I have been diagnosed with OA of the hip.

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hello, I have recently been diagnosed (through an X ray) with OA in both hips, but particularly in the left - which I agree, plus some dengeneration in the small of my back.  I do agree with all the letters I have read so far, doctors just say the words without meaning, hand out the painfillers and let you get on with it.  I am 66 yrs old (but don't write me off) and have enjoyed yoga, walking, swimming etc. up to about 4 months ago.  I find constant pain depressing, perhaps I'm not used to it, and feel frustrated no being able to do what I once could.  As an easy option, I am now on Napraxen (with a stomach settler) taken twice a day, which helps, but I still find I suffer with sciatica ache/pain during the night, bad enough to interrupt sleeping.  Intially I had groin and stomach pain, which I would never have associated with OA of the hip.  Any  help would help.  I am more than interested in a more natural method of pain relief and general improvement of my present situation.  I have been looking into Orthomol, has anyone tried this?  Also I am taking Naproxen sulphate 550 mg, any thoughts on this or an alternative?

 

2

What you describe sounds miserable. I think your hip problems may be more advanced than mine are but if you haven't tried physiotherapy it might be worth a try. I was on Naproxen daily and found it very difficult to tolerate even with a stomach coater. My relief comes from regular physiotherapy which includes manipulation of my hips as well as exercises. I go for treatment every three weeks and apart from a small dose of paracetamol don't take any other medication. I'm not sure if the NHS would fund or even recognise this treatment but for me it is well worth it. Four years ago I thought that I would have to give up teaching but I am still working. Hope this helps. Constant pain is very depressing I know. 

3

So sorry you're in constant pain.  I am too and I agree it's terribly frustrating not being able to do sometimes even the simplest things that you could before.  I like Jennifer couldnt tolerate NSAIDs, even taking one tablet would kick in awful stomach issues, not just acid. I like many others decided to research more natural forms of anti inflammatories.  So far I've tried glucosamine, both on its own and with chondroitin, and MSM.  Not sure any of these made a huge amount of difference, maybe took a little edge off it but didnt take it away.  I'm presently trying ginger, as that's meant to be very good for inflammatory pain such as OA.  I make ginger and lemon tea, also grind the fresh root into a paste and mix it with argan oil and use as a body rub to those areas most painful (with me its ankle and thumb joints).  Just this weekend a local homeopath recommended hyaluronic acid, which is good for anti ageing generally but also for joints apparently.  You can buy topical gel to rub in but he said taking a supplement would probably be of more benefit, so I started them yesterday - too early to tell yet, I'll keep you posted.  I also read about a test done by UK university into frankincense, which apparently has excellent anti inflammatory properties, so I also bought some frankincense essential oil, add a few drops to a 'carrier', ie almond oil or any neutral body oil and massage into the joint.  Here goes, even if they dont work, all of these are good for me anyhow, so I'll get some benefit even if they dont kill the pain.  I'm also about to recommence meditation classes, as I did them before and they really helped me focus away from the pain so that at least I wasn't sitting thinking about it and being grumpy all the time.  Good luck with whatever you try. xx 

4

Make sure Vit D3 and K2 are optimal, a doc here I listen to on radio  likes patients to be at 80, I was at 80 before hip replacement 4 yrs ago and from that surgery it dropped 40 pts....so I'm working back up and now only at 49.....I felt much better at 80 thinking back.....

He believes that it's good to take 10,000 IU's of D3 and add K2 IF levels of Vit D are low....

Magnesium citrate or glycinate is important for so much including bones...

Naproxen can elevate blood pressure, so be aware....I take ibuprofen usually 4 per day and DGL for stomach protection.....it's a licorice based supplement....

MSM in higher doses during the day does reduce pain.     I have been dealing with OA since 18 and I'm 76.....I get by and manage.....Very very few drugs.    

5

Thanks for your helpful tips. Some  I am aware of.  What dosage do you take of glucosamine?  I do take this with Omega 3, but quite possibly I don't take the correct amount. Again  only recently been aware of hyaluronic acid, but again how much does one take and is it best in  liquid or tablet form.

