Hi all I am new here and I am in need of some straight answers. First a bit and short back ground. L4 L5 surgery, 10 to 15 years ago, a bit of pain in the years after not like now. Had four kids, all are under 10 years of age. I went to the VA to get my back looked at because I have been having so so much pain in my back and in my neck and bad head ach's. They said my X ray's show I have signifacant arthritis from L5 to C3. I guess that explanse the pain. What dose this all mean and what is going to happen is the pain going to get worse? is it going to go any wear else. Please tell me what this all means and what I need to do. I am 41 and pretty scared about the hole thing, but I do need to no the truth so I can fight the fight. Thank you for any replays.Osteoarthritis is the "wear and tear" form of arthritis -- that appears frequently after injuries, and of course, with age. I think you may find that you will have good days and bad days like most of us with RA. I have significant OA in my spine and degenerative disk disease. I plug along for a while feeling moderately okay and other times it's like all hell has broken loose in my back. Will it get worse? Maybe -- but maybe not. Will you have days without pain? Probably. One of the things you can do to help yourself is get a little non-stressful strength training. Water exercise is ideal. Light swimming is great. Work up to your exercise schedule -- and don't go whole hog into it at first. Start gradually and increase gradually.
Thank you for the reply. I have DDD that is getting pretty bad, I think when I went into the doc's office and he said that it, the arthritis had spread from tail to head it shook me up. I have been in sooo much pain and it really kills me that it's gone this fair and I still have all of these baby’s to raise. The pain started to spread into my hips so I went in again and now they are going to send me in for a MRI on the 18th of April. I hate to say it but I sure hope they find some thing so that it can explain all of this pain. I am looking into some therapy’s and some other things after the MRI is done and I know all is clear to start fighting this thing, to young to go down now. Thanks again.
I have OA and it affects my hands, shoulders, one knee, hips, and back. I started out with just a few aches and pains but it grew worst as time wore on. My job wasn't helping as it involve heavy lifting and 8 to 16 hrs. on your feet. I couldn't lift things like other people do as I have a fused hip joint that limits my range of motion. My poor back has taken alot of abuse over the years. I have my days where I can't stand for long but I've found ways around the pain.
I changed the way I lift. I watch the weight of the item and if to heavy, I get help or slide it to where I want it. I do watch my weight too. For the pain, I take Advil with food as I don't want to burn out the stomach.
Hot showers help to warm my joints and I sleep under a electric blanket.
I, also, walk, not run, to keep me loose. One thing I have found is that you have to move and not over do.
As far as the kids go, make a game out of doing things as a way to help you and reward them for a job well done.
The most important thing is to talk to us and vent out your feelings. We're all in this together.
Hello. I am a 61 year of female who was diagnosed last year with osteoarthritis of the left hip which I believe has been developing for years, but the pain was intermittent when I walked for ran for long periods of time. Finally a year ago, the pain did not subside. I take naproxen for the inflammation once a week and I don't take anything else. I walk with a limp now, but I get around pretty well. I was advised to do stretching daily and lose weight. I have lost about 45 pounds over the last year, but only do the stretching now and then. I still need to lose some weight. I don't eat red meat and am now just eating fish, eggs, nuts and seeds, vegetables and some fruit. I have given up eating breads, cerels and pasta--except about once or twice a month. I would like to share information with someone else who has hip osteoarthritis. I always thought people with arthritis had trouble moving around in the morning from stiffness. For me its after exertion and mainly at the end of the day, so its fatigue on the hip.
Hi a211423,
OA of the hip is very hard to deal with. I have it in both hips and it makes for painful standing and sometimes to sit. Like you, the docs have said for me to lose weight. I have and it has helped somewhat but I've had this for years.
If you go to the RA section of this website, you will find more help as that's where most people post. Alot of them have RA and OA too.
Hope that this helps and welcome.
Marisa
Thank you for the information and the welcome Marisa. My heart goes out to you coping with this and having young children. I don't know if I could have survived it when I was raising children. I push myself constantly to keep active and it helps. Stretching seems to be one of the most beneficial and every pound I lose I can tell difference in my pain and fatigue level.
If you would like to exchange nutrition information and losing weight, let me know.
a211423