Osteoarthritis diagnosis and pain control

[fudgesmummy]

Hi all,
I have been diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis in both my hips.
My whole life has imploded as I have had to close my very successful childminding business after over 30 years.
I am very overweight and have been told by the doctors that they won’t even consider a hip replacement until I’ve lost at least 4 stone.
I am in constant excruciating pain and the thought of being in this level of pain for a year or more is making me feel suicidal. The pain is particularly unbearable at night.
I have been prescribed Tramadol but even the maximum dose of 6 a day is barely taking the edge off it, plus the doctor won’t prescribe enough for me to take 6 a day anyway so I’m having to ration it.
I’m currently on day 9 with no painkillers and have been sobbing in pain.😭
Has anyone got any suggestions as to any other more effective pain killers I can ask for?
tia

Just start trying to loose weight..easier said than done but it really does help . Naproxen is a great anti inflammatory but your Dr will need to prescribe omeprasole to protect your stomach.

are you doing your physio exercises? i can honestly say that losing the weight will make a massive difference, i was told last year that i had to have a BMI of under 30 before they would even consider surgery.. i know you don't want to hear it but movement really is your friend.. i have now achieved the goal of a BMI under 30, so now they are telling me that they won't do surgery until i'm 60! I'm 57, so 3 more years to go until they move the goal posts again. losing the 3 and a half stone has meant i can move better than i used to be able too and the physio helps

@Okokokok29 thank you for your reply.
I will try and ask the doctor about Naproxen

@thursdaymurderclub
Thank you for your reply.
I haven’t been given any physio exercises, there is a very long wait for a NHS physio appointment in my area and as I’m not working at the moment I can’t afford to go private.
A very well done on loosing so much weight, I’m 58 so I hope they don’t say that to me. I’m not even on a waiting list yet as I’m still to see a consultant.
I can’t move at all and my hips are like stone, I have to use a wheelchair when out and about but I avoid leaving the house if can as the pain is just so bad ☹️

I need both knees replacing and like you am overweight and struggling a lot.
They won't touch my knees until I'm 50 but losing a couple of stone has helped a lot.
Plus morphine and pregabalin & naproxen
I work full time on my feet and by dinner time I'm on the edge and definitely not coping

You need to do fast 800. Watch the programme ‘lose a stone in 3 weeks’ but it’s called something less aggressive now. I did it and lost the stone in 24 days, another 2 in the following 4 months. It works and means you could get your hood done sooner than later. I was about 3.5 stone overweight.

Mum is 60 and they still won't replace her knees, she can't use Voltorol cream as it has diclofenac in but swears by flexiseq osteoarthirits cream it's £19 from Super drug but is cheaper on Amazon.

Go and see a private physiotherapist. And try and lose weight. Nothing will help much till you get the hip replacements.

I broke both hips and pelvis 11 years ago.
I have stage 4 osteoarthritis in hips.
I have a fluoroscopy-guided steroid injection every six months.
It's a game changer.
I'm 66 and hanging on as long as l can before l have hip replacements.
I've also started Mounjaro and lost 2 stones and that's a big help.. so I'm continuing.
I have a Stair lift.. because although l can walk flat with a walking stick.. up and down stairs is very painfully.
Please ask about being referred for the injections.. Good Luck.

Hello, so I was in chronic pain with osteoarthritis for 2.5 years until I had my hip replaced. I am having my second in a few weeks.

You can try cortisone shots in your hips. (You will need someone to drive you to and from the appointment).

You can do physio from YouTube - you need to strengthen your glutes. It’s not going to do anything for the bone on bone pain but you have to keep your muscles working.

You have to do something concrete about your weight as you know. You can join weight watchers online and get your food delivered via Ocado so you plan your meals and only get what you need.

Swimming - even walking in the pool will support your joints and may ease some of the muscles that tense up from being in a lot of pain.

I was on codine, naproxen every day for months and hated it!! I rate Paramol which is over the counter but with all these they cause fuzzy heads and are awful.

If your lower back troubles you I used a tens machine that I got off Amazon. I don’t really remember how much good it did but it felt like I was doing something.

Counter intuitively I found spin classes and being on an exercise bike helped. Something about getting the blood flowing.

I didn’t do this but medical cannabis can really help ease pain for some people.

The NHS has a pain clinic- I didn’t do this either but I think it gives you mindfulness and mental strategies to deal with chronic pain.

