Trying desperately to find people to talk to about dealing with and understanding the norm for someone 40 and under dealing with OA. Been through a lot - on second series of synvisc in a year, only 38-39, had to go from staff position to largely due to knee issues, trying to find a med to replace Bextra, and not having anyone similar to me going through this (everyone else I run across is dealing with RA or over 50). Really need someone to talk with.
Hi,
I too suffer from OA in my hands ,wrist, shoulders and hips. Bextra was a wonder drug for me and now...nothing can replace it. I have tried everything. My newest diagnosis is fibro and have just started on Cymbalta, which so far I have seen a slight decrease in pain. My rheumy told me the most inportant thing for OA is to exercise (yeah right) and stay slim (another yeah right). I do range of motion exercises for my hands and use a stress ball daily and have just bought an exercise ball. I realize I have to move, but it is so difficult being in so much pain. I too feel like a lone ranger, when I tell people I have arthritis, they say "but you are so young", yeah I am... I think most people do not realize the terrible pain that I have. I think the only one who understands is my younger brother, the rest of the family, including my husband have been less than supportive, or not as supportive as I think they should be. I really do feel for you and understand what you are going through. Feel free to post to me anytime.
Mindy
Mindy,
feel bad for you. I've only got OA in my right knee and it's starting in the left or just reacting from overcompensation. Too much attention is bad and not understanding is also bad. Have to tell my husband to give me the attention when I'm truly miserable and then just limit it to letting me know he is concerned and don't expect me to do much. He's frustrated too. Have you discussed what you need from your husband?
Work is the worst for me. Gone from being non static to sitting and developing "TBS" most days. Hate it with a passion.
Developed the OA from a postop infection and been dealing with the consequences that have evolved for the past 3 years. Including a surgeon who was a highly respected doctor in a large urban area treating dancers and athletes just basically telling me I'm an airhead to trying to suck it up until I get so miserable I go see my orthopod and shake in fear and anxiety during the appointment and I trust him implicitly especially when I work with him and see the quality work he does.
It's scarey being 38 almost 39, knowing there's no end in sight yet, having to completely change my activities and not being able to control this. Can't change my weight (loose it too easily especially when I don't feel well and definitely not overweight), exercise as possible but end up hurting after (bike - not, keep trying and after 1" know why I don't) even with weight lifting, and having to give up skiing, hiking, clinical work, mowing the lawn, etc.
Ok. Done venting for now. Just tired of sitting on my tush.
thanks for listening. Any suggestions would be great.
Hi,
Nice to hear back for you. My problems actually started in my 20's, I was diagnosised with Chronic Fatigue, actually was hospitalized twice with it and finally slowly recovered and most of my 30's were fine until about 38/39 and started with the pain in one thumb and hip. I am 44 now,soon to be 45. But have gone through a few years trying to find a diagnosis,finally my doctor sent me to a rheumy who said OA. Both my parents have it, and my mom had it at a fairly early age...5o's..not that it is inherited but from what they told me family history has some say in it. Anway...I understand about the lifestyle change. I find it hard to do things that I even did last year. I love to garden but can't seem to do much of that lately. Also my rheumy said that I have to stop doing whatever I was doing, if I feel pain, because that put stress on the joint and causes damage. Have you seen a rheumy? I mostly go to my regular doctor, she is wonderful, very supportive and understanding. Just trying to manage my pain,now that I have added fibro to the mix. I have two grown sons and two little cute grandchildren 3 and 5. I have to say that to me is the worst about this disease, is that I just am not up to seeing them too much. I have to plan ahead and try on a day I am feeling somewhat better.And they do wear me out.
I have discussed things with my husband, but he is one of those people who doesn't believe in much medication.He thinks if I would eat more vegetables I would feel better. He also thinks I dwell on it too much and I think I try not too, but somedays all I want to do is sit and not move. I can't help that. I guess I can't give you many suggestions, except try for one day at a time. I try not to think much about the future,because I worry that I may have to have hip replacements and such. It is nice to chat with someone around my own age. Keep in touch.
Mindy
I feel for you Mindy. You've definitely got it tougher.
My husband wants me to try some of these "miracle cures" but really, if they worked, we wouldn't be in this boat.
Rheumatologist is for OA also? What would be the benefit when I already know what I'm facing in the future (total knee).
Biggest problem for me is my impatience. I have so much drive and energy and no real way to expend it all. Tired of school - just finished a post graduate certificate program.
Sounds like unless someone can stop the process completely and reverse it, the only thing I can do is try to manage the discomfort and frustration until the joint is replaced.
