New to here but ive been suffering with arthritis in my left knee for years had two arthroscopy ooerations & was told recently im now down for a knee replacment but last year i was too young??!!! Apparently im now bone on bone but they have cancelled and now have to do pain management. On top of this for over a year ive been suffering with tingling in hands & feet, extreme pain in back, legs, wrists, hands, extreme tiredness......you no the score!!! Anyway ive was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. These last few months have been hell in terms of chronic pain. Im on crutches due to knee but when have severe pain in hands wrists cant hold or put weight on crutches. Ive just been measured up for self propelling wheelchair but just thought if hands are sore i still wont be able to go out??? Just wondering if anyone has any ideas????? Thanks in advance ☺️
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Alit69
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Hi and a warm welcome to the forums. You can find general information on fibromyalgia at our website fmauk.org and our patient information booklets at fmauk.org/publications
Are you getting the wheelchair through physio or ot because you cannot use the crutches? You would think that they would use some common sense and realise that if you cannot use crutches due to pain, then you are going to have issues self propelling a wheelchair.
Hello and welcome, you have an awful lot too contend with so my heart goes out too you , I was told at 59 I need a knee replacement but if I could do excercises and hold out longer would be good, some days with the arthritis it s very painful and I use a long support, rub in ibuprofen, @ have too rest up when I can. A horrid situation for you i am wondering have you any family/friends that could get you out and about and perhaps share the help pushing a wheel chair ? , perhaps just the crutches for going too the bathroom, getting your drinks etc, do you live on your own ? Have you seen anyone that is using crutches and have some kind of soft support around the handles as a lot of use hands very sore . I hope you get some help and advice very soon xx
Hi, thank you for your reply, ive been on crutches for nearly two years so have the padding.....which has helped hugely. I was diagnosed with arthritis when i was 34 & already had to knee operations. Its just when the fibromyalgia flares up in hands, wrist, arms, which seems to be constant at the moment, thats when i struggle & when its in legs as well its horrendous! Xxxx
Hi Alit69 - I appreciate your difficulty as I use elbow crutches when going out, which isn't very often. I too have osteoarthrosis & a right hand, wrist & shoulder that was injured a long time ago, but which has resulted in permanent damage, so do find using the crutches awkward & am unable to hold the right one correctly.
If I went out more often, I'd probably try to get something like the 'Smartcrutch' as with these the impact of your weight bearing can include the forearm, so much kinder to the wrists & hands. They're adaptable to the angle you find most comfortable, & are height adjustable like conventional elbow crutches. Unfortunately I'm not aware these would be available through the NHS, & they're quite expensive. However, I'd certainly like to 'test drive' a pair!
There are also rigid elbow crutches where the handles slope further downwards compared to a normal elbow crutch, which some also find more comfortable.
Finally there are gutter crutches, again rigid, where weight is taken through the forearms.
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