Jan,

welcome to the group but sorry you have to be here.

I have OA also. I have found not overdoing it help greatly. My hips were
really bad and I was doing what the dr and the chiro had said and got out to
walk. But the problem there was I am hyper so I do alot of walking in the
house and it was too much for my hips. I almost ended up in a wheel chair.
It was my boys that suggested I stop trying to walk outside and low and
behold, my hips got better.

I use ice and heat alot. I try to notice what activated it and makes it
worse and don't do that anymore.

I sure hope you find something that works for you and that will allow you to
tolerate and deal with it.

From one Jan to another lol. I'm glad you got to this group.

A bit of history first. I've had OA since my mid 20s, so almost 40 years
now. Lots of joint replacements - both hips, both shoulders and left knee.
The left knee has been replaced 3 times and I'm now on the waiting list to
have the left hip done for a third time. The right hip was done in April
1987 and that's fine (so far). The worst pain - for me - were the shoulders
as sleeping was impossible. I used to take NSAIDs (Non-steroid
anti-inflammatories) but I've now been diagnosed with PMR (polymyalgia
rheumatica so am on steroids for up to 2 years.

Make that appointment with the consultant now. If you haven't done so
already, my advice would be to see a rheumatologist as well. When the joint
pain is as bad as you describe and it's affecting your quality of life,
that's the time to see the experts and get something done. I'm not sure how
that all works in Aussie but don't leave it too long - you're only on this
world once.

I move my legs up and down even when watching tv and sitting down. I always
wear a step-counter and try and do up to 10K steps each day. Everyone is
different, and you sound like you need a medic who is on your side, and
soon. This doesn't work for everyone, but I try and keep to a whole food
diet as much as possible. ie nothing with additives, chemicals etc and
nothing tampered with and enhanced by homo sapiens. It won't do much for
your social dining, but it's helped me. The only trouble is, I love
chocolate.......!

Feel free to ask any questions.

Splodge (UK)

Hi Jan,
Welcome to the party! heh.heh
We have lots of people with advanced osteo including myself. Knees, feet,
lower spine, upper spine, elbows,
and... what's next? "use it or lose it" is an old saying, but you and I both
know that is easier said than done.
Vicodin gets me through my days and some of my nights. Anti-depressants also
can be of help. Couple of links for you:
http://www.arthritis.co.za/
http://www.arthritis.org/

Good luck and I hope you stick around. we have a very good and supportive
group of people here. You are always welcome to come vent, whine, laugh and
cry here.

We get it.
garyz

Welcome to ASA although we wish you didn't need to be here. I have OA along
with a ton of other arthritis types. Mine is mostly in my hands and feet and
lower back, but it can really make itself felt. You are not alone, hon, and
are welcome to come here often.

DeeTee

Jan, I have OA and have had a total hip replacement.  The sooner you do it
the sooner you will feel better.  I wished I had done it sooner when I had
mine.  I've also had the basal joint on my left hand replaced, and have OA
(osteoarthritis) all over my body.  I haven't been able to exercise in a
very long time so have no advice there.  Ask any questions you think of and
some of us will try to answer them.  Welcome to this world we live in!
Gwen