At what age were you diagnosed with osteoarthritis?

[Painfulpenny]

And which area does it affect?
any tips for someone newly diagnosed and struggling?

You're not doomed. My parents both had severe OA. I'm only one of 3 of us with OA and my siblings are in their 50s.

My particular CTD is an inherited gene which has a 50/50 chance of being passed on to each child.
Two parents with the same faulty gene wouldn't produce successful pregnancy so yours wouldn't have the same genetic problem.

So if a specific CTD is the underlying reason for your parents' OA, you may be lucky, especially if you are ok so far!

However, most OA, especially that developing 55+ results from actions taken in life to date, especially overuse or notably wonky use, literally wearing out of your joints, that situation doesn't tend to be hereditary.