Hello.

[Hiphoppy]

I'm new here and would like to say hello.

I've been reading through the posts and it's nice to know I'm not alone and it seems we all have a tale to tell about how we have been treated, some good and some not so! I have been diagnosed with OA in both knees and hips, on the worst side I now have one leg shorter than the other which is not good as my teenagers now say, 'you don't walk Mum you waddle' ha ha. I am quite worried about work as I have a manual job and I'm off sick at the moment having injections and have started medication. I've worked there over thirty five years with very little sickness(Thankfully), trouble is I'm not sure I'll be able to do the job, I was having trouble with pain and walking before I went sick but the GP just said work is good you need to work and my boss just wants to know when I'll be back? Does anyone here have manual work that was fine to go back to after injections and medication?

[olly17man]

Hello - welcome!  I'm 77 woman with o/a in my neck, lower back, one hip and knee.  When my consultant suggested a hip operation in January I didn't want to know but now I'm sort of getting used to the idea!  I had a steroid injection (very painful for a couple of minutes) in my hip last October and I'm sorry to say I was only free of pain for about three weeks.  I actually had a desk job when I worked but I don't think I could do it now.  If I sit for longer than an hour, max, I have difficulty in moving when I get up.  I was lucky to retire when I was 64 so now I don't  have to worry about employment. 

Sorry I can't be a bit more optimistic - I try to be as active as I can, and try to eat healthily.  I'm sorry your doctor wasn't a bit more sympathetic - I don't think folk realise how painful and energy draining o/a is.  I hope your injections work for you and that your boss is understanding.  I get by with codydramol - I try to only take it morning and night because it makes me feel more tired -  and doing the gentle exercises my physiotherapist gave me.

It would be good to hear via these posts how you get on.  I wish you the best of luck.

olly17man

[Hiphoppy in reply to olly17man]

Hi olly17man,

Thank you. Neck and back must be horrible! Making bending hard? I can bend sort of, but I love my grabby stick thing ha ha. I had one knee injected last Friday, and I'm not even sure if it worked, the Doc wanted to do one hip but because the results from those came in after the knees I was only geared up for a jab in one of those, and being a coward I acted like a 6 year old and said knee or nothing! But it didn't hurt so I sort of left a bit sheepish after that ha ha. Next one is in a couple of weeks which is also when my sick certificate ends, so not sure what will happen as that still leaves three bits of me to go. I have appointments with occupational health and referrals to works Doc and sick reviews! Which makes me smile, as for thirty five years I've just about had a good morning but now... ha ha ha. The hip operations do seem to do the trick  though, so maybe you should look more into it, says me who was terrified of a jab! I take Naproxen and Co-codamol and could sleep for England with them, but I do feel better with them. let me know if you go for the op as my Doc mentioned something like that, as I ran out the door!

Hiphoppy.

[olly17man in reply to Hiphoppy]

Oh, it's lovely to hear from someone I can relate to!!  Yes, I will let you know how I get on.  I have bought a thingy off the interest to help get socks and tights on because I can't touch my toes.  It's quite handy although I have given up on tights and just wear trousers.  Look forward to the summer when I can just wear sandals and no socks!!  I get really frustrated because I'm fine from the neck up (meaning brain cogs are still working!!) - it's the rest of me that lets me down!!  Having said that, unlike you, I was lucky enough not to get o/a until about 8 years ago.  Keep taking the tablets!!

[Hiphoppy]

I was looking at those things to put socks on, as I have to wear them and safety boots at work but for the last few months I wore dark trainers with velcro and nobody noticed so I carried on. I wear Crocs at home, you know those odd looking moulded clogs but I find them lovely and comfy, mind you the kids hate them and take the micky but I don't care. I'm now waiting for a refurral back to the firms Doc. don't know what he's going to do or say but maybe I can ask him more things than I can my GP? I have to laugh as my Mum is 83 and bombs about all over the place I'm 57 and totter about like I'm a hundred! I can understand your frustration though it is so annoying not being able to do something as simple as putting on socks!