Struggling with the physical limitations of osteoarthritis

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Hi! I'm fairly recently diagnosed with end-stage osteoarthritis in both hips - it all happened so fast, hence it being so far advanced at the time of the diagnosis. I need both hips to be replaced as neither has any cartilage left and I'm in constant excruciating pain.

I was having better days but it seems as if every day is a struggle now, and it's starting to really get me down. DH and DD (age 11) do loads in the house which is brilliant, but DH works full time. He did the dish washer last night and cleaned the kitchen after dinner, yet it took me hours to empty the dishwasher this morning, put everything away and restack it after breakfast. The living room is getting on top of me just with things to put away. Again DH does a lot of this but he's working such long hours. I guess I just feel so frustrated that I can no longer do the simplest of things and it's dragging me down. I spent last weekend bursting into tears for no apparent reason. I don't even know what I'm expecting from writing this post....

This frightens me so much. Especially your comment about it suddenly happening fast. I have a very painful joint at the moment that’s been causing me pain for over a month. I suspect it’s arthritis but I’m too scared to go to the doctor.

can you try crutches? to take some of the pressure off?
How old are you? thinking 40's or 50's?

isnt aging wonderful

How old are you OP?
Are you on an NHS waiting list? Or private healthcare!

That sounds a shock sorry you have put up with this (and wait for the op) you need get your head around the new you. Theres no reason why you should have to be bending to empty or full dishwasher that’s quite a workout for a fit person, must feel like it takes forever. Theres only 3 of you so it’s not like you are family of 10 and going run out plates and cups in a day. Can you not give breakfast things a wash in the sink or sat On a stool if you really must? Of the dishwasher has to wait till evening then so be it. It maybe a simply job but the effect on your bed is massive it’s not being lazy.

Do you have a grabber stick? So helpful for tidying the living room. I’d be bribing the 11y to do 20min after school so least living room feels tidy and you not staring at stuff all day. Once it’s tidy and non cluttered so much easier to keep looking good.

But you need ask yourself if my husband was in this much pain would I be happy for him to do XYZ. There is no need to be a martyr. Stuff happens it’s not forever if op goes well.

PS we have a chronic pain daily drop in thread for support on this board for joys/moans/achievements about coping with chronic pain. You would be very welcome

Hi I had one hip replaced 3 years ago now, I was on co codamol whilst waiting for the op, not a long term solution but it helped me do daily activities whilst waiting thankfully only 3 months for the op.
The other hip is going to need replacement at some point but at the moment I only have flares of pain so I put up with it.
I agree with the comment about a perch stool for the kitchen, life saver! All the best to you.

Have you tried a perching stool for the kitchen? I have OA is my knee and it constantly locks and gives way. I'm going to Ortho tomorrow and will hopefully get a further steroid. I find sitting on the stool doing tasks so much easier. I'm only 44 but need a full replacement. I need to lose a fair amount of weight so that isn't helping.
It's a horrible thing and I hope you manage to get some relief. Sending hugs X

Thank you everyone. I'm 45.

I suppose I could wash the morning dishes by hand, or leave them till later- it's just that our kitchen is tiny, so I try to keep it clear and stack the dishwasher as we go through the day, so that when I'm doing the dinner, there's space to work. I usually prepare what I can of the dinner in the early afternoon because by the evening, the pain is too bad.

I do have a grabber, it's a life saver. I will look into a perch stool, thank you. I have just got crutches and they make life a million times easier. I was using a stick but it's not enough any more. It's just a case of getting used to new ways of doing things and never having 2 hands free!

@FreeBritnee I was the same and put off for ages but now I've been, I've had xrays and been referred to orthopaedics. I've also got decent pain relief now including oramorph for the worst days but the stiffness and cracking/snapping isn't helped by anything. I'm due to get the first one done in the new year, the consultant hopes. It'll be on the NHS. You should get checked out, I'm terrified about the surgery but can't go on like this.

I’m 52 and getting my right knee done in February