Osteoarthritis in hands & knee

[PrincessCupcake]

Hi everyone

I'm new here and have been reading some of your stories with great interest.

I have been recently diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in hands and knee, Fibromyalgia and Carpel Tunnel and have also suffering from clinical depression for 6 years.

It all started in my knee about 12 months ago, swelling, stiffness and pain in my knee. After being passed from pillar to post, scans, physio etc I finally got a diagnosis of Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia, which i take dihydracodine and naproxen. About 5 months ago I started to get horrendous pain in my hands, burning, swollen and very painful, I mentioned this to my GP who said it was Osteoarthritis and now my hands have gone mis-shapen, my thumb joint has moved outwards, my thumb has turned 180 degrees and now my other hand has gone the same.

I feel helpless at the minute, using my hands is so painful i'm having to rely on my husband. My mood is getting lower and lower and lack of sleep doesn't help either.

Has anyone else had this problem? I would love to hear from you. Thank you for reading.

L

[Deni52]

My mum who passed away years ago had the same, she started with arthritis in her teens and was diagnosed osteo and rheumatoid arthritis but her thumbs were the same. Are you using all the aids you can get to help and have you been referred to a specialist?

[arthritis_action Partner]

I'm sorry to hear about the pain Princess Cupcake. Osteoarthritis can be painful and take toll on your mental well-being as well. Here are some helpful advice and facts sheets on better sleep and managing one's emotional well-being that might be useful to you: arthritisaction.org.uk/livi...

If you're someone who'd rather watch videos then look up our online self-management resources on emotion and positive thinking on the right side of the page (personally really liked this one on positive thinking) : arthritisaction.org.uk/onli...

Take care!

[Happy5]

Sorry to read you're going through so much, all becomes overwhelming as we know.

I have both RA and recently diagnosed with OA in my hands, hips and probably have it in my knees.

Regarding my hands I was referred to a physio therapist given lots of insight about gadgets,

ways round hand limitations, as well as exercises. The latter I do when pain is minimal & it does help strengthen them.

Like you got very depressed & was able to access one to one phone support in my local area for this. The sympathetic lady sent me a booklet about Pain Management by Peter Moore.

I found it very helpful in helping me not just cope physically but mentally too.

Know it sounds strange but those of us that become ill with various arthritis conditions

I believe got through a "grief or loss" process as we go from healthy active mostly independent people to unwell, in constant pain, limited activity, dependent people.

So lots to come to terms with as well as pain and fatigue. Hope you can find practical support for this.

Gentle hug

[PrincessCupcake]

Thank you all for your replies and the links you have suggested, I will look at them. I'm sorry to hear about your illness's Happy5 and you have the added one of rheumatoid arthritis.

I have seen my GP this week and she has referred me to the hand clinic about my hands.

I have also got an appointment through for the pain clinic in November, so hopefully I should be able to see an OT and physio. I'm not using any aids at the minute Deni52 as I don't know what is suitable, I think I will ask about that. I've started to write down what I want to know about when I go to these appointments.

I didn't mention in my post that I am only 57 and what this dreadful disease has taken over my life. I do agree with you Happy5 that it is like going through the grief process, the only thing is I can't seem to see that time may be a good healer.

Do you find that people understand what you are going through, friends and family? I sometimes feel that they think, oh its just a bit of arthritis, not really understanding it.

This week has been particularly tough, work is getting more and more difficult and i keep seeing in my head that advertisement that was on tv where the person is starting a new job, and on the first day he can't get out bed because of the pain. I am wondering whether i can continue to work much longer with the pain and tiredness and being up all night with pain either in my knee or hands, but the benefit system fills me with dread, so this disease has got me at every angle of my life. Thank you for the gentle hug it is appreciated......

Take care

[bear4ble]

I have osteoarthritis ( 73 ) but it sound s as if it may be from a different cause, so what I suggest may be unhelpful. Here goes.

I use one drop CBD oil daily under my tongue, 40 mg Pycnogenol daily, 10 ml virgin olive oil, 1000 mg Glucosamine , 400 mg Co-enzyme Q10, 3200 IU vitamin D3, 325 mg Magnesium. Those have reduced my knee and arm pains from very dreadful to bearable , but it has taken about 5 years. Best wishes and good luck