I wanted to share my latest discovery about my ADHD. I’m blown away that I am learning more about myself since the age of 50, than ever before. I wanted to share this so that it could help any of you that could be having some of the same problems. So in my last post a couple of months ago I was feeling quite down because I had been dealing with a chronic knee issue that had been going on since Jan 2020.
Originally from a twist injury, my knee had deteriorated to the point that my inner quad, that is so important for stabilising the knee cap had (quote from the knee specialist- had profound wasting)atrophied. As had my calf and glute on the affected side. Previous to this injury I had had chronic pain before with a back problem and shoulder problem, that had informed my life from my early twenties.
My knee problem was so bad just before last Christmas that I had a nerve pain issue which had me not able to even use crutches to get around my house (I had burning sensations, feelings of instability with no structural reason why). So it is no surprise that I haven’t really had much mobility and my life has gotten pretty small for the last two years. I haven’t been able to work or even leave the house much. My ADHD meds saved me from being terribly depressed. I would top up and quickly be able to see the whole picture again and keep trying.
So about 6 weeks ago I was getting desperate for some improvement because I was meant to be going to the USA to be there for my daughters graduation from UCLA this coming June, we haven’t seen her for three years now because we live in New Zealand. My specialist physio wanted to put me on a low dose of Amitriptyline because he believed I was having pain sensitisation. I resisted at first because he didn’t explain it very well and I didn’t want to take more drugs (I take 20mg LA Rubifen and top up with 5mg tabs every day). So I decided I was willing to try anything and after 2 and a half weeks I started to improve and there has been no looking back.
Incredible that all this time these chronic pain problems could be because of how my brain deals with pain. I researched at the 3 week point and the first search show me this article
So this is a very important part of my puzzle. When I have said that ADHD has wreaked my body, it really has up this point. Now I have an extremely weak and wasted muscle group around my knee but it’s a normal knee and I can work hard and make it strong again. I can finally start to recover and now I know if this happens again, why, and I can deal with it! I am so happy and relieved!
Being on ADHD meds have changed my life! I would not have been able to advocate for myself to go to the specialist physio without them because I had to really push and pretty much referred myself! I am managing so much better now that I am more mobile whilst being on ADHD meds( I was diagnosed in February 2021). This is the first time in my life that I can actually truly get it together! All the years I have tried to help myself, well I can actually put all of that into practice now. I feel so grateful to be diagnosed and to be finally living!
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Fred2001
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I have been dealing with all kinds of back and shoulder pain. The doctor said it was arthritis, and gave me some meds for it. I'm only 41 so it seems a little odd to have arthritis all up and down my back at such a young age for it.
But recently I read an article that talked about how People with Depression (something I have along with my ADHD) are significantly more likely to develop arthritis. And I have read all kinds of other things about how mental illness effects physical health. So it is certainly a real thing. Like you, after getting diagnosed and finally getting help, I'm figuring out more and more how all these puzzle pieces fit together. Mental health is so critical to your physical health and vise versa.
And thanks for sharing. It's these kinds of stories that help us all figure out what's going on with ourselves.
Hi SharkticonYes, I totally agree that the body mind connection is inextricably connected and there is more and more scientific evidence to support this! I have a long history of depression and anxiety and physical, sorry I have lost my words this morning, consequences. It's a long process of unraveling and addressing them I am finding.
I was wondering if you had sought a second opinion for your arthritis diagnosis? In my experience, which is limited with arthritis, they usually diagnose it with an X-ray. I have mild arthritis in my left hand that was diagnosed in this way.
The Amatryptaline could be a good idea for you to look into. I wonder if it could help your arthritis pain if that is what you have. If you don't have arthritis it may settle down the nerves so you can start to strengthen your back and shoulders. I take 10mg which is a low dose they say. It takes 2-3 weeks to build up in your system and about 3 months to settle your nerve membranes down they say.
Just before Christmas last year I started getting second opinions about my knee and went through three physiotherapists before I started to feel like I was getting somewhere. The first two were not listening to me and even the third who was quite good wouldn't give me a referral to the specialist Physio. I was very pushy and found out who they were and referred myself. It's so frustrating the lack of awareness about ADHD, I have had to change doctors a few times and even the one I have now isn't that good but at least he's not openly derisive.
Depression can really hamper the energy/drive that advocating can take. It's a very vicious cycle for sure. And when you are in pain they feed off each other I have found. Thinking back before I had my ADHD diagnosis I usually dealt with my depression the best when I was exercising. This can be very hard to do when you have an injury/pain symptoms and are depressed. For the last two and a half years almost I have done a lot of swimming because of my knee. This was the only exercise I could manage and saved me from being very depressed. Dog paddle mostly with my arms in close to my body because I have issues with my neck and back. I have heard swimming is good for people with arthritis. A 20 minute (I had to work up to this) session does wonders for my mood and at times I would have to force myself. Once I got used to it, it became easier.
Before my knee issues I used to do indoor interval training on an old spin bike. It was usually quite good in regards to my back, I have wore discs in L4 and L5 and I have had issues with a frozen shoulder after breaking my dominant wrist in 2016, so I was careful at first. As long as my posture was ok I usually tolerated it quite well. 20 mins on the spin bike watching a Gobal cycling network interval training video was excellent for releasing great endorphins, quite funny as well when you get to know the presenters.
Getting moving really helped my back. This year I have been working on my posture with pilates and also a really good posture strengthening u-tube video I found. I could send you the link if you are interested. Previous to this I thought my posture was ok and was shocked when I started pilates to realise how bad it was. My better posture has been really good for my back.
I also have a great book by a well thought of medical doctor about treating depression without drugs that I found worked wonderfully for me and helped my ADHD symptoms as well. I could pass that on also if you are interested. 🙂Take care I hope your day is going well
It's called The Depression Cure: The 6-Step Program to Beat Depression without Drugs by Stephen S. IlardiIt was recommended to me by a really good medical doctor about twenty years ago now.
It's good common sense, there may be new info out there by now, but I think it's still good.
Just from memory it focuses on the importance of fish oil because it helps the transmission of dopamine. I think that's right. And a few other supplements, exercise, social engagement, sleep I can't remember the last one. It was easy to understand and had easy to identify with case studies. It breaks the steps down for you and was quite easy to implement.
It helped a lot for me, as I spent many years in and out of depression and used this book quite often when I had slipped out of the Habits. I seem to be pretty good now with not often being depressed but I have to work to keep on top of it, that's for sure.
Reach out any time if you want to talk. I know how hard it is to be depressed and also to manage depression. Having ADHD is truly a hardship that has affected every part of my life and people who are neuro typical really don't get it. But I think its harnessing the gifts it brings too. I think it's following your heart to find out what they are if you don't all ready know.
When I did my degree no one else could do what I could and it was the best feeling to find out I was actually really good at something. I wasn't on meds then so it was hard work but still one of the best times in my life I think. I'm in the arts, so creativity is where I work to my strengths.
Sorry that was long too. I have a bit of extra time at the moment. All the best
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