To ask for your tips on coping with pain

[Bumbledop]

I posted on the health boards, but didn’t get any replies so I hope it’s ok to post here for traffic. I will keep it brief.

I have arthritis in both hips and have been told I am too young to have them replaced and need to manage the pain ( I have been referred for a second opinion at my request).

I am on painkillers that help and am using a tens machine at night when the pain is at its worst.

I would be really interested to hear any tips on how to manage pain better, I don’t think I’m coping too well at the moment.

www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/ChronicPain.asp

I find swimming helps me as its low impact.
Unsure if that would work for you with arthritis.

Is it osteo or a different type of arthritis? Hip supports worked for me. What pain relief/meds do you take?

Accupuncture . Mindfulness. Keeping warm. Pharmaceuticals!

I was able to get dance and movement psychotherapy that helped me notice positive sensations in my body (eg eating chocolate) and create positive memories.

Yoga
Heat
Whiskey when it gets too much

How old are you OP?

I had a hip resurfacing for osteoarthritis done when I was 23 and it’s still going strong at 37.

Rhumatoid or Osteo? Push for a private referral on the NHS under 'choose and book' too. 80% of Spire/Bupa work etc is NHS surgeries.

Always keep on top of pain meds - set timers on phone

Get a microwaveable heat pad they are amazing

Get cushions to sit on

Work on your posture

Swimming - very good

Warm showers and gentle stretching

Watch your weight etc

Thank you for a your tips!

I have just been told it’s arthritis! I think I need to push for more information.

I’m on Naproxen, paracetamol and amitriptyline. I was ill on Tramadol, but still take the occasional one when it gets bad.

I think I will try yoga and acupuncture, both are available locally, which. Is great because I live quite rurally.

Bumbledop
You can get brilliant free yoga classes on YouTube,
Yoga with adriene

Definitely push for a more specific diagnosis. Different things will be more effective depending on what it is. I have rheumatoid and I find a far infrared sauna very helpful. Our local spa has one (also very rural!)

CBD - the not fun (legal) component of weed

I'm unconvinced by it myself but sell a lot to a lot of people who swear by it for various forms of pain relief, more than a few of whom are using it to alleviate symptoms of arthritis.

easyandy101 would it be safe to take CBD whilst I’m on prescription painkillers and anti depressants??

Will look at the online yoga!!

I have RA. I take long hot baths with epsom salts and take naproxen. Each day I do a 10 minute pilates stretch that really sorts me out. I also ignore the pain and carry on.
I also avoid potatoes, tomatoes, aubergines and peppers which encourage inflammation.

I have RA and find gentle swimming helps. Not too much though or my back starts to twinge.
I spend a lot of my time in a hot bath or in bed with a hot water bottle, dosed up to the eyeballs on pain medication. You have my sympathies OP, and pain isn't taken as seriously in young women as it should be.

You really need to push for a referral. Have you had any bloods done?

Check the wear on your shoes to see if you are putting too much pressure in places. Stupid as it sounds DP got rid of her hip pain (not as severe as yours clearly as no diagnosis) by getting a gait analysis and changing the type of shoes worn daily.

Pannikin. No I’ve had no bloods done, I think I should push for that. I do feel that nobody is taking me seriously!

Mrsharrison thank you for the dietary advice. And I’m going to buy some Epsom salts.

THEsonofaBITCH. that’s really interesting thank you.

Acupuncture and t'ai chi both helped a lot with my hip pain (OA). My chiropractor recommended I only wear soft soled shoes or use gel insoles, that absorb impact. This made quite a difference.

The thing that made the most difference was getting diagnosed with hypothyroidism. As soon as I started on thyroxine, all my aches and pains improved massively. However, that was 20 years ago, and being a wear-and-tear thing, it's got a bit worse again now. Back then I was struggling to walk.

I wonder if the doc has just made the assumption that it's arthritis, if you haven't had any scans/x-rays/bloods done? My OA in my hips was diagnosed by x-ray, when I started getting other joint pain, I had loads of bloods and stuff done to rule out RA and other autoimmune conditions.

Only asking, because someone I know was told by a GP that she had arthritis in her hips and when she moved and changed doctors, her new GP found that it was bursitis and easily sorted by steroid injections.

I've found that exercising has really helped my pain, I make sure I go to the gym for classes at least four times a week.

Ask your gp for a referral to the pain clinic. Mine prescribed some chilli cream which really helps.

@bumbledop

I don't know for certain, I'm not aware of it having negative interactions but I'm also not a doctor! If you're unsure then you could check with your gp. I have customers that have been told by their Dr to try cbd, but obviously that doctor is going to know what meds their patient is taking already

I’m in the same boat as you.
I have arthritis in my lower back and shoulder.
I’m in agony in the nights and it’s affecting my sleep. I’m waiting to see a consultant but for now, I take Naproxen and cocodomol.
Have you had cortisone injections?
I was on amitryptipline but it was making me so groggy in the mornings.
I’ve had enough of being in pain now and just don’t know what to do 😢

Cbd ! Get decent stuff not the Holland and Barrett crap

Do some research

I am off morphine and other strong opiates thanks to cbd

On what basis have you been told you are too young for hip replacement?

IIWM I would do some research into conditions affecting your age bracket, instance of surgery and outcomes because you may be able to challenge this rather than let you be fobbed off due to NHS budget restraints.