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New to boards and recently diagnosed with OA Expand / Collapse
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Ella Silver
Posted Thursday, April 09, 2009 3:39 PM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Thursday, April 09, 2009 3:28 PM
Posts: 1, Visits: 1
Hello, I hope I'm posting in the right place.

I was just diagnosed with osteoarthritis the other day. I don't take painkillers as a rule and I am going to start physical therapy asap. I have literally gotten the results of Xrays back and nothing else. I don't even understand the condition yet.

It's all very new to me but it started with months of crippling pain in my neck, right shoulder, arm (elbow big time) and hand. I recently had a series of xrays done and this is the current diagnosis.

The unique thing about my case is that I'm in my late 20s and already this pain (which is not chronic, but comes in acute spells for about a month at a time) is extremely severe and disabling. I want to get back on my feet while I wait for my referral to a physiotherapist (which is the treatment route I'm most comfortable with because i'm very sporty) I also work in IT which means I'm at a computer all day. For the past two and a half weeks, I've been unable to work or even sit for any length of time.

Are there any simple, safe exercises that I can do in the meantime that might help me relieve my pain and regain some mobility?

I also would like to hear from people with similar experiences.. Does the pain get worse over time? Is there any way to heal it? If not, is it manageable? Am I facing a long crippled future? As I mentioned before I'm very active and the thought of many years ahead without that is horribly depressing.

These are all questions I can ask my doctor but, as I say, I was only recently diagnosed and haven't seen the physiotherapist yet. I want to be proactive and start feeling better as soon as humanly possible. Now that i have a name for my pain, I want to start fighting it.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum. I'm new here

Thank you

Ella
Post #4193726
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Grandpavan
Posted Thursday, April 09, 2009 11:32 PM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 4:59 PM
Posts: 4,499, Visits: 3,618
Welcome to the forum.  This is a reasonable place to start but there are separate forums for more specific interests.  I post mostly on the Rheumatoid Arthritis forum and you are welcome there even without a RA diagnosis.  Many of the people there also have OA and it is by far the most active forum.  There is an OA forum but it is much less active.  I'm not sure who diagnosed you but I hope it is a board-certified rheumatologist because few other doctors are really qualified to diagnose or treat any kind of arthritis.  At your age RA is much more common than OA so it might not hurt to get a second opinion.  My impression is that RA is usually more treatable than OA, but also more severe.  If you do have RA it is important to get early and aggressive treatment.  I hope you find the information you are looking for.  God bless.

Age 82, diagnosed RA 12/2001, married since 1952, 4 sons no daughters, 4 grandsons 1 granddaughter.  Doing well on Methotrexate and Remicade.
Post #4193801
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Rose Female
Posted Monday, August 31, 2009 8:51 PM


 

Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Sunday, September 06, 2009 4:14 AM
Posts: 6, Visits: 8

Though x-rays indicate OA, given your symptoms as being entire right upper quadrant pain, I would not have as my therapy diagnosis for you “OA”.  It would not surprise me that you were referred to therapy for OA, or carpal tunnel, or tennis elbow, or cubital tunnel or shoulder impingement.  Even though diagnosed and referred by an MD, doesn’t mean any of these explain your pain.  Pursue your therapy appointment, and try to make sure you have an experienced therapist.  If referred to physical therapy, ask if the clinic has a therapist with manual therapy skills. 

 

Please review my articles: 

 

http://hubpages.com/hub/Computer-Ergonomics-Quick-Relief-Tips

 

http://hubpages.com/hub/Arthritis-Pain-Guide-to-Relief

 

Good luck! 

 

Post #4228714
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