Osteoarthritis

Hi.  I have osteoarthritis in both hips and the spine. I have tried several drugs which don't really help. The Dr recently gave me diazipam which does help but very addictive in high doses.I did try aqua aerobics and swimming but my leg kept giving way on me. I find heat helps me,warm baths,wheat bags and heat patches. I am going to try the vicks rub as my pain is worse at nighttime. I hope you find some forms of pain relief

I'm also newly diagnosed. Knee has very little cartilage. Had a foot operation to ease foot pain on walking. Thumbs, elbow and shoulder starting to hurt. I am self managing at the moment, early days. My knee surgeon says I will eventually need a new knee but to go as long as I can without. I am doing weight loss, Pilates, Cycling and daily hot spa. Like those above, I find heat helps and if I can get in hot water spa or a warm pool after exercise I feel much better. I avoid any movement that has a twist motion or a jump as these seem to cause more damage and pain. Cycling keeps my knee straight so it seems to work. The more exercise I do the better it feels. I do some every day. At first it was really hard, but I have learnt what helps and what makes it worse. Pilates is the best I think, has made my movement improve. I am basically trying the exercise and movement route to see if I can beat the Consultants opinion on when I will need a replacement knee. I avoid ibuprofen as it makes me bruise so I replace this with heat packs and hot spa. I am sure I will get worse over time. 

I find Vicks vapour rub great I put it on areas that are hurting at night and within 5 mins I get enough relief to get some sleep.

Hi Everyone X I'm going to go to my local swimming pool and ask about Aqua aerobics if that helps I will try X my knees are bad they are bone on bone and just had injections in both one last week and one the week before it takes the pain away for a couple of days but then back to square one.

carol thompson.

Hi,

I've got osteoarthritis in hips, lower spine,  ankle and neck.

I've also got kyphoscolosis...which is a curve in the spine and a slight hump at the top

Osteoporosis

I've had 2 hip replacements and the second one........4 weeks post op doing one of the NHSexercises I fractured a greater trochanter bone and will be one crutches permanentaly now......its been over 2 years now

I'm on quite a lot of medication but I don't know what else to do...sorry

I waken up in agony so I cant do relaxation exercises then.  I'll be reading this thread to see if anyone else has any ideas that I might pinch   lol

Love

Hileena

Hi my name is Mary. I am new to this. I have osteoarthritis in both my knees. I had the left one cleaned out 2 years ago and it has helped, now my right knee is really bad. They won't replace my knees as they say I am too young.  I am in pain 24/7 they gave me a cortisone injection 3 weeks ago but it hasn't worked. I am on naproxin and Co codamol but they don't even touch to pain. I might just try going back to swimming 

Hi, i have osteoarthritis in wrists, hands, ankle, and have gad both hips replaced but the second one my keg was broken during the op and now has a wire collar and a trapped nerve, mri scan revealed degenerative spinal disease and spondulitis, my anti inflamatrie meds have been syopped due to a spike in blood oressure and now I excisr on tramadol taken with paracetamol with amitriptyine at night to try and get some sleep. I find swimming in a warm pool helps keep me going but now the doctirs are wanting to reduce my tramadol as it s addictive but not offering any replacement, sorry to sound down but thats how constant pain makes me feel, allways had a full active life before, rode horses since I was three and bred and shown great danes, my husband and I shared a live of fell walking but tgat all stopped when I had to tae early retiterme t at 50 and its been down hill from there

Hi folks my name is Martin and was diagnosed with OA mid-year 2015 after over 10 years of pain.I have it in my hands,arms(especially elbows),neck,and knees.I am a real fitness and outdoor fanatic and the pain eventually drove me to a Consultant! I never take medication although I find massage of the arms and neck does help.Someone recommended Glucosamine & Chondroitin but it has had zero effect.The Consultant discussed elbow replacements with me but suggested it should be an absolute last resort.Instead we try to manage the condition.

I still have 2 hours daily in the gym although its sometimes agony it does definitely make me feel better after.I try to walk up to 40 miles a week and also cycle.We are all different in our levels but I always carry the mindset that I will not be beaten by this!!

Hi Carol,  I also have the same disease and my doctor has me on Pregabalin, Tramadol & Amitriptyline. I must admit that I try not to take as many as prescribed as I wouldn't be any good during the day if I did.  The only time I take one of all three together is before I go to bed at night which gives me at least 3hrs sleep.  I was worrying that I was taking too much strong pain medication so my doctor sent me to the hospital to speak to a Pain Management doctor who said that I wasn't prescribed too many for the pain I'm constantly in.  You really need to get your doctor to refer you to your local hospital to see a Pain Management Doctor who will help you far better than a GP.  Hope this helps & please let me know how you get on.

Regards

Lorraine

I have recently joined this site.  It has become obvious that I am not in as much pain as some of you.  I have severe osteoarthritis in one hip in particular and have had this same hip replaced twice, once in 2008 and once last year, 2015.  The reason for the revision replacement was that after experiencing problems after about 5 years I was informed that the metal hip with the metal liner had developed issues in some patients after this length of time.  The metal liner has been replaced with ceramic as the metal was disintegrating into my bloodstream, causing headaches, memory loss and pain.  The metal in my system could potentially have damaged many of my organs, hence the rushed replacement.  Since this second replacement I still cannot walk very far and the pain has not gone away as expected.  Has anyone else had the same problems as this.