degenerative joint disease

[NY 1009]

Annette,
my DJD (degenerative joint disease) or named "osteoarthritis" was diagnosed by xray too. My dr wanted to have an MRI performed but my insurance wouldn't cover it unless I went for physical therapy 1st.
this was BEFORE they found out I had osteo of the spine.

I am looking for other woman who have this condition so I can find out answers to some questions I have about my symtoms

I just turned 46 but I've been having a gnawing achey deep pain in my spine for the past five yrs that eventually is getting worst over time. It interferes with my daily routines such as sitting at my computer at work, standing too long when I cook holiday meals or just cleaning the house for a lengthy amount of time without sitting down. I used to have so much energy and am known from my children and coworkers as a neat freak.

those days are over. I kept complaining to my family dr that It hurt. but nothing was ever suggested or done. then he prescribed mobic? which is an arthritis medication and muscle relaxants because I have spasms. the muscle is being twisted and pulled.
I don't know if this common to happen in woman in my age group and I did have a hysterectomy last yr which I noticed since then my back is getting worst.
my gyno recommended a have a bone density test performed a few months ago which turned out I also have osteoporosis in my spine and hips.
I am prescribed medication to take for that too. but now I'm out of work and have no insurance to cover the cost of the medicine so now I"m not taking it anylonger.
My mother and brother have a bone disease which never concerned me that I'd get it myself because when you're young, you think nothing will happen to you. but osteoarthritis I heard is common in many many people.
but, I've also heard it can be debilitating and I'm frightened that mine will progress to this.
I also use a heating pad when it gets real bad and try not to take the muscle relaxants becasue I feel the pain is more in my bone than the muscles itself.

are your symtoms similar and how long has it been since you were diagnosed?
do you do anything to prevent this from getting worst?

I hope you get this post or anyone else who may be reading it who has the same condition. any replies would be helpful to me and would be appreciated.

linda

[HBMod07]

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[snowmelts]

This board is filled with people who have all kinds of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most common.
I am 59½ and mine started in my knees and pelvic before I was 49.
NOW, of course, it is ten years worse and is in every inch of my spine all the way up includeing my neck.
My Lumbar spine has bent convexly to the left 15%

Yes, I also have osteoporosis in my lower spine.

To make a long story short:
I have no coworkers since I am retired.
Yes, it hurts.
I do not take pain meds for it except Tylenol Arthritis cuz I am allergic to aspirin and it's relatives.

I take Calcium, vita D as well as Glucosamine and Chondroitin & MSM.
I do believe the Glucosamine and Chondroitin & MSM help deaden my knee OA pain but does nothing for my spine or neck.

Try to change position often. Don't set forever..get up every half hour and walk to the file cabent at least. Don't stand forever either. Sort of avoid constantly being in the same position for long stretches at a time.

A Cold ice pack on swollen muscles for 20 min only will relieve the swelling and help with that pain. After the ice pack a heating pad will relax the muscle. A massager after all that is good too. My back loves the Thermacare Heated Backwraps.

BUT if insurance is a problem.. or even if it's not..
I can also testify that sleeping with a knee contour pillow between your knees and a reg pillow between your lower legs will seriously help get rid of that morning backache and a great deal of daily pain and stillness.
I have not slept without mine in almost 2 years now and I plan on never sleeping without it again.

Over the years I've run the gauntlet of X-rays, MRI's, and CT Scan's.
I've done lower back Physical Therapy for 6 week sessions the last two winters running.
Yes, the prescribed excercises DO help but not enough.. no way near enough.

I developed Greater Torcantic Hip Bursitis over 2 years ago (Cuz the spine bending pulled that muscle too tight over the hip bone). Hip bursitis is extrememly painful. Had a steroid shot to kill THAT pain but sadly more than just one bursa was involved so the pain always came back.

Since my elderly (79 yrs old) mother's back resembles and "S" curve with a hump too and both of her knees have been replaced I know I will have the same situation unless I do something ASAP.

This year I finally found an answer for me
(My insurance covers this one completely).
I found a wonderful family chiropractor.
My Chiro says he CANNOT stop my spine from bending but he CAN slow it down..and he certainly is a huge help with pain.
I have been there 37 times since May.
Started out at 3 x a week but have graduated to only going in every 2 weeks now.
My back feels 3 or 4 years younger.
I can bend, unbend and I can twist.
I never have any morning backache.
The hip bursitis is GONE.
My neck pains are gone

For me this is working this year.
True there is still some aches and I must still watch and not heavy things, because of the osteoporosis, but my major stiffness and the worst of the spine and neck pain is so very very much better.

About the Osteoporosis.. I tried Fosamax for one year and quit.
I had horrifying side effects.
There are many threads concerning that med. and its effects on members here.

My elderly mothers ankles have deteriated to shreds becasue of the bone problems and I fear that one the most I think.
So far my ankles are fine.

Your osteoarthritis (OA) will prgress, everyone's does.
It is progressive by nature.
The trick seems to be to find what can help YOU.
Not every answer fits everyone.
I hope my suggestions can help you a little.

