Arthritis suffers.

[lynda121]

Hi everyone.so so that so many people are suffering this life debilitating condition.I have arthritis in all of my body also have fibromyalgia.I am on loads of medication,nothing really seems to work.I have spent hundreds of pounds trying to find a solution to help with the constant pain .I am slowly losing my mobility now due to arthritis in all of my spine.at a loss for what to try next.any one have any tips.Pauline.

[lizaparkerwriter]

Hi Lynda, I truly understand your health condition and wish you good luck. Have you tried Acupuncture for pain relief? It will help you out in consuming less amount of pain killers. Moreover you can use knee support pads to keep yourself in moving all the day. It will support you by lifting some of your body weight from your knees. You can have a pair here inspireuplift.com/products/...

Don't stuck to bed rest, it'll make situation even worse. Make sure to exercise regularly otherwise your mobility will be compromised. My aunt has the same situation and she can't take a single step. Please do not stick to bed.

[Happyrosie]

I’m so sorry you are suffering. I don’t have fibromyalgia but do have osteoarthritis and also pain caused by an anti cancer pill I have to take. I buy the following pills:

Glucosamine and chondroitin, this keeps my toes flexible

Turmeric, this helps my back pain.

My husband buys magnesium and fish oil, which helps him but not me.

We’ve both tried rosehip with no effect.

He also uses a Tens machine on his shoulder when it’s particularly painful. He doesn’t find turmeric or glucosamine helpful.

The above tells you that different people react differently to different products.

My doctor happens to be a pain specialist so he was confident (and I had confidence) to try me out on various painkillers until I had the right balance.

What does your doctor prescribe?

I go for a forty minute walk every day , and do Flexibility exercises three times a week, so this keeps me mobile.

What exercise do you do? Are you using a website to follow exercises (if not I can recommend a couple)?

Can you sit out in the open air and listen to the birds and feel the air on your face? Being in nature can do a lot for you.

But somehow you need to feel that you are doing what you can, YOU are in charge of the pain and not the pain in charge of you.

I wish you well, do keep in touch

[Denise2008 in reply to Happyrosie]

Hi, what websites are you using please for exercises?

[Happyrosie in reply to Denise2008]

Whilst I have a few I learned in pilates classes (which I cannot do now because if I lie down and exercise I get very dizzy) the main ones are from the NHS website - in the search box ask for Exercises for Older People. I do these every other day after my morning coffee but before a shower. These are the only exercises I've found online which are specifically for older people (I'm 74) as the others are too strenuous/they hurt/ they take forty minutes which is far too long for a older person.

Someone told me there's an online yoga for older people but I haven't found a suitable one yet - maybe if you do you can let me know!!!

[Denise2008 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you Happyrosie. I will have a look 🙂

[kiwitraveller in reply to Denise2008]

Adriene yoga classes are amazing - free on Utube - helps with flexibility and relaxation I have improved my flexibility so much since doing it a d you can choose how much time - start with short sessions and work up

[GracieOS]

Hi, I have rheumatoid arthritis which has been flaring up under lockdown. I've become pretty immobile as a result and in significant pain. I've spent lots on alternative approaches over the years too, nothing has really worked. I've just been given an emergency course of steroids while alternatives are investigated. My arthritis was reasonably well controlled on methotrexate but I had to come off it when diagnosed with heart failure.

Things I've found most helpful for pain are those heat patches you stick on. I've also used CBD balm to rub into joints, it helps a bit. I have to try and keep moving too. If I don't the pain gets even worse.

Not much help I'm afraid, but I can and do sympathise with you.

[shokhii in reply to GracieOS]

Hi Gracie OS, at the end of the first paragraph you state that you had to come off Methotextrate when you got diagnosed with heart failure. Could you please elaborate on this - I've just been diagnosed with RA, and the rheumatologist wants me to start on Methoxtrate asap even though I was diagnosed with heart failure in April last year! You can understand my confusion and worry!

[GracieOS in reply to shokhii]

Hi, my situation was complicated in that my cardiologist could not find any cause for my heart failure, so by a process of elimination felt that methotrexate may have contributed. But also that the rheumatoid arthritis itself may have also contributed. My heart failure did improve once I stopped methotrexate. However I did experience a massive flare up as a result and was incapacitated for weeks until alternative medication was prescribed.

For you I think it’s a balance, uncontrolled arthritis can make heart failure worse, so if methotrexate can control your arthritis it would be a positive. I’d suggest you ask that your heart failure is monitored closely while you take methotrexate and if your heart failure gets worse stop methotrexate and seek an alternative.

Good luck.

[shokhii in reply to GracieOS]

Hello GracieOS, this is just wonderful (getting such an informative and prompt reply). I think the times we live in right now, something like having heart failure "monitored closely while taking methotrexate" is probably a wish too far given that much haranguing over months has to be deployed to even get an appointment with a cardiologist! As you know there can can be a multiplicity of reasons and factors leading up to heart failure, so, even through a process of elimination, I'm not sure if Methotrexate could have been the most likely contributor in your case. But, I am in no position to be critical of your healthcare professional.

My heart failure (diagnosed April 2020) is now stable, so I think I should finally accept my rheumatologist's recommendation that I should start on either Methptrexate or Sulfasalazine but, from reading your experience and sound advice, should probably insist on a very low dose to begin with.

Thank you again for your reply which I will always keep in mind as I start negotiating my inflammatory arthritis journey which appeared to have sprung from nowhere a few short months ago.

Hope you continue to do well.

[JoPilates17]

Hi Pauline, have you tried a Pilates class? I was referred to one over ten years ago. It was specifically for lower back pain, and run by a physiotherapist. It would also be good for the upper back. All the pain had gone after an hour’s session. It felt like a miracle! You could ask your GP to refer you, or your physio, if you have one.

Good luck, Jo

[lynda121]

Hi jo,thank you for your suggestion.I tried most things when I had more movement than I have now,They worked for a little while,but not any longer.my doctor has been out today and took more blood,prescribed another pill to help with fibromyalgia,I hate taking pills,before I got I'll I would walk for miles,now struggle to walk round the house.I just hope they find a solution to help ease it so people can have a bit of a normal life.

[Holdingbacktheyears]

Hi, I also have osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and fibromyalgia as well as a trapped nerve in my neck and have tried loads of things and wasted loads of money trying to find something that really helps.

I have found that a heated blanket is essential for when I have a flare up together with pain killers. Although the pain is always there I think it is an absolute must to exercise and keep my weight down otherwise I am sure things would cease up, You have my full sympathy and I know fibromyalgia makes you feel so down and despondent at times and even worse is that you cannot explain to it to anyone. Sending you love and hugs from someone who understands xxx

[lynda121]

Holdingbackthryears

[lynda121 in reply to lynda121]

Thank you so much for your lovely comments and I will be trying the hot blanket.you have my sympathy also,you are correct about no one understanding how fibromyalgia makes you feel unless you are a suffer.I am able to do limited exercise but not as much as I would like.but you are right about it helping to keep your weight down.sending you heart felt hugs and love.xxx Great Big Thank You.