Living with osteoarthritis

Johnboy54
Johnboy54 Member Posts: 2
edited 28. Nov 2023, 14:08 in Living with arthritis

Hi , my name is John and I am new to this group .

I was diagnosed several years ago with Osteoarthritis and I have been living with constant pain for years .

My doctors just gives me Co Codomol for the pain and I get on with it . Living with constant pain is so draining and stops me doing the things I like most . I love to walk but now can only walk short distances before I am in agony .

I also wake up in agony with pain in my arms hands and legs 😫

I wonder how others members deal with the constant pain ? What can I take that allows me to lead a better pain free existence if possible .

john

Comments

  • YvonneH
    YvonneH Member Posts: 1,076

    Hi @Johnboy54

    Welcome to the Online Community, thank you for joining us.

    I can see that you have had osteoarthritis (OA) for years but the pain relief isn't working sufficiently to let you have any quality of life at the moment.

    We can help, first by you knowing you can get it all off your chest, the frustration and anger even with your situation. You aren't alone. Then the members will have ideas to help you, and as you read posts in the Living with Arthritis area you will find help for yourself, and be able to support others similar to yourself.

    Here is our advice on pain management, I hope something here is useful

    I too have OA, I have found that initially we can go away and manage on our own, but part of that management means knowing when what we did is no longer enough. It may be time to return to your GP, tell him how you are pain wise and how this makes you feel, it may be time for a change in your meds or a progression of your OA may need physio or orthopaedic treatment now.

    I try lots of distraction when my pain is severe, and I think what advice I would give my friend in this position, then I follow it myself

    Take care

    Yvonne x

  • DebbieL
    DebbieL Member Posts: 63

    Hi John,

    I’m 55 and was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis of my lower spine a couple of years ago. I had stopped virtually all exercise as I was scared of making my pain worse. As soon as I got home from work( 5 days a week desk job) I would take 2 30/500 co codamol and go to bed. I saw a specialist back physio and started exercising again. I did a stretch class and ballet. I took 8/500 before my class. My physio convinced me that I needed to keep moving. He was right, the exercise made me tired so I slept better and the pain eventually reduced. I usually take 2 x 30/500 and 20mg nortriptyline before bed and naproxen if I am still in pain and awake after a couple of hours. Every single morning I wake and know as soon as I move and get up my pain will be bad. I also know if I keep moving the pain will reduce. I don’t want to move or get up some mornings but knowing this will make things worse gets me up and moving. Most days I don’t need painkillers - I think the exercise I do has made a real difference for me. I also have a 4” memory foam topper on my mattress that is more comfortable for my painful hips. But I am never pain free- just different levels of pain.

    I think some form of exercise is key although it may take a bit of trial and error to find something that works for you. Also pain relief is often the same. I was able to get to sleep with co codamol but if I needed to turn over in the night it was agony- the nortriptyline made turning over a lot less painful.

    Keep going back to your GP . A referral to a specialist may help you find a better way forward to reduce your pain or find ways of coping with it.

    I hope things improve

    Debbie