Morphine patches and steroid injections for stage 4 osteoarthritis?

[Holmol3]

I have been diagnosed with stage 4 osteoarthritis in my right hip. I have been in pain for many years but was previously misdiagnosed as the pain manifests itself in my right knee. More recently due to the way i am walking i have started to get severe pain in my lower back (left side) also.

My condition is severe and i am waiting for an orthopaedic consultant appointment, however my GP said they are unlikely to give me a hip replacement as i'm too young (i'm 39). Has anyone else had this surgery at a young age? I am desperate. I can barely walk some days, i can't exercise or climb stairs. I have 3 kids and a full time job. I never get a full nights sleep. it is making me depressed.

I have tried all the usual prescription pain meds and also CBD oil but have had no relief, it is just getting worse.

The GP has just prescribed me morphine patches to try. I want the pain to stop but i've heard that the side effects can be bad? He is also referring me for steroid injections - will these help?

[springersrule]

Hi Holmol3, i've had osteoarthritis for many years (since my 20's) i'm 54 now. I've never been told a 'stage' just its ok for now or we need to replace the joint lol I had my right hip replaced in 2009 (aged 41) and a half knee (left side) replacement last year. I see my hip consultant in 2 weeks time as the left now needs replacing - this was found at my 1 year follow up for my knee as i have so much pain in my left leg and my new knee joint is actually completely numb inside and to the touch. Xrays of the knee showed it was ok so they xrayed my hips and its completely bone on bone now.

I was told back in 2009, by my GP and physio that i was too young to have my hip replaced but the surgeon took one look at the xray as said it was the only option - its still going strong today 13 years later

I've had morphine patches and they did help briefly, it turned out i'm allergic to morphine so had to stop them. For me the best pain killer is dihydracodeine but we are all different. I've been on pain killers for so long i have to take cocodamol just for a bad headache!! A steriod injection can help, i know people who have gone on for a fair few years with them before a replacement is done. For me steroid injections only work for up to a month so they don't bother with them anymore. I have multiple arthritic joints and have psoriatic arthritis too so a rheumatolgist keeps me mobile.

Have you got an appointment to see the consultant? If you are still waiting for one ring their secretary and explain how badly it is affecting your life and it may bring you further up the list to be seen. My consultants waiting time for an appointment is 51 weeks so i would have had to wait ages to see him but because of my knee consultant writing to him the appointment has been made sooner.

Hope the above helps xx

[Holmol3 in reply to springersrule]

Thank you so much for your reply - this really gives me hope!

It was a rheumatologist that gave me my diagnosis and referred me back to orthopaedics. I’m not sure my GP knows how bad it actually is but I’ve also got a build up of excess fluid around the hip and osteonecrosis so I believe the consultant should operate when I explain how much it is effecting my life. The GP did agree to expedite the referral today in the hope I’m seen quicker.

I will give the morphine patches a try in the meantime and hope that the steroid injections can give me some relief so that I can enjoy my 40th birthday and a holiday at least.

I appreciate that having a replacement at my age will mean I’ll need another in the future but I want some quality time with my kids and friends while I’m still young! What was recovery like after your op? Were you pain free? Was mobility improved? As I currently have a severe limp and cannot walk very far at all.

Thank you again xx

[springersrule in reply to Holmol3]

Definitely don't go by what the GP says, mine told me it was the start of arthritis then 4 months later i had the replacement. Prior to the replacement I was limping and walking in a sort of shuffle on crutches. I had 4 bone spurs in the joint so any movement was extremely painful. My recovery was text book. 6 weeks and i was back at work (manual work too) and driving again. Once the operation pain went i haven't had any pain in that hip at all. Normal mobility (though i was hindered by back issues at the time too) in fact i'd go so far as to say it was like having my pre-arthritic hip back.

I can't see how they can anything other than replace your hip. Like you say you're life is severly affected now and making you wait even when a second one will probably be needed just doesn't make any sense at all. I was referred to an orthopaedic hospital as there is one in my area (there was a choice of 4 hospitals and it was felt my best chance of help would be at that one) My consultant actually said it would be cruel to leave me until i hit at least 55 to have the replacement as i probably would have been in a wheelchair within 6 months.

I'm glad your GP is expediting your referral. Not many any doing that as they are under strict instruction not to due to the covid backlogs.

I hope the morphine patches and steroid injection mean that you can enjoy your 40th and a holiday xx

[Holmol3 in reply to springersrule]

Also to add, I have been told that my hip is pretty much bone to bone so I can’t see that surgery could be avoided at this stage? X

[springersrule in reply to Holmol3]

Definitely not xx

[Pte82]

Holmol3, Dr Jorge Flechas MD from North Carolina has a youtube video titled Boron and Health - Osteoporosis Reversal, Arthritis, Testosterone, Mental Health that may offer another path.

[Kersey48]

I have been on pain patches for several years and have only increased the dosage once. I have had no side effects and they have been very effective. I am on them because any oral pain killers make me vomit and bleed from the stomach,.

[Loramay]

I also have been on morphine patches for a number of year's and I have recently reduced my dose. Instead of putting the patch on whole I cut it into 3 and put one piece on every day as I used to find by day 3 the patch wasn't working as well. It's not what you are supposed to do but by doing this I was able to cut a little bit off each day so I am able to reduce the patches. I also have never had any side effects