 

6

Thanks Joy for info. but what do you mean by '80' and then dropping to '40 pts' . What are these pts.  Also glad you mentioned Naproxen can elevate blood pressure, as I am on a low dose blood pressure tablet.

7

Cant remember the dose of glucosamine when I took it on its own but then I got a liquid glucosamin, chondroitin and MSM complex which contains a bunch of other things like evening primrose, vit c, manganese, cherry, etc along with 300mg glucos, 150mg chond, 750mg msm.  Got it from Holland and Barratt,  The hyaluronic acid is in tablet form and is a 'complex' ie combined with other things including chondroitin, collagen and Vit c.  The HA dose in it is 120mg.  I spent ages asking the homeopath which was best, on its own, with chondroitin, etc., etc., and he just gave me a bottle of the one he recommended as the 'best of both worlds'.  I never know whether higher dosages are any better, there's obviously an optimum dose but health food stores and online sites all seem to recommend diff ones.  Same as Joy, I also take D3 and have done for ages.  Havent got the bottle to hand so I forget what the dose of that is but I looked on Amazon and picked the level most companies were recommending.  The last few days my hands and ankle have been agony, I put it down to the weather (although my doctor dismisses that idea as imagination - pah, he should try dealing with OA in damp and cold weather conditions!), so I gave in and took a naproxen the other morning.  It worked on the pain but my gut was in agony all day

8

I was wondering what that meant also.  Measurements are obviously different in the US to here.  I didn't know naproxen elevated blood pressure.  I dont have high BP but my partner does and takes BP meds for it, along with naproxen for disc problems in his back, I'll mention it to him.  Thanks for the heads up.

9

There is a lab range for Vit D, here in the US it's 20-100, the UK is slightly different and I think I made a big post on the Alternative board about the Vit D issue and the range for the countries are in it.   I was a stinky 16 which I found how deficient I was in 2006, now I'm only 49, but was way up to 80 on the range but it all dropped with the hip surgery by 40 points....so I'm working my way up to closer to the 80 mark again..

Do you get copies of  your labs to take home to see where your levels are:  low range, mid range, high range....I think that is important.... the lower the range the more deficient....

On gluocsamine I take 1500mg glucosamine sulfate, most companies it seems sells glucosamine hydrochloride but I've read it's not as effective as sulfate.....I have a lot of friends who help each other with alternative healing....  I take it daily and over the years I went off and on with it but will stay with it for months to come.....

 

DGL licorice saves my stomach...  Joy

10

Thanks for all that info, very helpful.  It's good   to  hear that you are not completely on the 'natural' course, and are open to taking the odd painkiller.  This doesn't make me feel so bad, as I sometimes feel I am taking the easy way out.  The thing is, if one decides the natural recommendations you have to stop all painkillers to give it a chance of working and to compare.  I'm sure I would need to give it at least 2-3 months trial when I did. I spend winter out in Spain living in a motorhome, so I am lucky in as much as I do get better weather, but the downside is, I cannot go into the healthstore and discuss alternative medication as I am unable to speak Spanish fluently.  It will have to wait until  get home. 

11

Hello Carole,

 I am sorry for your pain, I understand competely when you say the Doctors just say the words without meaning!   I have had OA for many years now, it began in pregnancy, my 'baby' is now 34!!  It has worsened over the years of course, I don't take any pain killers, and yes, the pain is horrendous! I just don't need the side effects of things, with other health problems I have, I just can't afford to take them.

 I must comment thought,  that I have had two GP's tell me they didn't blame me for not wanting pain killers because of the side effects!!   

 Anyway, I really wanted to say to you, that there are lots and lots of us who understand what you're going through and sympathise with you, 

 You may find this helpful in bed at night, I have a hard-ish roll, made out of a hard foam, my husband made it for me about 33 years ago!!  and it's still going strong!   The Orthopaedic hospital I first attended, all those years ago, suggested it, I have it covered in a soft fabric, and put pilow slips on it to keep it clean,  I have it under my right hand side of my back, it does help, it keeps me 'still' in bed, and I don't role over, well, not much anyway, mind you, when my husband gets in, I do shift a bit!!

not his fault, it's natural I guess?!   The bed just moves doesn't it ?

