New here and needing advice please

ritwren

Hello everyone, I found this site today and you all seem so informed and helpful.
I was diagnosed with OA, mild degenerative changes, Post menopausal arthritis, wear and tear, psoriatic arthritis last year.

The numerous names are from the various Dr.'s whom I've seen. Everyone seems to have a different name for it.When told by the Rheumatoligist that it's not Rheumatic Arthritis or Psoriatic Arthritis,therefore he does not need to see me again, he pretty much told me to get on with it and just be thankful and it could be worse.
Well I have tried to just get on with it but am finding it increasingly difficult to manage the pain.
My knees, hands, upper back and lower back, and now my right hip are all stiff and quite sore. I've been trying to get the pain to a manageable level for even a short time but I'm not having a great deal of success. I'd been taking Solpadol until a few weeks ago but had to see my GP as it just was'nt bringing the pain level down. He's added in Tramadol SR and I'm taking the maximum amount 400 daily. I have bought a TENS machine which can help the lower back a little.I feel that I'm loosing the battle.
I've tried everything alternative and complementary that I can get my hands on. Acupuncture helped with my neck but that's been the most successful. I've been off work for a few weeks now and thought I'd be over this and back to work by now. I feel really low and that I must have a very low pain threshold to have this amount of pain.
Can anyone advise me what to do please.

frogmorton

Hey Rit
Don't blame yourself "I must have a low pain threshold" hmmmph!!! You might NOT!!! You probably ARE in pain!!!!
I wish I had an answer, but in most cases it seems to be exactly what you are doing, which is a mixture of things to try to bring some releif.
Painkillers, (any anti-inflams - did I miss them?) heat, rest, gentle excercise, rest (again!!) until you find a mix which works for you.
I will leave the others to make some suggestions to help - they usually can
In the meantime a big WELCOME from me!
Toni x

ritwren

Thank you very much for your reply Toni. I did try voltarol and others but they made absolutely no difference and my joints are'nt inflammed. They upset my tummy too even 'tho I take Losec.
I think that knowing I'm not the only one living with this and hoping it will ease down a bit like it did the last time will help. It's just that it seems to be taking so long if you know what I mean.

elnafinn

Hi Rit

Welcome! Do not make excuses like a low pain threshold - arthritis IS painful - no doubt about that. Do not let anyone try to tell you that it is not! :roll:

Have you had xrays and blood tests done? You need to be diagnosed properly. That rheumy you saw needs to go back to school. You need referral to another rheumy, that is my view, one that cares about his patients and is more knowledgeable, at least with more bedside manner.

Did physio help you at all? Do you use heat or ice packs? To ease pain, for me it is heat packs, every time.

Are you prescribed any anti inflammatories along with Solpadol?

I hope you start to feel a little better soon. Let us know how you go on.

Hope the sun is shining where you are.

Luv
Elna x

skezier

Hi,
Firstly welcome to the site, I hope you will find it helpful.

Have you had any tests, bloods, or x rays and possibly an MRI? I just wonder if having a real solid diagnosis would be a way to go at the mo.

I think you need to get them to look at your pain relief a bit better, as Toni says sometimes its a case of getting control of the pain and I don't think they are helping you to do that just now. No wonder you feel down. Have you looked at any of the Arthritis care leaflets? Some of them will help you get an idea on what should be being done for you. I hope things improve and you get the kind of help you need. Take care, Cris

breane

Hi and welcome, It's so frustrating when pain relief doesn't seem to work. I have OA in the hands,shoulders,knees and feet and at the moment all my GP will prescribe is Sopadol,but like you,they havn't been helping when the pain is severe or when I get flare ups.So I can't really suggest any other pain relief.I expect other members on the forum will have more info to give you as I was only diagnosed last Dec. and according to my GP,it is early days for me and I guess that's why he won't prescribe anything stronger for me for the time being.Is your pain worse first thing in the morning?Some mornings I find it difficult just getting out of bed but as the day wears on the pain does subside somewhat but I'm still left with very stiff hands.You could try anti inflamatory tablets but a word of caution,they can alter your liver function tests.I hope you will be able to get some help from other members. Breane.x

elnafinn

I read now that your joints are not inflamed so as you say, not much point in taking anti inflams. How are you going with the tramadol SR? Do you feel tired, taking this med? Have they helped at all?

