Now have Osteoarthritis too.

[AngieAsh]

Sorry but I just need to whine a bit.

I'm just getting my Thyroid sorted (hopefully) by an Endo after years of thinking I had a problem but getting antidepressants from my GP instead because I am only subclinical and can't possibly be symptomatic. Now I find that my back trouble (which was also brushed off for years) that means I can't walk or stand for more than a few minutes without pain isn't because of my severe vit D deficiency as I hoped. Instead at 53 I have just had osteoarthritis of the lumbar facet joints and disk degeneration diagnosed (MRI confirmed). I should be having 'life begins at' feelings and instead I feel like a knackered old donkey. Anyway now I have to pin my hopes of relief on a physio referral, which wont be until into the new year or else next phase if that fails I am told is opioids which I really really don't want. So I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself today.

[Mary-intussuception]

Sorry to hear of your new diagnosis. Now you know, hope you can manage to get the pain under control without resorting to opioids. Do you like swimming? I recently started back doing 2 lengths and gradually increasing. Not really the weather for it at the moment though! Trying twice a week will only be once this week!

Vitamin D deficiency is probably a contributory factor isn't it? That's what I thought but I'm not expert just learning with each new diagnosis.

My worst is in my neck. Long standing since injured at 39. Also in shoulder,hips and knees. Not as severe as neck though. My husband has it severe in every joint in the lumbar spine and other areas! Neither of us use opioids. Is there any reason why you can't take Ibuprofen tablets for a couple of days occassionally whilst taking paracetamols or the low dose 8/500 cocodamols?

Have you got your Severe Vit D deficiency sorted now?

I hope you don't have to wait too long for your Physio sessions to start and you really benefit from them. The shock and upset of a new diagnoses takes a little time to come to terms with doesn't it? We tend to pick ourselves up though and battle on! Hope you manage to get the time for resting and time being active in right proportions for you.x

[AngieAsh in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Thanks for the reply Mary. I won't swim due to vanity because I'm huge and feel very self conscious and uncomfortable in a cossy. Also I don't swim well anyway.

I have taken ibuprofen, asprin and paracetamol in the past and they didn't touch it. I can't take nsaids now though because my blood pressure tablets are contraindicated. Tens didn't help either.

The vit D is in progress. Still on the loading dose.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to AngieAsh]

Hope you are taking general advice on here to also include magnesium and vitamin K2 alongside that loading dose

Getting thyroid treatment best levels possible will help improve metabolism

[AngieAsh in reply to SlowDragon]

I think I am SlowDragon . I am taking the vit D as one dose a week of 30,000 iu as the pharmacy don't have vegetarian pills in the strength I needed for daily use. I am taking k2 200 ug a day and magnesium glycinate 250 mg per day. Also taking a vit B complex and selenium.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to AngieAsh]

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

[soppysokes]

Oh Angie that kind of thing comes to most of us if we 'lucky' enough to live long enough lol. Hopefully it can be managed with an anti inflammatory and gentle movement and keeping weight to a reasonable level which would also take of some pressure from back joints. Hopefully once your initial shock has lessened things will go ok.

[AngieAsh in reply to soppysokes]

Thanks. My weight is bad and not helped by my not being able to exercise much due to back pain. Kind of catch 22 but my back was already starting to become bad when I was a lot thinner so weight loss alone might help but won't get rid of the pain . Hoping to get some exercises that I am able to do from the physio and maybe some posture corrections too. I'll probably feel better tomorrow but yes it was a bit of a shock hearing arthritis when in my head I'm still a 21 year old punk rocker lol.

[Mary-intussuception]

Rock on !

🐱x