[roses4evver]

Hi Annette,

I'm very sorry to hear about you loosing your job and the pain you are in. It must weigh heavily on your mind to not have the insurance because with any disease medical coverage is extremely important.

I too have DJD (Osteo) all over, unfortunately it's severity has no discrimination with age. I'm 45 & have had Osteo since I was 18-20, so that's about 25-27 yrs I've had it . Osteo has accompanied Fribo & connective tissue disease for many of those years with me, but I never needed any medication until about 14 yrs ago when I started having to take 4500 mg of Tylenol & muscle a relaxer every day). As you have described about yourself..... my low back has hurt off & on in the last 15 yrs when I would stand doing dished, stooping while sweeping, or bent over brushing my pets, ect. I would put the old heating pad on & I was good to go for several wks...well those days are real GONE fore me. It started hurting me REAL bad last winter when shoveling snow & I became suspicious but as you thought.....nah, it's nothing, I'm too young to have something seriously wrong. Up until this point the Osteo mostly effected my low back, SI joints, hips & knees. I was like the energizer bunny & just kept going & thought this was the normal process that Osteo took. As well as my family Dr telling me this for as many years as I can remember. Also I thought the real bad stuff will come when I'm about 60 & I'm in the middle of the spectrum now. How WRONG I was.....I found out in May I'm at the end of the spectrum....end of the road sort of speak. In the last 5 mo my knees have become extremely bad, the pain never ever goes away- not even with pain meds. I hyper extended my knee in late April by a little dip in the ground, it wouldn't heal, my left knee was scoped, had many many aspirations & hyalgan injections & nothing worked.

All to find out I have stage 3 DJD bi-lat knees & 2 ortho opinions say they will not give me a TKR because adding to the mix, I now have Rheumatoid, Lupus, diabetes & I'm post menapausal. These were discovered in May through Lab when I had my first Rheumatologist visit (waiting 11 mo on her waiting list).

So, It looks like this is the deck of cards that I am dealt & I have to find a way to except it all & try & have the best life that I can. How does a person do that when they have their life ripped out from under them in a blink of an eye??? I'm told by the ortho Dr's I will not be walking in less than 5 yrs but come see me on an as needed basis...lol. My Rheumatologist says to continue all the pain medication every 4 hrs, anything to get me through the days. I'n taking catapress (for hot flashes every 30 min), Neurontin for pain, Ultram & Darvocet for pain, soma (relaxer), Lodine (anti-inflammatory), 4500 mg Tylenol, Arava (Rheumatoid) & the trusty old Wellbutrin...my happy pill...lol. I'm sure there are a few that I'm forgetting.

I wear a knee brace on my left knee 90 % of the time & have a job that requires me to walk all day. I also have stress fx's in the tops of my feet from walking my butt off & not walking correctly since injury in April. I've had 2 bone densities in the last 2 yrs & both were neg. But this is something that will definately affect me in the next few yrs I was told.

In regards to my low lumbar area I will be seeking injections in about a month from pain management. This may be an option for you also. Gosh, without insurance I don't know if you could do that though as well as you needing pain meds. Annette, you are at great risk for spontaneous fractures any where in your body because of the posative osteoporosis.

5 1/2 months ago I was sitting on a low stool with wheels weeding for 25 min along my driveway. This occurred about a month after hyper-extending my knee. I felt a taught pulling sensation in my knees. Kept going and attributed it to being out of shape. That night both my knees blew up like melons & I had excruciating pain & still do till this day! I could not walk with my lt knee at all & was on crutches for wks. I had the MRI done 1 mo prior & my scope about 8 wks after thr MRI. What the scope showed is not all on the MRI report. When this happened all the rest of my cartlidge in both knees were torn to shreds. My knees look like they were put through a shredder machine. So please...think twice.

Other than that I am told all they can do is treat me for the pain & nothing medically can be done to stop this horrible disease. Just 6 months ago I could do anything that I wanted to do, even with the chronic pain except kneel down or squat. Now I am only at 50% of my capacity. I too am VERY scared for my future, especially knowing my working days are numbered. It all weighs heavy on my mind constantly.

I would also like to give you all a word of caution. If you have Osteo & have ever had knee pain please remember:
What ever chore you are doing if you feel a tight stretch (bending, squatting, reaching or what ever...stop emmediately, don't think you are feeling that because you are out of shape.

Also don't let yourself be mislead. Maybe if I had persisted with getting 2nd opinions 10 yrs ago I may not be going through this now....it would be later in my life. I trusted them & believed what I was told....I pray my story keeps someone from suffering the way I am.

I do hope you can find some answers to help you. Take Care & God Bless you!

P.S I am so sorry this is so long.

[snowmelts]

About knee OA.
I hae , by experience, decdied that if I am beginning a chore that I know will stress my knees I applu some Aspercream, I put on the knee braces and take my Tylenol Arthritis BEFRORE starting the chore. This helps makes the after chore OA response less painful. Less pain is better than more pain, so to speak.