Elna X

ritwren

Elna and Cris, your replies have brought tears to my eyes. You are so kind and seem to understand how painful this can be at times.
I have a proper diagnosis and have had x rays and blood tests. They say it's OsteoArthritis. I am 50yrs old.
As to my back, the x rays show osteophyte formation at C4-C5 and C5-C6. My lower back feels like there's a brick sitting on it and my upper back gets a real burn pain after only a short time unless I rest it.
There are degenerative changes at the joints of my hands with marginal osteophytes and joint space reaction. They're stiff and sore, sometimes I can hardly write.
My knees show prominence of the tibial spines. They hurt unbearable mostly when I'm coming downstairs.
None of this means anything much to me but that's ok. I understand most people do suffer a degree of wear and tear through their lives.
I don't want to admit to any of the family just how much this constant pain is getting me down. Thankfully I live alone so don't have to pretend all is fine all the time.
I've found that a hot water bottle and rest does help a good bit but only for as long as I'm doing it and maybe a short time afterwards if you know what I mean.
I've only just found this forum Cris and have read online here about a leaflet. I've also asked for info r.e. self help.
You are so very kind to have taken the time to reply to me. Thank you.

skezier

Hi,

You need better pain management from the doctors and you do need to be seen by someone a bit more specialised than a gp. Necks really hurt and I think you are far more uncontrolled pain than you need to. Have they mentioned any kind of treatment for your knees? I think you need to get the doctors to send you to people who can help, either a pain clinic or poss a Orthopedic consultation?

It can be hard but I do know there are people here who really understand both the pain and the frustration that no real help is being offered and maybe the SR tramadol will help, I just think the gp could be doing a bit more for you. I hope they do find some drugs that help you as we are all different and it is fairly clear the ones you are taking just aren't doing the job.

The doctors are unfortunately the people you need to see and get them to send you to someone who can help you. It's not fair to just leave you to get on with it all. I wish I had better ideas but they could be doing more for you. Take care, Cris

elnafinn

Hi Rit

Your profession of a staff nurse says it all! Why is it that some people doing the same job, suffer with wear and tear and others do not.

On this forum, we all understand what the pain is like, because we all have it, to a lesser or greater degree.

If you hands are sore, doesn't that mean they are inflamed or am I being dense? :roll: :oops:

Agree, people do get a degree of wear and tear with age but you appear to have more than your fair share at your young age.

Has a pain clinic been mentioned to you? These clinics can be very helpful. Have you been offered any steroid injections to ease pain?

Quote: "I don't want to admit to any of the family just how much this constant pain is getting me down. Thankfully I live alone so don't have to pretend all is fine all the time. "Quote:

Ok, but it it good to talk about it to someone. You have us all now so at least you know you can call in here and say how you are feeling. It often helps to write it down and you will get replies, for sure, of sympathy even if we cannot help directly.

Perhaps in a while you will feel able to talk with your family about it -at least then you will not have to pretend that all is hunkeydory and you can be more yourself. It is true family often do not understand and retort with the most unhelpful replies at times. We all know about that, on here too.

Chin up, you have cyber friends now!

Sending you cyber hugs, (((())))

Luv
Elna x

elnafinn

I think Cris and I, are chatting to you at the same time (hi! Cris - hope you are having a good day with everything).

Luv
Elna x

skezier

Hi Elna,

Its kinda scary....... We saying the same thing as well! Hey my idiot dog gave me a bit of chiropractry...... It's clunked and no where near so bad....... Could I hire him out do you think?

Luv
Cris x

elnafinn

Hi Cris!

'tis kinda scary! We must be on the same wave length :shock: :roll:

free chiropractry too - his way of saying thank you !!
You could try hiring him out might have to pay compensiion though if things did not turn out too well!

