Arthritis sufferers?
Discussion
Hi
is there a thread for this already?
Im 60 and have I guess "mild" arthritis mainly in my spine in my neck. Have good days and bad days, probably dependant on sleeping positions.
Ive been given some exercises to do by the GP , dont always remember to do them.
Obviously its getting worse as I get older. wondered if anyone else suffered and if they had any tips for easing it?
Once you've got it thats it as far as I can see.
Cheers all.
is there a thread for this already?
Im 60 and have I guess "mild" arthritis mainly in my spine in my neck. Have good days and bad days, probably dependant on sleeping positions.
Ive been given some exercises to do by the GP , dont always remember to do them.
Obviously its getting worse as I get older. wondered if anyone else suffered and if they had any tips for easing it?
Once you've got it thats it as far as I can see.
Cheers all.
I'm 39 and suffer a little from osteoarthritis following a motorcycle accident in my youth. Mainly in my right lower back/ pelvis.
I've found heat application to be helpful, I certainly suffer more in the cold and damp, and using an electric heat pad/hot water bottle is quite effective.
I've also lost a lot of weight this year, and have found that I'm suffering a lot less. Not sure if that's linked
I've found heat application to be helpful, I certainly suffer more in the cold and damp, and using an electric heat pad/hot water bottle is quite effective.
I've also lost a lot of weight this year, and have found that I'm suffering a lot less. Not sure if that's linked
I get a lot of pain in my left thumb when damp/cold. I can only assume this is from years of DIY and hitting my thumb with a hammer when I've missed nails etc.
The pain is absolutely excruciating to be honest, heat (although it takes ages to work), squeezing my thumb as hard as physically possible, plus anti-inflammatories seem to be the only thing that dulls the pain.
If it's cool/wet I tend to have some pills before I head out anywhere.
The pain is absolutely excruciating to be honest, heat (although it takes ages to work), squeezing my thumb as hard as physically possible, plus anti-inflammatories seem to be the only thing that dulls the pain.
If it's cool/wet I tend to have some pills before I head out anywhere.
I'm 44 and a long time sufferer. I was diagnosed about 13 or 14 years ago with sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis with secondary osteo-arthritis as a result. Basically the majority of my joints are worn out and i've had various surgeries including shoulder athroscopy, wrist fusion and even a toe amputation.
The surgeon who fused my wrist said based on the condition of the joint pre surgery he would estimate i've had it for at least 25 years, which was when i was just under 40. This therefore ties in with visits to the GP's as a teenager complaining of joint pains which was dismissed as "growing pain" when instead it should have been juvenile arthritis. Sadly as i was misdiagnosed the joints have worn away and there is little that can be done.
I'm on a methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine for my arthritis and a load of others for my other ailments. I'll also probably need future surgeries for things like my worn hip and knackered knees.
The surgeon who fused my wrist said based on the condition of the joint pre surgery he would estimate i've had it for at least 25 years, which was when i was just under 40. This therefore ties in with visits to the GP's as a teenager complaining of joint pains which was dismissed as "growing pain" when instead it should have been juvenile arthritis. Sadly as i was misdiagnosed the joints have worn away and there is little that can be done.
I'm on a methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine for my arthritis and a load of others for my other ailments. I'll also probably need future surgeries for things like my worn hip and knackered knees.
Freakuk said:
I get a lot of pain in my left thumb when damp/cold. I can only assume this is from years of DIY and hitting my thumb with a hammer when I've missed nails etc.
The pain is absolutely excruciating to be honest, heat (although it takes ages to work), squeezing my thumb as hard as physically possible, plus anti-inflammatories seem to be the only thing that dulls the pain.
If it's cool/wet I tend to have some pills before I head out anywhere.
Are you sure it's not gout? If you haven't already, may be worth a visit to your GP, or a telephone consultation, where he/she may refer you for a blood test?The pain is absolutely excruciating to be honest, heat (although it takes ages to work), squeezing my thumb as hard as physically possible, plus anti-inflammatories seem to be the only thing that dulls the pain.
If it's cool/wet I tend to have some pills before I head out anywhere.
Mild to severe arthritis, plus osteonecrosis resulting from repeated barotrauma as an air-diver.
Can't take Ibuprofen because of dodgy kidneys, (although it worked pretty well when I was allowed it).
Like many I thought it was worse in wet weather but then I thought - how TF do my shoulders and hips know it's wet outside? From that I twigged that it responds to changing atmospheric pressure, either up or down. The faster the change, the more arthritic pain.
Fortunately, short range localised weather forecasting is so good nowadays that I can see what's likely to happen in the next day or two and Co-Codamol does the rest. It's more effective if taken before the pain gets severe than waiting until it does.
XC Weather app on the phone is your friend. Track the pressure.
HTH.
404.
