osteo

lkearney
lkearney Member Posts: 32
Hi, I have had pains in my knees and hip for as long as i can remember and have been to the doctors often since i was 19 asking for x-rays but each doctor told me i was too young to have arthritis, eventually a doctor did send me for x-rays and i was finally diagnosed in june 08 at the age of 29 with osteo arthritis which they think i have had for a long time. this is in my knees, hip and my hands are terrbily sore but it is not showing in my hands yet - the doctor said they think i have it but my joints in my hands are small so harder to see.
Since this the doctor sent me to see a knee specialist who sent me to a physio to see if this worked before knee op's. This didnt work but the physio signed me off after six months of painful exercises. They did find though that i needed to see a podiatrist and i got insoles which do help at times.
The doctor only prescribed me ibuprofen, which i am reluctant to take as i know they can damage your stomach. do you think i should go back to the doctors? i feel like they think i am just moaning.
My nephew has been diagnosed with same problems in feet so is having treatment on these now as they said otherwise he will have arthritis when he is older. Also my mum has been suffering recently and has just had results back from doctors and has osteo in her knees and hands. can it be hereditary?
Many thanks
Lynn

Comments

  • only49
    only49 Member Posts: 1,207
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi Lynn

    I got osteoarthritis in both my knees and in my hip as well, I take ibuprofen and co-dydramol, I was told that I was young to have OA and that about it, I wanted to know where and why this all started, and then I asked arthritis care as I remembered my dad had gout so I asked if it was connected to OA and they said a resounding yes, so that is where mine has come from via my dads side of the family so now I know there is nothing I can do about it it was always sitting there so yes in i think it can be hereditary.

    sylvia
    sylvia :)stern02.gif
  • lkearney
    lkearney Member Posts: 32
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sylvia, thanks for your reply. what is co-dydramol that you are on? is it prescribed or can you get it over the counter?
    Thanks
    Lynn
  • only49
    only49 Member Posts: 1,207
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    lkearney wrote:
    Hi Sylvia, thanks for your reply. what is co-dydramol that you are on? is it prescribed or can you get it over the counter?
    Thanks
    Lynn
    hi Lynn its paracetamol and codeine together i get on prescription from the doctor, you can buy paracetamol and codeine over the counter but the codeine in the stuff i take has a stronger does of codeine i also take codeine phosphate from the doctor i take one at night, i also find heat is better than painkillers for me in a way i use the thermacare heat wraps i buy them online from a well known chemist , soaking in a hot bath helps i got a bathabilty bath seat so i can have a bath.

    sylvia
    sylvia :)stern02.gif
  • lkearney
    lkearney Member Posts: 32
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi Sylvia, i will ask the doctor about that then, i use the heat pads too but they do get expensive so i only use them when its really bad, thank you for your help
    Lynn
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lyn, sorry you are having such pain at the moment - the worry won't be helping either.

    Do they have hoists at work that you can lift clients with?

    Defin try and sort out pain relief via NHS direct/badger clinic/emergency appointment until see own doc again.

    I have to say, I was having a lot of pain in my hip, I went to see the consultant and when he said I was in final stages of osteoarthritis and my joint was disintegrating ... one I was gutted, but two I swear it hurt even more!! Someone else on the forum posted about noticing this too.

    Relaxing will help - heat, aromatherapy oils in the bath, relaxation tape ... a few days off work whilst you find out what is what.

    Don't panic - take one day at a time.

    Speedalong
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • lkearney
    lkearney Member Posts: 32
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    HI speedalong, thank you for replying, i work in training and train staff in childcare so i am on a computer a lot, or writing, walking and climbing stairs, work have given me lots of help and support but, well you know what its like, its still difficult and at the end of the day, especially a friday i am drained and its an effort to get to bed. Im not the type to moan and feel sorry for myself but its doing my head in!

    I will go back to the doctor i think, what is a badger clinic that you mentioned?

    I know what you mean about things hurting more, but when i was first diagnosed 2 years ago i was taking the ibuprofen as doctors told me to, but then when they ran out i was in much more pain, the doctor said they thought i had just become used to the pain without the meds so then taking the meds was making it worse when they wore off.

    Thank you again for responding
    Lynn
  • woodbine
    woodbine Member Posts: 140
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,

    I have OA which started in my spine, and spread to my hands and knees. My mum has it in almost every joint, and my brother has problems with his back and hands too. I asked my GP if it was likely to be hereditary, and he said that it is.
    A locum I saw last year told me more - it's to do with a faulty gene that means that cartilage is incorrectly 'built' and repaired apparently. The most common form - the one I have - is called Nodal Arthtitis as it leads to small lumps on the joints - I have them on my fingers, thumbs and one knee at the moment. I looked for Nodal A on the internet - apparently if a woman has it there's an approx. 50% change of any daughters getting it - it's a little less likely to pass to sons, for some reason - which seems a little unfair! I assume that if it's in the family genes any relation could get it too. The locum explained that the good news is that once the nodes have formed, the pain tends to lessen a little - which has certainly been the case with my knee. I wish there was generally more info available on specific forms of OA, but it all tends to get lumped together, as far as I can see, in most books, etc.
    Hope that helps!

    Naomi
  • lkearney
    lkearney Member Posts: 32
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you Naomi, thats all good to know and i am definately going to get myself to the doctors and be a bit more assertive in getting the help and advice that i need. My fingers do have these lumps on them and are getting crooked already and my knees dont look pretty!!

    Thanks
    Lynn
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lynn I think I must have got in a bit of muddle posting as some of what I said is applicable to your post and some is not!! Durr. My foster son has autism and so concentrating when posting is often quite a challenge .... I think I have responded to two threads in one post!!

    Anyway the Badger clinic is the name of the out-of-hours doctors service and it operates at the local hospital. If you have a medical problem that can't wait you ring up and they usually invite you to the clinic. There is not appointment system so you can have quite a wait - but at least you get seen. Our docs seems shut quite a bit, so the clinic is very useful.

    Speedalong
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    PS just found the thread I got muddled with ... phew!! Was a bit worried I really was going crazy ... it is on this forum too ...

    Speedalong
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • lkearney
    lkearney Member Posts: 32
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Speedalong, thought thats what must have happened, lol!!

    My doctors is open a lot and quite easy to get in, just got to get time off work and ill get booked in i think, i get so nervous going about this as i feel like they dont take it seriously, maybe because of my age

    Thanks again
    Lynn
  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,464
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lynn
    Sorry to hear you are still having so much pain. Do go back to your GP and discuss pain management with him. He needs to know that what he has prescribed is not working and also needs to prescribe something which does help. Most of the codeine type drugs are only available on prescription and it sounds as if this is what you need at the moment.
    Don't feel nervous about going back, you have a genuine medical condition which needs treatment. Plan your appointmant carefully and think what you want to say and ask.
    Arthritis can run in families especially, as Naomi said, the nodal osteoarthritis type.
    If you want to talk things through with one of us here please do ring us on the freephone number.
    Best wishes
    Val
  • lkearney
    lkearney Member Posts: 32
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you Val, i will arrange to go to the doctors asap
    Lynn