 Anyway, Carole, I hope this has helped a little?   Sorry if it hasn't  

 Either way, I wish you well.

 Take care of yourself.

 

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We know only too well hon there is no 'easy way out' when it comes to continual pain.  We have to do what's right for our own situation.  There are a million and one pharmaceutical companies pushing pills down our throats, some of which are useful others work but at high cost (side effects etc)., its a minefield.  I'm pretty sure I'll never find a 'miracle cure' but I'm determined to find something that at least has a good effect.  I'm also not willing to throw lots of money at the million and one cure everything supplements out there, to me that's almost as silly as popping drugs like they were smarties.  I'm probably boring the pants off everyone I know by keep looking into more traditional methods and natural remedies, I know I bore myself at times .  It's great that your in a warmer, drier climate for the winter that will help enormously.  I visit Fuerteventura occasionally and no one there seems to even know what OA is, let alone suffer from it, so the weather/diet must play a part.  Because of the language barrier, the internet is probably your best bet finding this stuff out.  I've found some amazing help on this and other forums, all sorts of stuff I didn't know about before.  Just have to beware of snake oil vendors (you know the type - this product does wonders and only costs an arm, a leg and half a kidney!) The health supplement industry is very much like the beauty industry, there's always some expensive wonder pill.  They know that when we're in pain we'll do anything we can afford, and sometimes not afford.  The arthritis in my ankle is as a result of destroying the cartilage in a serious accident so it's no good me looking into products that improve cartilage as I have none in that location.  The OA in my thumbs however is as a result of years of tenosynivitis from repetitive strain, so improving the health of the cartilage in that location will do some good.  All OA is inflammation so I guess any product that isn't harmful and is known to reduce inflammation has to be worth a try. Good luck hon.

13

Thank you catsmother.  I am putting together all information given here to sort through.  It has been very helpful, and it's nice to know there are people out there that have the time to share their experiences.

 

14

Hello again Carole,

 

You are welcome, we have to support each other on here, I am so happy that I found this site, we know there are others 'in the same boat' out there!  

 It's a good idea to get people's helpful info, at least we don't feel alone with the good folk on here, we need to know exactly that, that we're not alone!

 

 The pain of OA is constant isn't it?  no let up at all, we just have to do the best we can and if we find things that help, let others know about it, as we do on here.

 I am 63, sometimes I feel 93!  look it too sometimes! 

If I could find some kind of treatment that didn't have bad side effects, I would give it a go, I keep meaning to look at Alternative treatments, herbal and natural remedies are what I would prefer, maybe there's something somewhere, if I find it, I'll be on here telling you and others!

Take care,

 Best wishes,

 xx

 Anyway, I didn't come back to you to have a moan.....just thinking of you and of the others on here who are suffering.

 Take care,

 Best wishes to you.

 

15

Couldnt agree more catsmother, this forum has been a real life saver for me, even if I'm in pain and getting weary of it all, it really helps to chat with others with the same probs and get ideas for help etc.  Doctors arent much help really, OA isn't glamorous and interesting to them and they just dont seem to realise we don't all just want a montly prescription for painkillers and go away and leave them alone.

I hear what you say about feeling so old sometimes.  I'm 60 and really sometimes feel and look so much older when I'm in pain, just drags you down and wears you out.  Thank you for all your helpful comments.  best wishes. xx

16

Thank you Loxie  

We are here for each other, good job too.

Who needs Doctors??!!  

I am so glad we've got this forum....

Take care Loxie...

xx

17

Your description is accurate for the life changing pain of OA. The wear and tear disease of the joints. The cushion in the joints are worn and rub on the bone instead of cartel edge. That's why the pain. The end of the day of a full day of walking is torture. Anti inflams, topicals, rest and icing may help until u decide if UR ready for a THR.

Ask to see a hip surgeon . U sound like THR may be the next step to get relief.

i have had both done and it helped solve the excruciating pain. Rehab is a struggle about a yea before UR back to par.

dont wait too long as the pain UR in is there for a reason. To let u know that u could have tissue necrosis. Waiting to long can cause the bone to become necrotic. It's important to have THR done while u have good bone for the surgeon to work with and less complications for recovery.