Luv
Elna x

skezier

Hi Elna,

I'll check my insurance.............. x

nearlybionic

Hi Ritwren
I am 40 , a nurse and have OA. i have had a hip replacement recently too. OA is painful , and as others have said it can be a bit of trial and error finding a good way to manage it.
I have been on lots of different meds, painkillers, anti inflammatories, things for nerve pain etc..Some that help for a while, some that i stopped as they either didn`t really help or made me feel ill. I also use heat (wheat bag) and cold packs at times.
I hope you find this site helpful re info and support. It really has been a lifeline for me at times.
NB

frogmorton

Hi Ritwren
I hope you feel a bit better now that all these lovely people have reassured you that you are NOT a wimp!!!!
This is d**n painfull!!
The site and the leaflets requested and all of us lot to moan to will get you through this rough patch!
Take care
Toni x
As for Elna and Skezier..what are you two? Do you do a song and dance routine too???

ritwren

Big thanks to all of you for your replies with information help and support today. It has ment a great deal to me and I'm already feeling more relaxed about it all. It's just good to know that other people are having the same problems I am.
Breane, my hands are just stiff and sore, my knuckles are a bit bigger than they were but you know it could be tons worse.
The medication I'm taking Tramadol and solpadol for pain does make me feel nauseated and tired at times. I'm going for acupuncture on friday.
I'll have a good read here over the next few days and wait on the leaflets. It's really good to know that others have found it frustrating and difficult to manage their pain and stiffness.
I'm like an old woman of 100 when I crawl out of bed in the morning.
Does anybody wake themselves up in the night crying out with the pain because they've been laying in the same position too long and then moved in their sleep?
Is this normal? When this happens to me no matter what the time 4-5am I have to get up and move around to loosen everything up again. Is this normal?

woodbon

Just stopping by to say Hello, all I can say is their must be an awful lot of people with low pain threshold. :shock: . No, as one of the gps in my practice told me when I said that 'On your way out, get the nurse to syringe your ears, I said you've got PAIN!!!' We ended up comparing lumps on fingers, as he suffers OA too

Anyway, welcome to the site and I agree with all the others. Heat, for me, works best, but I've tried cold and that does work too. Exercises from the physio help and I am going to a gym under a GP referal scheme, to help build up my muscles to take the strain from the joints. Hope you find good help soon Love Sue

ritwren

woodbon wrote:

Just stopping by to say Hello, all I can say is their must be an awful lot of people with low pain threshold. :shock: . No, as one of the gps in my practice told me when I said that 'On your way out, get the nurse to syringe your ears, I said you've got PAIN!!!' We ended up comparing lumps on fingers, as he suffers OA too

Anyway, welcome to the site and I agree with all the others. Heat, for me, works best, but I've tried cold and that does work too. Exercises from the physio help and I am going to a gym under a GP referal scheme, to help build up my muscles to take the strain from the joints. Hope you find good help soon Love Sue

Evening Sue and thank you for your advice support and welcome. What a friendly bunch of people you all are. I hope to be able to contribute to the forums over time.

elnafinn

Hi Rit

Yes, pain does wake me, sometimes when I change position at night in bed. I don't actually shout out but I do get out of bed and stagger down and heat up a wheat bag and stick that round the offending joint - usually my knee and that gets me to sleep again.

You are not alone with being woken up with the pain. Many of us do, part and parcel of "arthur" up to his tricks. :roll: :roll:

Pleased to read that you do not feel so alone now with all this.

Keep smiling

Luv
Elna x

PS I find I do yelp in the day though - especially at the mo as I showed off this afternoon and mowed the lawn with a hand mower as that is all I have as I continually break all the electric ones with mowing over lots of stones :oops: Cut the edges as well, so hands, shoulder and unoperated knee not too happy now. :roll:

ritwren

Elna thank you for the tips.It's not plesant but it's great to know others wake up like this at night too. I know most of us will wake up stiff and sore in the mornings but I expect that and am used to it. I too love to garden, it is my little haven. Like you I overdo things but won't let this get the better of me.