I'm not getting help with my arthritis!

Chuckley
Chuckley Member Posts: 2
edited 1. Apr 2019, 11:27 in Chat to our Helpline Team
Hi I am a 29 year old female and have been diagnosed with arthritis in my knees. I am a full time home carer and my condition is really affecting how I do my job and I am starting to loose work because when I have bad days I cannot walk. I have visited my gp a number of different times but all I seem to hear from them is I'm young to be having this and I also need to loose weight. I understand about the weight and I am doing something about it (lost 2 stone so far) I haven't been given sufficient pain relief and they say I could have cortisone injections but I have to have physiotherapy first which there is at least a 3 month waiting list. So what am I supposed do in the meantime? My pain and mobility is getting worse and I dont know what to do can anyone suggest anything please?

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 3,635
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Chuckly,

    Welcome to the forum, sympathy for being in so much pain and feeling like you are getting no help from your doctor. Well done on losing 2 stones in weight, I was on the waiting list for a new knee and managed to lose 3 stone in advance and I had lots of family support which did help. I was a little sceptical re the actual difference losing weight would be, but I have to admit the difference was significant- I could manage the exercises better and psychologically I felt in control.

    I’m assuming you have osteoarthritis as pain in the knee is a classic symptom for that. Here’s the booklet regarding osteoarthritis of the knee.

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-knee/

    I understand where you are, I’d been used to go to the doctor, get information/medication do as I was told and get better and now it’s not like that - at all. But there are things you can do to help, try out the options in the booklet and see which are useful for you, sometimes keeping a diary can help to see what makes it worse.

    Talking helps so keep posting and ask anything you need to, usually someone else has been there and can suggest a way forward

    Take care

    Yvonne x
  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,464
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Chuckley

    Thank you for your post on the forum. I am sorry to hear that you are in pain and are having difficulties working because of your arthritis and, as Yvonne has said, well done for losing the weight. It can be difficult when your pain relief is not helping to manage the pain. Our information on coping with pain may be helpful as it contains details about treatments and self help. You can access this on the link https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/managing-your-pain/
    I am sorry to hear that the arthritis is affecting your work. We do have information about working when you have arthritis that may be helpful on the link https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/living-with-arthritis/work/
    If you would like to post further on the forum, you could post on the ‘Living with arthritis’ forum for others experiences of managing arthritis. You can find this on the link https://arthritiscareforum.org.uk/viewforum.php?f=8
    I would also like to encourage you to call us here on the helpline if you feel you would like to talk things through with one of our helpline team. You can call us on 0800 520 0520 (weekdays 9am – 8pm).
    I hope the above information is helpful.
    Best Wishes
    Dawn