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WitchyWoman's Story

WitchyWoman1065@aol.com 

Well, first off, I just want to say that I have read some of the other stories here and my OA really doesn't seem that bad, in comparison to what others have, but, I just wanted to bitch and moan to someone that would understand.

I am a 37-year old mother of 3 boys - 12, 7 and 4. I have a full-time job (7:00 - 3:30) and also help run my husband's small construction business. I take care of the book work, payables etc. 

A little over 4 years ago, after the birth of my 3rd son, I had the great pleasure of tripping and falling. Oh, what a happy day. I can honestly say that that day changed my whole life. What I thought was just simple knee pain from falling, actually turned out to be OA. 

I saw a few doctors who ran tests and of course, recommended that I do physical therapy. Ok, fine. I walked on the treadmill, did some exercises with these stupid rubber bands, but no relief from the pain. So it was back to the doctors. He recommended a cortisone injection. Well, I don't really care for doctors (it seems that they just want to rush you off to be under the knife) and I wasn't thrilled about getting a needle in my knee. God, I sound like a big baby!

I procrastinated for a while before caving to get the cortisone injection. Which, of course, was supposed to last for any where from 6 months to 12 months. RIGHT!! Try about 1 week. 

About 2 years after the fall, I couldn't stand it any more. I actually went under the knife. I will never, ever, ever do that again! I just hope I don't have to have knee replacement. I'm still recovering from that surgery.

Well, at least with the surgery, I don't have pain with each step. What I do have now is pain when I go up and down the steps. Oh, did I mention that I work on the second floor of an office building with no elevator, but 16 steps. I also have a cape cod home that has my washer and dryer in the basement (15 steps) and 13 steps to the second floor. Right, like you guys don't count the steps too!

I read article after article about exercise for people with OA. Cripe, with all the "running around" that I do every day, that should count as exercise. 

I am now looking into alternative medicine. I think I'm going to do some research into how yoga or tai chi effects may or may not benefit people with OA. As far as anti-inflammatories go, I eat Motrin like tic tacs and my knee is still swollen. Hey, if you have a headache and you take Motrin, how does it know it's supposed to go to your head and not or knee or whatever.

Well, I guess I've gotten that off my chest.

Thanks for listening!