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Eeeh them were t' days @Mike1

Hi

New today with a diagnosis in the last month of osteoarthritis in both hips, aged 56.

After a 25 year rugby career and 40 years of fairly physical full time employment I have been floored by the diagnosis. (Wrote it off a year ago as aches and pains that rather than going away, gradually got worse)

Currently undertaking physio and taking prescribed cocodamol for pain relief. Told i am too young for hip replacement.

For the first time in my life I feel vulnerable, as the pain some days is rough. My mobility is seriously affected and work is becoming difficult. I was wondering how others dealt with these matters.

Thanks

Hi @Patrick

Now I can't claim to have been a rugby player myself, but I do understand Arthritis. Unfortunately my own which consists of inflammatory and now Osteo types, but also Avascular Necrosis in my own daughter (as a result of chemo and dexamethasone for 2.5 years) Rt hip LT shoulder.

She had hip surgery at 18 and a new shoulder at 19 so age is not as relevant as they try to make us believe.

Best thing you can do is what you are doing. Physio exercise and keep your weight down eat well and don't smoke (if you do). Eliminate all obstacles to future surgery.

If you haven't already had one a steroid injection might be tried into those hips of yours. There is a pretty standard route and obviously any replacement joint will have a time limit on it's life span. Revisions are more complicated and may not be as successful as original hip replacements so it's understandable 'they' put them off as long as possible.

BUT we are individuals which needs to be taken into account by the medics and will be so long as you do your best and are reasonable with them and persistent too.

Keep coming in here too this community is great and should help to make you feel far less alone and vulnerable.

Take care

Hi everyone,

I am 32 yo female and I'm feeling lost and hopeless. If I knew where lightning would strike, I'd be honestly standing in that spot right now.

Three months ago I started having this knee pain which was light at first and then got worse with time until I went to my GP and he ordered an MRI which revealed I had severe loss of cartilage with barely anything left on the inner side of my knee. I had never had any knee problems and I'm generally very active - going hiking in the Alps every chance I get.

Now I can't do anything - on sick leave at the moment. I can't even go outside without feeling like my bones are being crushed under an immense weight afterwards, so that I get panic attacks even thinking of going outside now. I manage to walk around my flat and that's about it.

Basically, my life is over. And I don't get it... I was perfectly fine three month ago, running around like I'm 18 yo.

I don't know what I'm expecting from you, guys... Maybe get an advice from people with the same problem? How do you cope? Is there anything I can do? My orthopaedist suggests PRP. But what's gone is gone, right?

Tori

Thank you for the warm welcome although I believe it's not a place anyone would want to find themselves in anytime in their life.

I'm not from UK. From Germany actually and PRP is, as far as I can tell, widely used in here. Alas I will have to pay for it myself. But, well....

Anyway, I'm going to look around here.

Best regards,

Tori

Hi @Trishgem, welcome to the online community!

You've been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis and you're wondering what happens now.

OA is managed by your GP, no specialist I'm afraid. You can ask for a referral to a physio for some personalised exercises and treatments, and you can ask for a referral to the pain clinic, who can advise on medication and management of pain.

GPs place a lot of importance on exercise, diet and not being overweight. There is a lot to be said for not being overweight, but it's difficult to find the right exercises to do with painful joints. Have a look here for exercises for your joints to manage pain - the stronger the muscles are around the joints the less strain is put on your joints, which can help lessen pain.

Naproxen is a medication which helps reduce inflammation. While OA is not specifically an inflammatory arthritis, inflammation is a side effect of the irritation caused by OA, so reducing inflammation does often help for OA. For more information on the different painkillers look at this link, Naproxen is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug)

Do have a look around the rest of the forum and join in with conversations. Everyone is incredibly friendly and helpful, so don't be worried.

Nice to meet you,

Shell

Hello. I'm new, first post. I was diagnosed with arthritis in my neck around six years ago. The last twelve months the pain has severely increased and now 24/7. I was refereed to Tyneside Integrated Musculoskeletal Service in March, the day before we went into lock-down. The consultant explained she would like a new scan to see what was happening but due to the pandemic they were doing emergencies only. I was given exercises to do and told to get back in touch after the pandemic is finished.

Pain killers have little effect and I soak in hot bath nightly to ease the pain and stiffness. 

Oh what I would give for a decent nights sleep.

Hi Everyone, thanks for letting me join..my name is Billy

I've had RA for years now and am well, the worst thing is stiffness but hopefully the Etanercept will begin working soon. I've left another forum as I felt that it was depressing. i live well with RA and do have other health issues, Cylindrical Brochectasis, Thyroid failure and Pernicious Aememia, but worst by far is an Acute Kidney Injury caused by a medication that due to a lost blood test was found in time to prevent harm. MY injury has now become a chronic condition but there is no treatment its just stay as well as I can and do and carry on. So onwards and and I never forget the superb medical treatment I've had and how lucky I am that a young RA Registrar checked my records or without doubt I'd have died.

Hi I'm Emma,

I was diagnosed with Arthritis of the neck last year and the base of my skull is damaged.

Amitriptyline has really helped me and Codeine when it's bad but would like to get off Codeine and go back to Cannabis, C.B.D.