How do you cope with osteoarthritis pain?

@Trish1 congratulations on your new hip. I had mine 2017. And it gave me my life back. 
Start off with your living room walking then venture outside in garden or pavement. Small walks to start then bit more as you feel able. No need to run in first few weeks. A extra few yards per day. Do the exercises. Keep up the walking. And you may be seen line myself. People do not realise I’ve had a new hip. Go for it. If you don’t you can end up limping for the rest of your days. Good luck. 

I have had pain for more years than I care to remember. My doctor will just throw pain killers at you. I was given tramadol but they just made me sick. I have co codamol for when I am in really bad pain but don't take them regularly because of getting addicted to them. I have a Tens machine and have massages when I can. I do reiki and have healing at my local spiritualist church, well I did till covid. I do believe keeping a positive mind set helps but we all have bad days.

I used to be a train guard, and occupational health redeployed me, in fact, they laid me off, because i was struggling walking through the train to check tickets, though i tried to carry on in pain, so i was told after xrays, that i had the onset of ostearthritis in both of my hips, with a crumbling lower vertibrae, in my back. Doctors have done nothing, and now when i go out, as i have to take the dog out for it`s walks, as the wife can`t, i walk for 5 minutes, then i have to stand still for 5 minutes for my hips to settle, before i can walk properly again, as it feels like i have a horse underneath me, but there was no horse. I`m not taking any meds for it and i know it`s getting worse, as the pain is getting worse, but i`m stubbon and won`t take mind wobbling tablets, so i grin and bear it. It started about 10 years ago, and i`m not sure where it`s going to stop or what is next.

@brainsurgeon‍ 

Sorry to hear you are suffering so much. have you tried swimming, or even exercising in the shallow end in the pool. It really does help a lot. If your local pool is open, why don't you give it a shot. You are weightless in water and you do not feel the pain, and movement exercises your hips. Ask your GP to refer you for Hydrotherapy. Also do you see a physiotherapy for the right kind of exercises for the hips/ There are a lot of U Tube videos for exercises of every joint. It would be worth your while doing the exercises. Like you say, if you don't use it, you lose it. Good luck

@wednesday I am not allowed to take cocodamol as the prolactin level in my blood is high enough. I even asked if I could up my zomorph meds from 30mg but because I take one capsule twice a day the GP said no. It's so frustrating tbh x

As I'm getting older, I'm now getting more osteoarthritis in the knees, neck, and wrists. Our whole family has arthritis, my father had a hip replacement and my Granny couldn't write with her one hand. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and osteopenia in November 2018, and am on Risedronate Sodium.

I'm not able to take Co-Codamol due to codeine and being on epilepsy medication. Paracetamol certainly isn't strong enough.

Taking Risedronate Sodium doesn't alleviate the pain though. My next step will be asking the doctor for MRI/scans to find out whether there's more damage. 

I am intolerant to Codeine based drugs and many anti-inflammatories. I take Turmeric, Glucosamine with Chondroitin. MSM  Omega 3 amongst many others. lately my knees are very painful, particularly right knee. GP was unable to get the needle in for Steroid injection. Was seen by the specialist 2 weeks ago and am placed on the waiting list for TKR. I do knee strengthening exercises and use Capsaisin  cream twice a day and that helps a little. If the waiting list is too long, I will consider going private.

Unfortunately for me,  I seem to be immune to pain killers.  The bottom of my spine is crumbling and I have arthritis in my hips and knees.  I have tried  Zapain, Tramadol,  Oramorph. And morphine patches to name a few. Nothing touches it.  Even when I had a pacemaker fitted (twice) the local anaesthetic kept wearing off, I felt them slice me open  and a lot more.  They kept giving me more and it would work 5 minutes that is it. I think they thought I was making it up as the Dr said,  you can't possibly feel it now.  I said well I can feel you are stitching up the muscle with a curly needle.  He said omg I am so sorry I don't know what to do,  you can't have any more.  I said just hurry up and get it finished then. I  live in dread every year that the battery will be running low and I will need a new one fitted.  I can manage with most of it but the spine is the worst.  I can't stand for more than a couple of minutes before the pain kicks in.  I have to lean on my Walker to get anywhere.  I don't know what else to do.  Even my Dr has run out of ideas,  I have been to 3 different hospitals for the acute pain clinic.  I have done the pain management course and it doesn't help.  I have even had up to 6 injections in my spine at a time but even they only eased it for a couple of weeks.  

@Bren21 Oh gosh that sounds awful! I can't imagine having to endure a procedure like that with no effective painkillers! I know for me some painkillers don't work as well anymore and I need more, I think that's one of the biggest problems for us with long-term pain conditions... I'm sure it wouldn't cover all of your pain but have you thought about or been offered medical cannabis? Maybe an alternative like that would at least dull some of the pain?