age matters

[Ladyinredxx]

hi, I’m 83 years taken Hydroxychloroquine for seven years have R/A and Osteoporosis told

By my rheumatic clinic nothing they can do for me, must be something else I can take or maybe

It’s my age next appointment is for February 2024 !!

[Happyrosie]

have you tried one of the specialist charities? Start online with Versus Arthritis and maybe also look at others.

[arthritis_action Partner]

Hi Ladyinredxx , thanks for reaching out.

Arthritis Action is here if you need to speak to anyone about your current condition and help you find the resources and support you need before your next appointment. You can visit our website on arthritisaction.org.uk, or call us on 020 3781 7120 to chat further.

If you're looking to find something to improve your RA and osteoporosis symptoms, we'd recommend sticking to a healthy diet, and trying to get more active over time. Eating healthily has been shown to make you less likely to feel persistent pain, and keeping active helps strengthen the muscles that protect and support your joints.

[GordonEdin]

Hi there!

Speaking as someone a little bit younger who has RA and whose mother had osteoporosis, I can't give you medical advice but here is my layman's understanding.

I assume that when you say you went to your Rheumatic Clinic, you mean a Rheumatology Department. If you have been on Hydroxychloroquine for seven years then they must have diagnosed you with RA some time ago.

You must be suffering pain that makes you want further treatment but the Rheumatology department are saying that they can't do anything? Did they say why they couldn't do anything? Usually, if your RA is still active then they would try another drug (eg Methotrexate)

It might be that they don't see any RA type inflammation in your joints now - but that there is already damage to your joints which means that you will still have problems even if the RA is no longer directly causing pain.

Osteoporosis doesn't in itself cause pain - unless it gets bad enough that bones are damaged. This can happen in the spine - my mother had it.

I would suggest that you need to find out exactly why the doctors don't think you need any other RA treatment and what they think is still wrong and causing the pain. They don't always explain well!

You might be able to ring a nurse-led helpline at your Rheumatology Dept and ask them to explain. Failing that, your GP should have letters from the hospital with the information.

In either case, it is best to write down exactly what your symptoms are and what you want to ask before speaking to them -and write down the answers! You could also follow up the suggestion in one of the other replies and look at arthritisaction.org.uk or call them on 020 3781 7120 for advice.

Once you know what the actual problems are, you can ask your GP what else might be done.

If you have a really bad joint, you might be a candidate for a joint replacement. Stronger pain killers might help - though these can have their own problems. If you get referred to a physiotherapist you might be able to get advice on specific exercises or use of things like a walking stick to help take the strain off painful joints. It is however an unfortunate fact that the older you get, the more likely it is that you have other health problems that can make treatment more difficult or risky.

If you are not already doing so, it would probably be a good idea to take some Vitamin D supplements - these help get calcium into your bones. Fish oil capsules (or regular oily fish like sardines) might also help - there have been studies saying that getting enough "Omega 3" oils helps reduce inflammation. Fish Oil - not Cod Liver oil. Don't expect any instant improvement from these but they might help a bit over time.

Best of luck!