Can Osteoarthritis Be Hereditary?

[Eve]

Google results seem mixed.

Been thinking after seeing a Dr about my foot (got to have MRI) and he asked about osteoarthritis in the family.

Mum had issues with movement in both shoulders at about my age, from what I remember some osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel etc... She had steroid injections and ops, something to do with decompression I think and not too common (then anyway) apparently.

Guess it just rang alarm bells a bit as I'm having a lot of pain, stiffness and lack.of movement in my shoulders. Wondering if worth mentioning anything as I just put it down to my rhumo arthritis. Daft really I only thought about any kind of possible connection til this morning.

[starone]

I think it must be jenna. My mother had it, I have got it and my daughter has it as well (worse and earlier than me). If you are carrying too much weight it can sometimes exacerbate it - my daughter and I have been going to Weight Watchers and we have both found that the pain is not so bad having lost about a stone. Must be the weight on the bones.

[missprim]

Jenna my mum had Rhuemo and Osteo Arthritis and also osteoporosis, I now have all three but my brother has none of these and he's 75 yrs old but I still think it comes from a faulty gene (although I must admit I haven't read up about it) Passed to me perhaps but not to my brother.

[starone]

Funnily enough, I have noticed that Missprim. It has not been handed down to my brother nor my son. Perhaps it is a woman thing.

[albaqwerty]

Having read the question and the answers, I'm now wondering whether it is mostly a female genetic thing?

I've decompressed vertebrae and sometimes the pain in the neck and shoulders is horrific. I'll get myself to my gp.

[missprim]

Have either of you had hand splints?

[daffy654]

I was told that Osteo isn't but rheumatoid is hereditary when I was tested for the latter due to my mum having it and me having pain and swelling issues in my joints. Thankfully the blood tests said I don't have it and the problems haven't recurred.

[Sqad]

No....Osteo arthritis is "wear and tear"........no scientific support to offer a hereditary status......

[Scylax]

As Sqad says.... not hereditary, but often familial. The weight-bearing joints are affected, esp. hips, knees and ankles. Being overweight doesn't help, and being overweight tends to occur in families... children copy their parents eating habits.

[Eve]

It does seem to be a very female thing doesn't it, wonder why.

I assumed it wasn't sqad with it being wear and tear so was surprised when I googled and links came up saying it can run in families (or am I getting confused, is there a difference between hereditary and family tendancies?).

Yes, I've got splits. I've got one rest ones, more heavy duty, some which are lighter and some support gloves (look a bit like nude support underwear material!) which I wear for typing as they support my fingers too.

I find the splints hard to wear to do much with the metal things in, well anything more fiddly like typing.

My OT is big on me using them to rest.

[missprim]

Thanks Jenna. I have to go back to occupational therapy on the 28th of this month and I'm dreading telling them I can't wear them.
I feel that if something is recommended for me then it must be good but they make my hands hurt more when I am wearing them and I am unable to do so many things without having to take them off.

[Eve]

Don't worry, I was the same and I felt bad too but my OT was great about it and looked at other options and it's great having choice for different activities. It's meant to be finding solutions for you so don't suffer in silence.

I had the heavier duty ones first but I just couldn't type in them and my hands would get really hot (not great when they are already hot and swollen). I find the metal bits uncomfortable too as they dig in when I'm trying to do things and restrict my movement too much to be practical.

Keep some moisturiser handy too in case and I found mine used to irritate or dry out my skin.

[missprim]

Let's hope I get an understanding therapist who might have other suggestions for me.

[Eve]

Ooh you're near me aren't you so possibly have the same hospital and, if at that hospital, the same OTs? Certainly possible if you live round where I seem to remember you do from a former thread.

[missprim]

Are you under a consultant Jenna?

[woofgang]

Splints take getting used to and must fit perfectly. (I am a retired OT) the OT who fitted yours won't know if they will work for you till you have tried them so do tell him or her if they don't work for you

[Eve]

I am, would rather not put the direct details on here but more than happy to email or Facebook etc... Not sure how best to do it, had a throwaway but not sure if it still works. Got to go to bed now as up before 5am to get an early start to work in case the snow goes more than the faffy stuff we have now overnight. Will check it out tomorrow. Am on FB with a fair few people from here though too in case you are and easier to find me that way?

[missprim]

Would rather do a few discreet Q&A as don't want to link here to facebook and have no idea how to do throwaway email address. I think we could ask each other a few questions without giving too much away :-) Night night.

[missprim]

Woofgang the OT said I need a size small for my left hand and medium for right hand but they didn't have them so she gave me them the other way round as that's all she had. When I asked if she could order some she said No, they have to get the stock down before they can order more! So I have one that is too loose and one that is too tight.

[woofgang]

missprim, I am shocked by that. if she hadn't got the right sizes, she shouldn't be prescribing the wrong ones!

[woofgang]

In her position, I would be going back to the referring consultant and telling her/him that she couldn't provide the required equipment and why.