I have given you a lot and others have given you ideas. Make a list and then make a plan. It’s not over yet. There is still things you can do and things can get better.

P.S l also go swimming to keep hips moving.. only exercise l can do.
Unfortunately I'm allergic to every pain med except paracetamol..
So l bought a very good dry herb vape( not the 2 a penny ones everyone uses)..and l vape cannabis. ( My GP knows).

I was taking meloxicam for pain as well as being an anti inflammatory. It really made a difference and I was pleased but found that I can’t take it any longer as I have hiatal hernia and meloxicam could cause bleeding. It helps to be able to read other’s experiences with meds etc.

Oh bless you. I've got pain in my hips too. It was unmanaged for nearly a year. It's hell to try to sleep on it.

I also smoke weed sometimes, like PP above. I have codeine from the GP and now on gabapentin as well.

I am now able to get comfortable in bed.

Keep pestering your GP. See a different one if you need to.

Oh also, don't beat yourself up about your weight. I'm at the lower end of the healthy BMI range and mine are still awful without painkillers.

Hi

I wanted to add that you should apply for adult disability payments / PIP. You're in chronic pain and you need support.

Perhaps you could use the money to help with weight loss via wegovy or MJ.

Every sympathy. Health care professionals are dismissive of pain. You've had good advice. If you did every single one of these suggestions, including more pain relief you can buy yourself, or insist from GP, it would help a bit, until you can get your op.

Thank you everyone for your replies, advice and sympathy.
I know that loosing weight is the most helpful thing I can do for myself.
I have lost 8lb which feels like such a small amount and loosing 4 stone is just a dream ☹️
I am on the waiting list to see the consultant so surgery won’t be on the cards for a long time anyway.

To fudgesmummy
You could ask your dr about gabapentin which can be helpful if you’re able to take it! Also meloxicam which was a big help for me until I became anemic due to reflux…..
Wishing you the best!

Ask about hydrotherapy, physio is much easier in the water than on land. See if you have a local hydro pool the physio could refer you too.
Or if you can afford it, join a gym or spa with a hydrotherapy pool to do the exercises in, or swim in the pool. I tried that but the spa pool was boiling and made me feel ill! The NHS pool is freezing though!

Also look into local supporters groups for osteoarthritis. The hospital or google should be able to locate the nearest ones for you.
You can share your experiences with others in the same boat at meetings and socials, they often have books you can borrow, speakers at meetings, inormative newsletters etc. I used to help run a similar group, there is usually a lot on offer and everybody makes friends in person and online.
There are usually Facebook groups and the like to ask questions and share information, which is invaluable to the newly diagnosed.

I feel so upset for you reading this. I have rheumatoid arthritis and know how terrible the pain is.

What helps me in a flare is:

Etoricoxib pain killers taken daily, teamed with paracetamol. I scoffed at paracetamol helping this level of pain but teamed together it does help.

Gentle Pilates exercises - can't recommend enough

Icing with ice packs

Hot baths

Propped up pillows at night

Fresh air (for mental health)

It's terrible, I sympathise so much.

Losing 8 pounds is a brilliant start. Well done. You have ticked off an eighth of the journey. Keep going.

Hi OP. I've been following your thread as I have three types of arthritis and I struggle massively. I also have EDS which complicates things further. Have had masses of physio, but it's not going to take it away. I try to keep strong, but there's a very fine line between not doing enough and doing too much.

Anyway, I just wanted to say we'll done on the 8lb weight loss. I also think that @philosoppee put it brilliantly when they said your one eighth of the way there. It has made me feel brilliant too, as I've actually lost 4 kg which happens to be one eighth of my total goal. I only have to do the same thing seven more times. That seems like really manageable small goals rather than the one massive one (around 5 stone for me)

Keep going. You've got this, and I'm with you (if that helps at all)

Well done, that's brilliant you've achieved that too. Arthritis is so tough and you know you're doing the very best thing to manage it.

I'm sorry you are in so much pain.
Well done on the weight loss
I have RA and OA.
I found weight loss helped massively.
I was a normal BMI but went from the top to the lower end for my height and the lessened burden on my joints has really helped.
Swimming and gentle cycling means I am now pain-free.

I get terrific pain in my hips at night and cannot lie on left side.Ihave just treated my self toa memory foam mattress cover. First sleep tonight…shall report back tomorrow!,