Date: 09.10.2013
From: Liz
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Subject: Hi new to this forum
Hi everyone, it's 3:34am and I'm lying here unable to sleep because of terrible pain in my knees (and legs) and thought I would google arthritis care, which led me to this forum. Good to be here. Have been reading some of your posts, and have felt like I'm not so alone in all this. My story started about 3 years ago, had a nagging pain in right knee, thought I had some kind of ligament damage (I'm now 48) so at 45 I didn't expect much to be wrong, I was generally fit, although overweight, was in good health. I remember running to catch a bus with my husband in Tenerife on holiday, and thinking I just can't run, or barely walk in that knee.. Two days later I was crying in pain waiting for our flight home. Eventually got home and as it was the weekend, I went to our local walk in (some kind of pun there as I couldn't even walk) centre. They shoved and pushed on my leg, said it wasn't anything to do with ligaments, and it may be OA. Told me to take painkillers (didn't even offer me a prescription) and sent me home. I could barely walk to my daughters car at this point, so I thought what a joke! Come the Monday I was due back at work - I work as a PA/Carer for a disabled lady (oh the irony) and I had to ring in sick, I couldn't move! Still convinced I had pulled something in my knee on holiday, my husband took me to the local A&E department, I had to use crutches we had in the garage to even get out the car. I waited to see the Dr, he asked me to walk while he watched, examined my legs, sent be for an xray, then told me I had OA, to take paracetamol & ibuprofen, loose weight and basically live with it. Told me to see my GP to discuss pain relief. I was gutted. I could not believe the amount of pain I was in could be OA out of the blue, and that this was it... for life? To be fair, my GP was lovely, very gentle Irish lady. She said she had looked at my X-rays and that it was OA. Put me on co-codamols and declofenic and said to try to loose a bit of weight, but other than that I had to live with it, possibly flaring up now and then. A week later I had no choice to go back to work, and the pain meds were helping. But since then I have been in chronic pain more or less all the time. I do know I have to rest my legs after working, and he can barfly stand in the kitchen to make the tea these days after work, my husband has taken over the cooking! It's just I feel so bloody useless an old now. I can't walk very far without sitting down for a rest, I can't get to the loo at night very quickly as in still as anything middle if the night, and at my age If I need to go its right then or a flood! I can't get my head around that this is the way I will be from now on, the rest if my life. I'm still working, but the funny thing is I struggle to get to work some days, and the person I'm employed by to do all her housework, shopping, ironing etc, is fitter than me! She's off driving her car, meeting friends for coffee, while I'm struggling to go up and down her stairs doing her housework. And she's getting all kinds of disability payments and a free PA! Oh I do feel bitter sometimes. Where's my help? I get sent off with paracetamols and have to get on with it? Anyway, it's now 4:02, I've popped some more pills, had a rant, and have to be up for work at 6:30am, so thanks for listening. You've been great ;-) xx Liz
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Date: 09.10.2013
From: Sean
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Subject: Re: Hi new to this forum
Hi Liz - not as widely publicised other minerals work with Glucosamine to give better absorption - this report shouws how it was used for arthritis in knees and lower back - I take manganese most days myself. Some supplements contain manganese along with glucosamine - I have also read that strontium and boron also used to help restore some bone structure. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10050562 Absoption of these will also be improved with digestive enzyme Bromelain - Pineapple contains lots of this. For pain and inflammation - you might want to try turmeric. I invented a drink that I take occassionaly of chamomille tea, manuka honey and half a teaspoon of turmeric. Great as a bed time drink and also lowers estrogen levels. Turmeric has been tested to be as safe and as efficacious as ibuprofen for some pain and will be better for the stomach too! Report below on this - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19678780 Check with your doctor in case any of these might clash with meds but there is a lot of case study and anecdotal evidence on th web for these. Best wishes
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