choice.

It seems nothing short of a scandal that we don't all get the same level of service throughout the country. I should add that this is all with Bucks NHS and not privately!

Take Care
Ana

hezmarie25

Hi Ana

House on the market and moving to Bucks as we speak

I am 40 and my gp is brill regards to pain but rubbish with everything else. You so lucky xx

livinglegend

Hi to all the new people, pleased to see you posting. Always good to have new input to the forum.


Joseph 8)

colinone

Hi Nina, i saw some of your posts today Just thought i would say welcome to the site and hope to catch you around. If your free why not join us on the 8th of this month for the record breaker. if you can make it look up ARE WE GOING TO BREAK THE RECORD on the chit chat forum take care
Colin

anaabh

hezmarie25 wrote:

Hi Ana

House on the market and moving to Bucks as we speak

I am 40 and my gp is brill regards to pain but rubbish with everything else. You so lucky xx

Oh I love you sense of humour and you're my age which is great cos all my friends think it's quite funny I have what, until recently, they all considered a senior person's illness.

Nice to meet you!!

ninakang

anaabh wrote:

hezmarie25 wrote:

Hi Ana

House on the market and moving to Bucks as we speak

I am 40 and my gp is brill regards to pain but rubbish with everything else. You so lucky xx

Oh I love you sense of humour and you're my age which is great cos all my friends think it's quite funny I have what, until recently, they all considered a senior person's illness.

Nice to meet you!!

I'm 32 and my sister got RA when she was 18. Definitely not classed round here as a senior person's illness!

ruthmc

Hello Nina
Started writing to you a minute ago and suddenly the whole website disappeared must have pressed the wrong key!
I am new to this site and think it is great so much support from everyone out there.
Hope you get sorted with your diagnosis and meds. You will feel more in control then. I struggle with my weight since no longer working I was a Primary School Teacher had to give that up because of OA.
No kids at home the youngest is 31 and we try to discourage them from coming back apart from visits. I have a husband & a largish garden. We laid this out from scratch about 25 years ago and I did most of the digging!!
If you find a good diet let us know. I am really good all day but like most of us evenings are hard. I have cut out biscuits etc even my odd glass of sherry or wine, but it is so hard. All the things I like best. Some times go to bed early to avoid temptation how sad is that?. I did lose a stone on Weight Watchers but it's not cheap and I didn't find the leader very supportive. Then I broke my foot and had a plaster on for weeks wasn't going to get that weighed as well, so used it as an excuse to stop going. Weight all piled back on and+++!. I know it is not doing my knees any good. They were bad before the extra weight. The Rheumot. asked me if I had been a gymnast. She hadn't seen me in PE at school( in the dark ages) trying to climb a rope or jump over the horse. I think my dodgy knees were caused by all those years of getting down to Infant children level. Sorry this was supposed to be for you not my life history. Love Ruth