What's frustrating is when your parents move better than you do! or even your grandparents!
Guess things happen for a reason.
Thanks for listening. Will keep in touch.
Take care of yourself.
Carole
Sorry I haven't replied. Been going through a lot lately with my husband. Right now we are trying to work things out but....all I am asking for is a little compassion. We own our own business and I would like to occasionally take a day off and just rest...but he does NOT understand that or how I awful I feel some days. I don't complain much. Who wants to hear the same thing every day " I'm tired" I "hurt" Maybe I should start complaining.
Anyway I think that seeing a rheumy at least once would probably be a help to you. They can maybe give you some exercises or some idea if you will be facing replacement. Talk to you soon.
Mindy
Hi my name is Rhonda and I have been going through the same thing as you cgmayes. Your story sounds exactly how mine started when I was 40. I had to have a total knee put in and from there I went down hill. The one thing that is positive that I can tell you. Is to swim, if it wasn't for swimming I would still walk with a huge limp. I am 52 now and I use a WC alot. I still can walk to the bathroom but that is getting more difficult. I have terrible chronic pain in my legs. I have a pain pump inserted in me and live on several pain meds. I am still fighting the doctors because of my pain. I hope that your future turns out better than mine has. Good Luck to you. Stay mobile as long as you can.Ladies you are not alone, lots of people have OA and not all of them are old by any means. I have OA plus several other types of arthritis and autoimmune diseases. I started at 40 and now I am 64, so I have quite a history with arthritis. A Rheumatologist treats all 100+ types of arthritis and is the person who tells you the type you have. If you go to the Arthritis Foundation site you can get information on OA and lots of help. Give them a try. I am usually around often if you would like to talk. I know how hard it is in the beginning. And yes, my 87 yr old mother and 90 yr old father wait on me when I am visiting them. Thats really a downer.
Barb
Are
you ready to make the sacrifices necessary to cure this disease?
Notice I said cure not treat. I mean you may need to put down your fork
and cleanse your body but it will make you well. It will also mean a
whole change of life for you, better eating and better living and a
much better life. If you want to continue drinking cokes, eating at
McDonalds, eating white flour, sugar, coffee,french fries, potato
chips, ice cream and all that, then you need to live with it and
suffer. If you are ready let me know.
Add me to the list of folks with osteoarthritis at a young age. I've had it in many of my joints for several years,(I'll be 43 at the end of this week) I even have it in my chest (didn't know you could have it there until bone scan showed it.), but it is my right knee that really took a nose dive this past summer. Not sure if it was aggravated by the reconstruction surgery I had this past year, or if it was on its way down regardless of it. Both my knees have suffered multiple injuries since I was a teen and both have had reconstruction surgery. I just had my last shot of Hyalgan today in the right knee. There has been some improvement but OS says it takes up to a month to see for sure. What I don't get is the type of pain I am getting in the knee...the worst of it is actually a couple of inches below the joint. It is sudden and sharp and somewhat unpredictable although usually occurs if I twist on the leg. Sometimes it doesn't seem to take much to set it off and other times it holds up much better than I thought it would. It just doesn't seem like the arthritis pain I've been used to... the throb that comes after being on it or overdoing too much. I thought it could be some type of tendinitis too, but Doc doesn't seem to think so....maybe my understanding of arthritis pain is not complete....does anyone else here get the sharp pains when you make certain moves? BTW, swimming and range of motion exercises in the pool have been my saving grace! While I do have RA and I'm 51, I also have OA. Lots of OA in spine and end joints in fingers which are definitely not from RA. My right index finger end joint looks like it belongs to an 80 year old. I have had OA problems from age 25 on. Young people, sometimes even children get OA usually from injury or infection, but bad wear and tear can be caused by an oddly formed joints or other skeletal misalignment. Do see a rheumatologist. There are lots of treatments and more coming. Thanks Marian, I've been debating on whether I should or not, since I have been seeing an OS for the knee, but since other joints are now becoming more of a problem, I think I will follow your advice. I'm now 49, and have been suffering for a little over 5 years. My OA came on more suddenly than one would expect, and progressed quickly. I've had one partial knee replacement, but have pain in both knees, both hips, and thumb joints. I watch the commercials for RA and find myself jealous that they have drugs, and we don't. I've been through Celebrex, Vioxx and Mobic, now I started Arthrotec. Don't see much relief yet, but that's cause I was completely off my meds for about 3 weeks, and am now in a major flare up. Back for more PT (pain & torture) and pain drugs to get "in control" again. The good news is that a lot of the time, I am in control and the OA is just annoying. Be glad to talk if you want to.
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