Advice please for a newbie

Nikkijamie · 29. Oct 2012, 16:17

Hello and thanks in advance for reading x
I'm a 31yr old mum if two boys (4&2) and have just been diagnosed with early osteoarthritis !
I have a few questions if anyone can help but will give a background first. When I was born I had dislocated hips requiring frog plaster for both hips(sorry I don't know the technical term). When I was 13 I broke my right leg. I remember always having weird hips being uncomfortable at times but no problems were ever found. Then in my late teens I was diagnosed with scoliosis as I had quite bad pain and still do although I have adapted to it. The scoliosis is caused by my right leg being 2cm shorter than my left hence dropping my right hip and my back compensating. I have a heal raise for this.

Anyway I have today been diagnosed with early arthritis and am trying to get my head around it and what to do now

Firstly is there a difference between early arthritis and arthritis? I don't want to over think things and my pain is severe but intermittent dependent on what I've been doing

Secondly I work as a police community support officer so wear a stab vest and walk around for 6+ hrs a day which causing massive pain in my back and hip mostly my right which becomes long lasting and constant and then my left becomes sharp and severe. My GP has advised me to change jobs do you think this is accurate?

And lastly as I have gone on too long sorry. What sort of progression am I looking at I know it's different for all but I can't see very positively at the moment - it doesn't help watching my nan deteriorate/crippled and in pain with OA and RA.

Thank you for reading and any advise will be majorly appreciated

Good luck to you all and fingers crossed for good days x x x

Nikki x x x

dreamdaisy · 29. Oct 2012, 16:37

Hello, it's lovely to meet you and I apologise in advance for a very short reply but I am under a rather large arthritis cosh at the moment and not doing too well.

I've read your post and the one thing that immediately struck was that your job as a PCSO is completely inappropriate for someone with hip trouble so yes, I think your GP is right. I don't have OA in my hips (it's in my knees and ankles as a result of my other arthritis) but walking is a struggle so I doff my cap to you for carrying on but please change that as soon as you can. This is the time to start preserving what you can to help you in the future (which starts tomorrow

) You are right in that everyone is different in how (and what rate) they progress and I assume your nan has been playing this ghastly game for a deal longer than you so don't use her experience as the basis for what yours may be. I understand the downhearted thing (sixteen years in it still hits me every now and again) so please keep in touch as we understand what you are feeling. I wish you well. DD

villier · 29. Oct 2012, 17:23

Hi Nikki

Hello and welcome, you have come to a great place, I am pretty new here myself and don't know anything about hips I'm afraid, although as DD suggested you might want to change your beat especially with your scoliocis which is doing nothing to keep your pain bearable being on your feet so long, hang around and enjoy the support and kindness you will receive from a lot of lovely people..................tc............Marie xx

P.S forgot to say about the laughs check out chit-chat....x

elnafinn · 29. Oct 2012, 17:25

Hi Nikki

Welcome to the forum. I too have scoliosis/curvature of the spine, although have never had it officially diagnosed. I first noticed it, in my teens and the consultant I have seen recently about upper spinal problems and other consultants have commented on it. I have never used a heel raise. I do not suffer so badly from it but I have always done either yoga or stretching exercises practically daily and I believe (rightly or wrongly)

it has helped me to keep going fairly well on the whole. I will soon be 62 years old. I did suffer with sciatica for one year but on having injections the symptoms went on 3 December 2009 ( a day I do not forget!) and I hope the pain never returns.

I have had both knees replaced in 2008 and 2010 but not had any hip problems so far. As you had a leg injury and also the hip problem at birth both may well have triggered off arthritis. Unfortunately it is common to hear of arthritis setting in eventually after joint trauma.

Have you been given some meds to help you? Has physio been suggested?

With arthritis you do have to try to keep going but not to overdo things too much, extremely difficult. I tend to just keep on, keeping on. I do have to take anti inflammatories which help me. I have tried to be without and notice how much they do help me.

I wonder if some kind of exercising regime may help you, but you would need guidance from either a physio who knows about scoliosis or your gp perhaps.
Your working day sounds quite daunting with your symptoms as you are finding out. Having two young children is hard work too of course. I had an office job when I was working so was sitting at a desk most of the time.

I belong to the Scoliosis Association (UK) which I find useful on occasion and if you are a member you are eligible to join their discussion forum which I find reassuring and helpful. http://www.sauk.org.uk/ should you be interested to take a look.

