Osteoarthritis

[pamela62]

What can I do if my doctor won't give me a electric wheelchair or mobily scooter.I am 57.and cover by a sick note .My doctor says I need full knee replacement on both knees.i have osteoarthritis all over.My walking is my exercise. But I can't walk much due to pain and stiffness. Now I'm pre diabetics. As I can't exercise and over weight.Can any one give me some advice .as I'm always stuck in the house. Regards pamela

[Hidden]

Hello Pamela, if you feel you need a wheelchair, maybe you could borrow one from the Red Cross.

redcross.org.uk/get-help/bo...

[shopman]

Have a read

nhs.uk/conditions/social-ca...

[katieoxo60]

Hello Pamela62, Know the feeling you must be really struggling let me know if you get a wheelchair and how you got it. I have gout in my feet, and now a torn meniscus along with OA in other joints so appreciate your struggle, Walking is reccommended to keep joints mobile, but then people think you are OK. The wait for ops is horrendous even for day surgery minor ops, major like you need is only speeded up if you can afford private. It is so unfair as removing peoples pain would help them to return to work and lead a normal life with no ongoing need for painkillers or care support. Best wishes for a speedy op for your knees. xx

[MikeG1944]

Sorry to hear of your problem with your knees pamela62; I have a similar problem with one knee and bought a 4 wheel Rollator; available from around £45. It enables me to walk to the bottom of the road and back twice a day to keep the joints working. If you're able to use one of these it'll help outdoors and in the house. You could try one at a local mobility centre first but they may be cheaper online.

With regard to total knee replacements, these don't always work, and if they don't they could leave you in a worse condition. However there is a new treatment coming along which uses your own stem cells which are replanted by injection into the knee which helps to rebuild the damaged regions. It's been trialled in two hospitals in the UK and has around 85%+ success rate. I'm waiting for it to be available in my area.

[JDQuinn75]

Pamela, I know just how you feel sweetie. I have OA in my spine, as well as other areas too. I’ve also considered a wheelchair for myself as well. Do to the fact I have a hard time getting around with my OA in my spine now. Although I wasn’t considering an electric one . I was more considering a rigid titanium wheelchair. I’m only 44 but since mine started on me the OA has gotten worse and I feel it every day. It’s never ending.

[Hidden]

Hi Pamela

You mention you can't lose weight because you can't exercise, the thing about that is you don't really need to exercise to lose weight, its more to do with what you eat. So you need to start eating good healthy food and the right amount of it.

There is a weightloss forum on here that might be able to help you, there is also a healthy eating forum that you could join too.

As for a mobility scooter, maybe a trip to the citizens advice would help you to get more information about it.

I hope things work out for you.