Arthritis- I know there are worse things in life but I feel so fed up.......

[NaturalBlondeYeahRight]

Just been to specialist about dodgy knee, injured as teenager and last year. Says there is nothing they can do as riddled with arthritis. I'm only 35!

Dr said it will probably need replacing in about 10-15 years and it will never be the same again, I just wanted to cry there and then. I know in my head that I should be grateful for all the good stuff in my life but I feel like this is a slippery slope to pain and old age. I know I need to get weight under control to help myself but what else to do.
Wine needed and cheering up.

Doctors always give the worst case scenario. What is the plan for pain relief etc? Can they give you a steroid injection?

I have rheumatoid arthritis, which I've had since I was 36, and can completely understand how upsetting a visit to the doctors' can be.

Have a big glass of and hope you're feeling better before too long

Thanks- wine drunk and feeling a bit better. No pain relief discussed, it's not painful ATM just stiff everyday- I was all geared up for him suggesting keyhole surgery and then that was that. Do steroids help you?

I'll join you. I'm 31, and riddled with arthritis. It's a PITA. (Literally as well as figuratively).

If I go out without DS3's pram, I need a stick now.

DS3 is 2yo, I was dxd when he was 18mo.

I'm dosed up on cocodamol half the time, and crying and unable to move the rest of the time (I don't want to take codeine based pain relief for more than 3 days on, 3 days off, to give it a chance to clear my system each time. But my stubbornness over not becoming addicted means I'm in agony half the time.)

You poor thing.
I got arthritis in my 50s, and a decade on and it's far worse. You are too young but your injury caused it. That is real bad luck.
If the knee isn't painful, you don't need steroids.
Mine started with a torn cartilage, for which I did have the keyhole surgery, and I was informed they had found arthritis in the bones of the knee and would later need a replacement. That was 6.5 years ago, and still OK.
I have stiffness everywhere now, but is my age.
Is it just your knee that is stiff ?
You should be doing physio excercises to keep your thigh muscle from weakening, as you will not be using it as much as your other leg subconsciously.
Sitting on a chair, lift the leg up straight and hold for 10-15 seconds. repeat 10 times, several times a day.

Merry, how on earth do you do it with a small child??? I feel for you all, really do. I miss having a pram for the same reason, do you think I could put the dog in?
I think it was the shock of a (private) doc saying 'sorry, nothing I can do for a while, just get on with it. You'll be ok for about 10 years'
It's not straight, it makes me walk with a limp and that does put pressure on other joints, doesn't it? Can't believe I just have to 'get on' with a wonky leg
Just looking online and it makes me wonder if I could have osteoarthritis , I thought there was stuff you could take. The problem is I didn't ask enough questions and now feel a bit stuck.
This is the bit we as woman are good at, picking ourselves up and carry on. Thank you for making me feel like I'm not alone x

Actually I don't think there is much worse than arthritis.

I see your 35 and 31 and raise you to diagnosis at 26.

OP you need to see a rhumatologist because there is a lot that can be done.

Medication.
Tens machine.
Surgery.
Steroid injection.
Physio.
Walking stick - I resisted this for years but it has actually made walking easier.

Actually I don't think there is much worse than arthritis.

I see your 35 and 31 and raise you to diagnosis at 26.

OP you need to see a rhumatologist because there is a lot that can be done.

Medication.
Tens machine.
Surgery.
Steroid injection.
Physio.
Walking stick - I resisted this for years but it has actually made walking easier

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 19, I'm now 34.
Tbh I can still remember diagnosis now as it was devastating to me. Unfortunately mine came with a lot of pain, stiffness and terrible fatigue. It's now better controlled through drug therapy and I've learnt to live with it better. I have degenerative damage to my hips, knees, shoulders, hands and feet which I can't do much about.
I also see a Physio privately who is currently helping me with my core strength and that really helps.
There are a lot of helpful resources about arthritis (all kinds) on the Arthritis Care website and the Arthritis Research website and AC also has a good support network through their helplines & discussion boards.

I was diagnosed with arthritis at 21 but turns out they were wrong! At the time I had very limited hip movement but as soon as we moved out of our very damp cold cottage the symptoms went away. Now in my late 30s I'm starting to show signs but its very early days. Anyway, what I came on to say is that the private physio and acupunctarist I saw at the time reccomended glucosamine. If you are in the early stages it may help slow things down. I don't really know much about it but it may be worth looking it up. Go for a good quality one. If I was a clever scientist arthritis would be my thing after seeing my parents suffer with it so badly.

"Naturalbonde* just to answer your question, yes a steroid injection directly into the knee has helped a lot in the past for me, as it immediately reduced swelling and stiffness. After 3rd time though, it didn't have as much of a benefit.

If you have osteoarthritis though, the treatment may be different. You may find your limp gets better over time. A work colleague of mine had a ligament injury/problem with knee, that she was told would never get better and they couldn't operate on but after a while with painkillers and rest she is now back at work with no limp.

I tried glucosamine and chroniton, but didn't help me . One lady took Green muscle extract and said that really helped, but got the side effect of 'spotting', but that she accepted.
And I got the spotting too, which I was miffed about as been through the menopause, and getting rid of 'that monthly thing' - mine was quite heavy- was the only bonus of getting older, so stopped taking it.

I have met 3 ladies with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and on medication for it and they all looked 20 years younger than they were ?
One is 79 this year, still smokes, and can walk really fast and all day long. Hasn't aged since I first met her 15 years ago.

I recently had the same diagnosis as you with my knee and I was devastated, probably how you feel right now. As you say, there are worst things in life but I live in a rural area, walk my dog every day, garden etc etc and it seems that it is all going to get much worse and more painful before I can have a knee replacement. I know just how you feel because it is devastating to be told that there is nothing they can do except pain killers and glucosamine/chroniton and wait....The dr recommended an injection from a rheumatologist but I was so shocked at the initial diagnosis that I didn't really take it in, presume it is a steroid injection. The only positive thing is mine is after a severe ski injury in my 20s so probably like you, the other joints will be ok, it is far worse having generalised arthritis in all the joints. I did think that the glucosamine had helped but think it might be in my mind!!!

sam
I'm sure it does work with some people, and it really doesn't matter if
it's imaginary. If you feel better on it, all the good. .

But you must do physio exercises to keep that leg's upper knee and thigh muscle from weakening, as subconsciously you will not use it as much as your good leg.

Which I, to my cost by not bothering, am now suffering with.

Thank you for all your ideas and suggestions. I'm feeling more positive this morning (if a bit cross with the Dr still) and want to tackle it from all angles, including all of the ones above. Definitely the one where I might look 20 years younger!!
I love MN for making you feel understood.