Do keep in touch as there is useful information on this site and we all try to help and support each other.

Elna x

Nikkijamie · 30. Oct 2012, 03:02

Thank you all for your replies they are very much appreciated x I will definitely stick around x

I have been referred to physio so just awaiting that and I'm back into work today and will get an occ health referral to try and make some decisions about work.

I think I've always known I would get it so not in too much shock at the moment just anxious as gp thinks I won't have major problems until my 50's but I can't help but feel his wrong.

I haven't been prescribed any pain killers as he knows I'm quite anti pain relief but has recommended ibuprofen or paracetamol when I can't cope x

I will be changing my lifestyle now including more exercise and will lose that last stone I need to as I want to do all I can to reduce progression if there is such a thing x

Thanks for the scoliosis suggestion I will check into that as it really does affect everything I do x

I hope you feel better soon DD and you all aren't suffering too bad

elnafinn · 30. Oct 2012, 03:45

Hi Nikki,

Good to hear from you again. It sounds like you have a plan. My scoliosis has affected me too, not only physically but mentally too! :roll: I have lost 4 inches in height, which has come to me as a bit of a shock. My daughter is now taller than me and my husband asks me where I am sometimes!

I am not sure over what period of time this has happened but a nurse pointed it out to me when she asked me my height and I said 5 ft 8 ins. She laughed, said you are never that and took me to be measured! Shock horror! My neighbour said to me the other day, you have shrunk, Elna! :roll:

You look after yourself, try not to worry so far into the future, do let us know how you are going on and ask any questions, even if you think they are silly.

Elna x

nearlybionic · 30. Oct 2012, 04:29

Hi Nikki
Welcome to the forum x
I also have bilateral hip dyplasia which have given me pain and problems since my early 20`s. However it was manageable with pain killers like Ibuprofen etc.. at first. In my late 30`s my left hip in particular became much worse and I was told I had severe osteoarthritis, bone on bone and needed a total hip replacement, which I had aged 40. I am a nurse and have found walking and being on my feet for hours difficult. I now work in the community, and cope better than I would on the wards. Although I have had workplace assessments and adjustments made.
My right hip is deteriorating now and I am having investigations into this.
Have you asked your GP for a referral to an orthopaedic consultant, one who specialises in hip dyplasia? There are other treaments which are more conservative of the bone if you have little OA in the hip.
The physio will help to strengthen the muscles around your hip, which are usually weak in hip dysplasia.
Good luck x
NB

dreamdaisy · 30. Oct 2012, 06:08

Dont be too anti pain dullers - they help, maybe not as much as some of us would like but they do help. They remove the sharper edges enabling us to get on with things and pain itself serves as a useful feedback for when we're getting close to overdoing things. There are techniques to help one cope with the pain, I'm a firm believer in distraction so that my mind is occupied elsewhere and not on the pain. DD

barbara12 · 30. Oct 2012, 06:25

Hi Nikki
The others have given you lots of advice, I just want to say welcome to the forum, and I hope you stay with us..its so good to talk to people that understand some of what you are going through xx

Nikkijamie · 30. Oct 2012, 16:19

Thanks all x x

I have only been advised to take pain killers not been prescribed anything. I have been referred to physio but not to a consultant which I thought I should be but don't feel I can keep going up there (drs) although want to as my knees and knuckles have become quite painful just feel he will think I'm a hypochondriac which I know I'm not its all just so confusing.

keep thinking as I've had a few good days am I imagining things is it all real etc but guess from what you guys are saying its a case of a bit of both and take each day as it comes x x

I really appreciate all your support advice and kind welcomes thank you x x

ShulaArcher · 30. Oct 2012, 17:11

Hello Nikki

Just to say Hello really and to encourage you to be positive. I had my first experience of OA when I was 31, although it wasn't actually diagnosed until a few years later. I've had several periods of years when I've been pain-free so don't be despondent. I think it's useful to have an early diagnosis so that you can take action, eg losing weight if necessary. Keep smiling!

Shula

bubbadog · 31. Oct 2012, 08:09

Hi Nikki, welcome to Arthritis Care forum, your in the right place we all look after each other and help each other when someone needs it, I was asked to explain Arthritis Care forum recently and I said it was like one big family! So welcome to the fold and I look forward to reading your posts! Welcome again!

Advice please for a newbie

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