What happens if you just ignore arthritis ?

[Greedybilly]

I saw my mum at the weekend- really alarmed at how poor her mobility is.(haven't seen her for a few weeks). Shuffling/limping in pain (hips and knees). Told her it's arthritis and she needs meds/steroids/knee replacement in future?? She wont go to the gp though just puts it down to being old and thinks its 'normal '. Takes endless painkillers but will not go to go. Please help!!?? Thanks

Thanks all for comments. God it's a horrible, crappy thing .

Osteoarthritis, unless you are very young, the Drs just tell you to take OTC painkillers, keep active, and keep your weight down.
Your mum is not going to her GP because she knows there is no point.

Also knee replacements should not happen until you really need one. The success rate is lower than for hip replacements.
Sometimes younger people think lots can be done about the conditions older people get, but usually there is little. So older people are not being stubborn, just realistic.

But who determines when that is? In 2/(3 years I'll probably be completely immobile which means all the surrounding muscle will deteriorate too. I know several people who've had them in their 50s and said it's given them a new lease of life. Ditto people in their 70s

@CandyLeBonBon Obviously it should happen before you are completely immobile.
But plenty of people have mild arthritis which means they can't jog and are stiff and in a bit of pain until they get moving. About half of my friends in their late fifties/sixties are like this. They are a long way from needing a knee replacement.
It is the most sporty people who have been active joggers and runners who seem most at risk.

I've got arthritis. My GP who is generally very good just told me to take paracetamol and attend a 10 session course of physio. I've had 8 sessions and the physiotherapist has said it's not really improved, and I am in agony after each appointment for 2 days. I find a hot water bottle pressed against the joints helps a bit. It is always a bit better over the summer but worse when the temperature drops in the winter. I've had scans and they can see the problem on the scan. I was told there is an operation I could have on my back, but I've not reached a threshold yet where they would offer it to me, apparently it's not bad enough, and the operation is only successful in a little under 50 percent of cases, it is quite a big operation and it can go wrong and if it does you will be worse or the other option you go through the operation and it makes no difference. My Mum had an operation and it did help her, my older sister had it and hers is no better but not any worse either, and my oldest sister who also has it is still deciding whether to have the operation or not. The thing is we all saw Mum improve so much but like I said it's quite a big operation and Mum was in hospital for 2 weeks then a very slow and painful recovery at home took almost 3 months before she felt it had been worth it. I have told DH once he retires we will have to spend November to March somewhere warmer and I'm not joking. My sister's have said if I buy accommodation somewhere warm they will come with me.

Thank you. It recommends Tai Chai which I'm going to look into

My DH had arthroscopic lavage after being dismissed by one doctor and seeing another because he was in such pain. He said it gave 10 more pain-free years until he had two knee replacements in his 60s. There's a memorable photo of him climbing a ladder a few months later, and the Alps a year after that! He has RA, picked up very early, and being successfully held at bay through drugs. If he hadn't been seen early, it would have progressed

T'ai Chi is great for joints and maintaining good balance and relaxing. DH teaches it so I am well informed on the benefits. Some yoga can help flexibility of hips too (but go gently).

Be careful with yoga, it caused issues for me.
Pilates tends to be kinder.

I've been a nurse for nearly 50 years so I have some experience with this. My aunt who raised me had rheumatoid arthritis. I have osteoarthritis in shoulder and elbows and arthritic nodules on finger joints.
There are many different types of arthritis. The ITIS in arthritis means inflammation. The inflammation can cause destruction of joint tissue and bones causing limited mobility. Ideally treatment should center on decreasing inflammation.

I suggest you get your mom in for a really good exam. Get a good diagnosis, IE the type of arthritis, prognosis, and treatment.

Erm...well no acttually she's not going because she's stubborn also scared witless. She's trying to stay active but can literally not move some days. Thanks for your help. :)

@OhcantthInkofaname thankyou - interesting stuff . It's so tricky to get her to see anyone though and I'm not geographically close to her. @caringcarer hope you get your place in the sun.

@Greedybilly You are welcome. Give your mom a copy of what I wrote. Its not just old, it is inflammation.

Can I ask how you decrease inflammation in osteoarthritis and what are the symptoms of inflammation? Thanks!

I had a total hip replacement at 46. When I initially saw my Dr he suggested physio. That produced no change. I was then referred for a steroid injection, which didn’t help. I paid for a hyaluronic injection privately. That didn’t help either. I was eventually referred for surgery.

It was two years from beginning to end, with Naproxen/Esomeprazole to tide me over whilst I waited for surgery. I was off the pain meds a week afterwards. Back to hiking, cycling and tap dancing!

@MooseBeTimeForSnow That is so inspiring! 👏

There is so much that can be done now- steroid injections are amazing, different foods help, medications have jumped on, physios are brilliant! She could definitely get some mobility back

I am quite young (mid-40s) and have had arthiritis for about 15 years now. I keep it completely at bay by doing daily pilates (to keep body flexible and strengthen muscles around joints) and intermittant fasting (it breaks down inflammation). If I still get pains I do acupunture.

I have tried all sorts in the last decade but this is the only non-medicated way I have been able to be more or less painfree. It might be difficult to do some of these things for someone who is late 70s and already in a lot of pain, but maybe at least try and encourage her to be mobile (but low impact and not repetitive movements) and depending on her current physique maybe fasting?

I was born with discoid minicus in my knees, and had a partial removal at 10 years old, and a more recent further partial removal. Basically I've had 40 years without a functioning cartiledge, so my wear and tear and inflammation is pretty advanced for a 58 year old. I have never been able to kneel down, for example, but have skied and weight trained and walked, done pilates and yoga, etc etc and kept a knee replacement at bay. I don't take painkillers, but can be in pain. Just keep moving is my advice. A good walk always increases mobility and decreases the pain, odd, but true.

If you just ignore it you get bone on bone if it's in the knees, which is what I've got.
I had a knee replacement done on my left knee, and being pain free started to walk for miles after the recovery. I never thought I was damaging the other knee but I was. I'm waiting for another knee replacement now 😂

DM has just been diagnosed with arthritis doctor told her to take glucosamine , she's had some physio and been given exercises she also swears by turmeric supplements.
I do some aqua classes and there are people of all ages there, including a woman who uses a wheelchair (deep water aqua pilates class) lots of them swear by aqua fitness for keeping mobility with arthritis and other ailments. The classes are geared so you do add much at you can, if you're fit and well you use weights, bigger movements etc, others are gentler. Could you get her to go with you? Some of the older women from my Sunday morning class go for tea and cake after so there can be a social side too! My gran has been with me and she's in her eighties.

DH and I spend a lot of time in southern Europe in the winter and find jt massively helps with joint pain, and also to keep our vitamin D levels up. All our friends in Spain say the same.

What does help when we're in the UK is using a dehumidifier. The damp air is awful and really doesn't help with these conditions, but the dehumidifier is brilliant, and as a side effect makes the house easier to heat. (Damp air takes more energy to heat).

I wish that were true in all cases but it's just not. Walking renders me almost immobile after 10 minutes - everyone is different eh?