I was a nurse/midwife and in the mid 80's had 2 lifting back injuries and was retired on health grounds at the age of 27!!
Had every treatment available almost below surgery - even went for a trial for an external fixator but was deemed unsuitable in the end. Had some treatments that make doctors today cringe. All in the hope I would be allowed back to my beloved nursing.
Years passed - lumbar back pain became generalised spinal pain, then knees, ankles elbows fingers - in fact I now have OA everywhere EXCEPT my hips. As those years passed marriage and 2 daughters by caesarean followed. And my weight increased - and increased - and increased.
My knees deterirated so much that I had bone-on-bone OA - but my weight meant that they could not even accept a referral to orthopaedics.
At 23st I casually mentioned weight loss surgery (WLS) to my GP - and to my astonishment was referred.
'lose weight and your pain will disappear' - oh if I had a pound for every time that was said to me.
I had the WLS in 2008, weight stabilised in 2010 and I have maintained within 7lb of my lightest ever since - my lightest?? 14st lighter than my heaviest and that was more than 23st.
Bilateral knee replacements in 2009 and 2010 mean no running and no kneeling - and are not pain free - a percentage do not get pain relief apparently.
And losing 14st doesnt give pain relief either.
Was on oxycodone pre-WLS (amongst loads of other medication) and swopped that for fentanyl patches, codeine for breakthrough and occasional diclofenac. (and loads of nutritional supplements)
Have had facet injections in my neck - oh yes now have OA from neck to bottom - but my local pain clinic is so inundated appointments are infrequent.
Joined the Cloudy study but hadnt noticed a correlation between pain and weather - and still dont notice a correlation - for me.
Great to 'meet' you all
