Just Need To Offload Whilst In Such Pain…

[Smowball]

I know almost everyone is asleep & don’t expect replies, just need to offload as am in such pain I’m struggling.
I know I muck about on here in a lot of my posts, but this site is a godsend and welcome escapism to me, I’d be lost without it. For past 6 or 7 weeks, completely coincidentally whilst recovering from pancreatitis, my knee joins & hip joints - both sides equally- started to suddenly throb in pain terribly when moving, bending, going up and down stairs etc to the point that I am literally in tears.. If I try and kneel down then it feels like my knees are being ripped apart inside. Sleep is impossible as all I can feel is this deep throbbing pain, mainly the hips as the knees don’t seem as bad when not moving. Managed to finally get telephone consultation with doctor, two actually, followed by several x rays as she is 99% sure(her words) that even at my age, not overweight, exercise/walk/jog etc, eat well etc, she is convinced I have rapidly developed osteoarthritis, confirmed in her opinion by my confirmation that my jaw has also suddenly developed this horrendous ‘clicking/grinding ‘Sound/noise every time I chew or eat or even yawn. Should get results next week.
Bottom line is that whether this has crept up on me out of the blue or not, if her diagnosis IS correct then I do not know how in gods name I can cope with this pain daily. I’m already on strong Co-codamol & oral oxycodone(when needed) for the pancreatitis and hairline fracture in coxyx when I tripped down the stairs. Also trying ice packs.
If it is this osteoarthritis then how on earth do people manage the pain??
Sorry for long post/rant - just cannot sleep and had to unload. Many thanks xx

[Sqad]

Good morning choux.......I agree entirely with your post, as I have heard of PR for the past 35 years and I'm not the brightest bulb in the box.
I just don't understand ringlet's post.

[choux]

Are you Serius, Sqad? You are bright (see what I did then?).

I have/had many health issues over the years but I never google until a qualified doctor has given me a diagnosis and then I only try to put meat on the bones as it were or get a fuller understanding.

[choux]

sp! Sirius

[Sqad]

choux.......I approve whole heartedly of that use of Dr Google.

[roopower]

Oh, I am sorry. I have OA in one hip and that's bad enough. My mum was riddled with it, she was in a spinal jacket before she was 40. I can appreciate what pain she must have been in for most of her life. I hope the Dr can find you some more effective pain relief, some work better than others and people react differently to them. It must be difficult for you to find anything positive at the moment but do try. I'm sure your friends on AB will do their best to cheer you up. There are also 'alternative' treatments that one person swears by and doesn't help someone else. A friend gets relief using CBD, she swears by it. Does your practice have a pain management clinic? The staff there might be able help you.

[Ringlet]

////%%This is a poorly understood condition caused by irregularity in the immune system, and because it is rare some GPs are not familiar with it./////

But thank God we have informed ABers and Dr Google.??

FAO SQAD
Thank you for your comment, Sqad.

Yes, I am one of the "informed ABers" that you refer to, because I myself have the condition Polymyalgia Rheumatica, diagnosed five years ago, and it has been my experience that some GPs are not familiar with the condition because they rarely see it.

I would also like to ask why, when my only purpose was to try to offer some help to Smowball, you took the time to post your little bit of sarcasm? Do you disagree with my assertion that some GPs are not familiar with the condition PMR? If so, perhaps you should have made that clear, and explained your reasons for disagreeing.
Simply offering sarcasm is not helpful to anyone.

[Sqad]

choux......I have just got your pun.
Very good.........-;0

[Sqad]

Ringlet.....it wasn't meant to be sarcasm, but my true assessment of Body and Soul on AB. Sorry if you took it as sarcasm.

[choux]

Ringlet, nor did I mean any criticism of your post.

[Sqad]

Ringlet......sorry, I missed your question.

///Do you disagree with my assertion that some GPs are not familiar with the condition PMR? ///

Yes Ringlet, although I cant speak for all doctors, but yes, I would be astounded if the vast majority, if not all doctors hadn't heard of PR.

[barry1010]

PR is fairly common in older women, isn't it? In the over 75s.

[Sqad]

Indeed barry.

[Buenchico]

The charity Arthritis Action has loads of advice on their website. (There's even a 'While you're waiting' section, which recognises that NHS resources are currently very stretched and tries to offer help in the meantime):
https://www.versusarthritis.org/

Arthritis Action also offers advice and support:
https://www.arthritisaction.org.uk/

I hope that you can find something on those sites that will help you.

[Mamyalynne]

Constant pain is awful, I do feel for you Smow - I hope you get a decent plan of action/pain relief very soon.

[Smowball]

Hi everyone, I promised I’d update when I had x ray results. Well they came in this morning, receptionist told me to call back this afternoon when doctor had looked at them, which I did. She is purely reading me what the doctor has typed onto my notes onscreen, but she says that the doctor has put ‘ No action required. Please tell patient to book routine appointment’. So I’m assuming that this means the x rays show NO sign of osteo arthritis, which is good, but doesn’t explain this awful pain at all. Receptionist says she has no routine appointment for at least a week, but if I ring at 8am on Monday I can book yet another telephone consultation …..