Arthritis - what helps?

[Noitsnotteatimeyet]

I've had an MRI of my knee as the joint keeps getting stuck and is very painful. It showed that not only are there fragments of bone and torn cartilage which are causing the acute problem but there's also 'moderately severe' arthritis in the whole joint

Now my big toe joint on the other foot is very sore and stiff so I'm hobbling around and I've had a stiff thumb joint for months ....

Given the findings of the MRI I'm now wondering if these symptoms are also caused by arthritis

I'm feeling quite despondent at the thought of this getting worse and my mobility being impaired (I'm early 50s so really wasn't expecting this now)

What helps, other than painkillers?

Getting a proper diagnosis would be the best thing to do at this stage so you can start treatment and hopefully stop things getting worse.
Does your Dr know about the problems in your thumb and toe joints?
If not you need to tell him/her so you can have blood tests and possibly referral to rheumatologist. If Dr knows and hasn't done anything about it maybe you need to go back and have a discussion.

Do not stop moving.If weight bearing exercise is too painful,go to a swimming pool. I love my bicycle for that reason,but one knee sometimes objects, so I push with the other leg and give the sore one a free ride.

Thanks - I'm having X-rays in the other joints and blood tests this morning

I have to keep active - I have a very bouncy 2 year old dog and three teenagers to run around after! I can't run but can still cycle as long as there aren't too many steep hills but walking is what I do most and that's quite painful at the moment