GPA since 2014 now have multi site osteoarthritis. I have been discharged by the hospital for my osteoarthritis as there is nothing the can do whilst I am medicated for GPA.
Is this normal?
How do we cope with this?
Currently on Tramadol which is the only treatment suggested (apart from morphine patches).
Any help gratefully received.
Sorry to hear this: I have osteoarthritis in multiple joints too, and it makes things complicated with GPA. My osteoarthritis started 20 years before the GPA and I learned to manage it by keeping the muscles as strong as I could around the affected joints, doing pilates to improve flexibility, and resting when the pain was really bad. Then the GPA came along and prednisolone made things really complicated. On the high doses all the pain went away and I realised what I'd been living with all these years. But it also made my joints very unstable and I now have thoracic spine fractures. My rheumatologist referred me for physiotherapy earlier this year and it has made so much difference to me. I can walk my dog and I'm nearly ok at stairs. The physio referred me to an orthotist to get splints for my shoes. They've been brilliant too.
I used to take ibuprofen but I'm not allowed now because of risks to kidneys so I take paracetamol. I use a wheat bag, deep freeze gel and strategic cushions, and I tell people who walk too fast with me to slow down if they want to enjoy my company. I'm always in pain from the osteoarthritis, but i have found the GPA much more challenging in the long run. I hope you find ways of managing it that work for you.
Which joints, if you don't mind me asking this?
For me, the list is growing 😔
In order of general appearance: both knees, fingers, knuckles, toes, wrists, ankles, feet generally, hands generally, spine. Waiting to hear about left hip. I have been taking cortaflex for years, more recently added omega3/6/9 capsules.
It's a big problem. I hope you do not live anywhere damp and cold in winter. It was kind of you to share. I wonder if there's an association.
I'm in England so that hope is a forlorn one!
Hi my GPA started with arthritis but when I was on higher dose steroids I didn't feel it. Now I'm only on 5mg it's painful. I manage on paracetamol and codeine. Good luck.
So much for not treating arthritis, the use of painkillers has proven to be bloody useless. Just recovering from septic arthritis, had a hip washout and the most painfull experience of my life.
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