Anyone disabled through arthritis?

Hey all,

I've recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and possible rheumatoid arthritis too. Got to say it absolutely sucks. Up till six months ago I was fit as a fiddle and never had a joint problem in my life.

I've always had physically demanding jobs, but was more than happy doing that type of work as it's mainly outdoors and I love being out and about. About six months ago I started getting pain in my knees but thought nowt of it as Like I said my job is demanding, I put up with that for about a month and then started having pain in my lower back and neck, I knew something was off but put up with it till the pain moved into my hands and wrists.

I eventually went to the doctors and was sent for X-rays, this was when the damage was seen in my knees, the doctor has assumed that this is causing the pain in my back and neck too. The swelling in my hands she thinks is rheumatoid arthritis, and I'm now waiting on confirmation of a rheumatologist appointment at the hospital. Oddly enough I have no history of arthritis in my family of joint problems either. The doctor thinks this may have all been brought on by a stomach complaint I had for months.

In and odd sort of way this has forced me back into IM. I was never that successful but had made a few pounds doing it previously, but given the preference I always preferred my old lifestyle of making money. So here I am back to square one and going to try and re-learn IM all over again as there's no way I can live on unemployment money. I have dragon naturally speaking for when my hands get to sore and a couple of tools I had bought back yonder. I'm going to need to make some adjustments in chairs and desks too I assume, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

I can no longer walk for any length of time now and most physical activity is severely diminished. Who knows what the future holds, but I'm determined to grind and make the best of whats left of life now. It's amazing how much you miss the simple things like walking and normal other day to day activities when these things are no longer available to you But onwards and upwards I suppose, stiff upper lip and all that.

Feel free to post how you too cope with any illness and how it effects you both in life and work, thanks for reading.

I have pretty fucked up skeleton since I was born, arthritis if definitely waiting for me somewhere. Hopefully I die from alcohol poisoning before that happens.

Really sorry to hear that. But its nice to hear that you have a positive spin on it. Most people think that lifes over when they meet up with some sort of disability. Just keep your chin up and the world will seem like a happy place. As for me, I have no problems. I am fit as a fiddle. It could be that I eat plenty of veggies and drink milk every day. Having a balanced diet also helps.

There are some none mainstream stuff out on youtube and the web worth checking out.

I also believe what you eat could have a major effect on your arthritis.

i have a syst on my right knee
2 warn discs at the base of my spine
systs on the 2 discs and a pinched nerve
sends pain down my left hip / leg foot.

arthritis is just a matter of time

I have arthritis in my left knee. For the past couple of weeks, my leg has been buckling when I walk. I walk three miles a day. I am not going to stop walking and I refuse to stop being active. If I have to drag one leg along, then I will. I am going to start taking a combination of fresh ginger and grapeseed extract. Someone I know swears it works for arthritis.

Thanks for all the replies folks, really appreciate them. Sorry to hear that some of you also have to put up with the crap our body throws at us.

Some of the posts mentioned diet and herbs and such. Got to say, it's possibly just my system but I've tried just about everything, tumeric, cissus, rosehip oil, dark cherry juice, anti-inflammatory diet etc... nothing has worked for me so far unfortunately but thanks for the suggestions.

Hey redrubies! Yeah my knees have buckled on me a couple of times too, stairs are torture! I can't manage as far as you walk, about 800 yards for me and I nearly keel over, even my bloody fingers are killing me writing this post. Hey-ho though, musn't grumble.

Good luck with the tests. If it is arthritis, ask your doctor about Plaquenil. I have osteoarthrtis and it's done wonders for me - I'm barely creaky anymore after starting it. The only drawback I know of is that it can potentially cause problems with your vision after a number of years, so they have you get regular eye exams. Other than that, it's been a godsend.

I take pills everyday to minimize the damage. Not without other consequences but that's part of growing old. I look at my father at 78 as active as ever and not whimpering about every ache and pain. The secret is to keep active and never stop.

If typing hurts then get Dragon and a good mic. Once you train that program you'll wonder why you spent so many years typing.

One thing with arthritis is don't over-do it. Joints don't behave like muscles to exercise. Most of the joint pain is from inflammation and pushing the joints only increases the inflammation. Ask the Doctor for some good anti-inflammatory pills and work slowly at it. As for cherry juice and all that other shit they recommend, none of that has ever worked for me.

My Doctor had me checked for uric acid problems and prescribed medicine (allopurinol) to keep it in check. Although I don't like taking the pills, I really don't like the joint pain that little or nothing seems to alleviate. I take my pills and, knock on wood, I haven't had a flareup in a couple years. Allopurinol actually dissolves the crystals if you consistently take the pills and loosens up the joints. I know there are complications with any medicine but I've been on this for about 4 years and the affects are amazing. I thought I would be crippled by now when the first flareup hit about 6 years ago. Now they monitor my uric acid levels about every 6 mos to make sure I'm taking the correct dosage. It might be something to talk about with your Doctor.

Good luck mate, I know how bad arthritis pain can be. I remember popping Oxycodone like they were candy and still crying in pain.

I would say I'm sorry to hear you have arthritis along with the other members here, but medical problems have been my biggest teacher so I will say; I'm happy to see you loving life regardless of it!

I've tried nearly every supplement under the sun, paleo/gluten free diet, none of it matters in my case. I've learned the more I think about it the more depressed I get. Lifting weights (even if they're light at first) running and playing with my dogs and eating less sugary/trans fatty foods works for me. If I'm going to die anyway, I'd rather go enjoying life and a naughty treat occasionally.
Eating more butter and coconut oil has helped my joints, I love my piano too much so thankfully I don't have arthritis. Mine's dysphagia.

I know how you feel mate, I got something pretty similar but something which has definitely helped has been following this. inflammationfactor dot com/look-up-if-ratings/
Basically you want every meal to be a positive number. This will really help and get you back to fit and working order.

I can't suggest this stuff enough. I took it for hair growth and also got increased flexibility and endurance
as welcome side effects. Basically, I started sprinting like a kid. It helped my Grand Aunty get rid of painful
shingles when none of several medications helped. Strange but pleasant side effect. She had a urinary tract
infection that had her going to bathroom every hour day and night, pero no mas! Cool yes?

My hair started growing on the third day and now its longer than ever in my life. MSM is off da snacks!


Get capsules not powder. Imagine taking teaspoons of aspirin powder. Nasty!

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-premium-msm-500-mg-250-caps?otherSize=SW652