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Pinkgin
Pinkgin Member Posts: 5
edited 28. Nov 2023, 14:04 in Living with arthritis
Hi I'm new . I have osteoarthritis in both knees and hip.
The worst of the pain is in one knee, which is causing a lot of pain.
How does everyone else cope with pain?

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  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,712
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    Hi PinkGin (Oooh my brother used to make prizewinning sloe gin :D )

    I'm not at all new :lol: I got RA in my teens which led to OA. I currently have an ancient TKR (Total Knee Replacement) which is playing up big time so I can really relate to your question about pain.

    1. Distraction. Anything that holds your attention. I'm in luck. The cricket world cup has just started :D

    2. Rest and elevate.

    3. Exercises. Quads are the standard, great exercises for knees.

    4. Mindfulness / relaxation. (I prefer cricket :wink: but whatever rocks your boat.)

    5. When all else fails - medication. Anti-inflammatories and pain relief (I will NOT call them 'painkillers' as they don't.)

    This is a very useful page on pain and pain relief. https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/managing-your-pain/
    I hope it helps.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • JoeB
    JoeB Bots Posts: 83
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    If we take a examine the issue from a different perspective - pain should not be your problem but your physicians / surgeons problem. Hence it is important to advise them that despite whatever efforts they have made to date there remains room for improvement.

    However, identifying a suitably efficacious medication regimen can be somewhat hit and miss, particularly initially. Ultimately, the review process is ongoing. Whilst medication is only part of the management it is often rather a significant part.

    Should your GP or hospital consultant exhaust their supply of ideas then the are consultants who specialise in pain management to whom you can also be referred.

    In the meantime I can say that I have found acupuncture to be useful.

    This is sometimes available on the NHS so it is worth making an enquiry. However keep in mind that any such NHS treatment will be under the western medical model for pain rather than the Traditional Chinese Medicine (aka 'TCM') approach.

    Many (if not most) of those who NHS staff who practise the art are members of The British Medical Acupuncture Society ( http://www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk/ ). The website has a 'Find a Practitioner' facility that you may find useful.

    It is usual practice to have a course of six sessions and then evaluate.

    I hope this is of some interest.

    Arthur
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,419
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    I love pink gin myself!

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    I use a variety of things to help with pain. Painkillers of course (via a patch for me with top ups of paracetamol for breakthrough pain)

    Then anti-inflammatories (Ibuprofen for some Arcoxia for me) via tablet. Some use the gels it being kinder on the stomach. I think there's even a patch for these nowadays... :?

    Then I use rest sometimes with either an ice pack or a warm wheatbag.

    I have used tens machines in the past too, but find my body get sued to it during lengthy flares of pain.

    I exercise almost every day a walk is my preferred exercise.

    Finally I try to watch something good on TV listen to a good Audio-book do a good jigsaw puzzle etc to take my mind off it.

    Best of luck

    Toni x
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