Can't take Ibuprofen because of dodgy kidneys, (although it worked pretty well when I was allowed it).
Like many I thought it was worse in wet weather but then I thought - how TF do my shoulders and hips know it's wet outside? From that I twigged that it responds to changing atmospheric pressure, either up or down. The faster the change, the more arthritic pain.
Fortunately, short range localised weather forecasting is so good nowadays that I can see what's likely to happen in the next day or two and Co-Codamol does the rest. It's more effective if taken before the pain gets severe than waiting until it does.
XC Weather app on the phone is your friend. Track the pressure.
HTH.
404.
I was diagnosed about 20 years ago when I was in my 40s. I also have RA.
I find keeping mobile helps. I recently retired from being an admin monkey using a keyboard for 90% of the day. A few months later I kept dislocating my thumbs. I also developed painful lumps on my knuckles.
A trip to the GP and I was told to take up hobbies that using my hands. He suggested knitting! I did actually take his advice and the lumps have gone and I haven't dislocated my thumbs since.
Good painkillers also help. I am on amitriptyline which really helps sleep.
I find keeping mobile helps. I recently retired from being an admin monkey using a keyboard for 90% of the day. A few months later I kept dislocating my thumbs. I also developed painful lumps on my knuckles.
A trip to the GP and I was told to take up hobbies that using my hands. He suggested knitting! I did actually take his advice and the lumps have gone and I haven't dislocated my thumbs since.
Good painkillers also help. I am on amitriptyline which really helps sleep.
I'm early 50's and have it in both knees, first started to notice discomfort in one knee about 4yrs ago, then the other knee soon caught up. If i'm sat for a while (I sit at a desk all day) and then get up, my knees hurt and I hobble about for a while until they loosen up. Rinse and repeat.
All the advice I've had says to keep my knees active, go walking etc. However if I go out for a 3 mile walk then i'm in real pain later that evening and for the following couple of days, had I not done the walk I wouldn't be hurting half as much. Seems counter productive to go walking as i'm advised to do, when that causes pain.
Last week I started taking green lipped muscle capsules and fish oil capsules from Holland & Barrett and my knees feel much better, but this must be coincidental as I don't believe they could have such a positive effect over just the few days I've been taking them.
All the advice I've had says to keep my knees active, go walking etc. However if I go out for a 3 mile walk then i'm in real pain later that evening and for the following couple of days, had I not done the walk I wouldn't be hurting half as much. Seems counter productive to go walking as i'm advised to do, when that causes pain.
Last week I started taking green lipped muscle capsules and fish oil capsules from Holland & Barrett and my knees feel much better, but this must be coincidental as I don't believe they could have such a positive effect over just the few days I've been taking them.
The Gauge said:
All the advice I've had says to keep my knees active, go walking etc. However if I go out for a 3 mile walk then i'm in real pain later that evening and for the following couple of days, had I not done the walk I wouldn't be hurting half as much. Seems counter productive to go walking as i'm advised to do, when that causes pain.
Perhaps I'm missing something, but what happens if you do one or two miles (perhaps more frequently) instead of pushing for three?Cycling is very low impact on knees, so might be worth a try. I'm sure a physio would also give some good advice.
Slow.Patrol said:
I was diagnosed about 20 years ago when I was in my 40s. I also have RA.
I find keeping mobile helps. I recently retired from being an admin monkey using a keyboard for 90% of the day. A few months later I kept dislocating my thumbs. I also developed painful lumps on my knuckles.
A trip to the GP and I was told to take up hobbies that using my hands. He suggested knitting! I did actually take his advice and the lumps have gone and I haven't dislocated my thumbs since.
Good painkillers also help. I am on amitriptyline which really helps sleep.
I agree that keeping mobile heps, yes im stiff and achey as a result but keeping moving helps prevent me seizing up. I'm sure if i got a scooter or wheelchair i would become much worse through leack of using my joints.I find keeping mobile helps. I recently retired from being an admin monkey using a keyboard for 90% of the day. A few months later I kept dislocating my thumbs. I also developed painful lumps on my knuckles.
A trip to the GP and I was told to take up hobbies that using my hands. He suggested knitting! I did actually take his advice and the lumps have gone and I haven't dislocated my thumbs since.
Good painkillers also help. I am on amitriptyline which really helps sleep.
I've also got various bumps on the knuckles but they are from deformation of the joints.
I'm also on amitriotyline which did wonders at first i think its effectiveness has lessened over time.
blue_haddock said:
I'm also on amitriotyline which did wonders at first i think its effectiveness has lessened over time.
I upped my dosage recently. I was on one 10 mg pill a night and now take two. If I have been doing the garden, gone swimming or had to walk into the village and back, I probably could do with taking three. It does make me very slow in the morning. I need a strong coffee before I can function.
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