I have osteoarthritis. I've had it for years. Here's a post I wrote about an experience with a doc, and the first time I had heard the diagnosis of arthritis associated with me. (What? No way! That's an "old lady" disease. Surely I'm not old enough to have arthritis, am I?)
In the ensuing years arthritis has worked to overtake many moving parts of my body....that now don't move so well!
I mentioned some of the pain I have been experiencing to my primary provider. He referred me to a Rheumatologist. I explained I had been referred to one almost 10 years ago, and that doc (with a much kinder bedside manner than the hand doctor I wrote about in the post I reference above) said he was sorry, but he couldn't help me. My primary provider explained that it's true, Rheumatologists don't treat osteoarthritis, but one may have suggestions to help me.
So, off to Dr. Mughne I went. A picture on the exam room wall let me in on how to pronounce his name!
That made me sad. It isn't exactly what I wanted to hear, but in the back of my mind I kinda knew it.
As they say, getting old isn't for sissies! Oh, and it's better than the alternative!
I have arthritis in my hands and a shoulder. The shoulder had years of abuse from handling young horses, so no surprise there. I think it's also now settled into my left wrist which I badly broke in two places 15 years ago. Pain has set in and it's probably arthurs-itis as my father would say. You have my sympathy, its no fun.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably right about your Arthurs-itis in your wrist. My son broke his when he was in college and the doctors said he would be plagued with arthritis, which, now in his later 30's, he is. I guess the more active we were, doing more concussive injury to our joints, the more likely we will suffer. Oh well!
DeleteArthritis is no fun at all. I have a number of ritisis they all suck, and I have found that Rheumatologists are of very little help. Tylenol,warm rice bags and rest are my friends.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the warm rice bags are wonderful! That and a paraffin bath - I don't own one, but enjoyed it when I went to PT for my hands. My evening routine has included Tylenol an hour or so before bed. We will hang in there, right?!
DeleteWhen I was in college, I took a forensic anthropology class, and one of the ways a skeleton's age is determined (once in adulthood) is by the amount of osteoarthritis present. I thought that was cool, until I learned that it begins in the lumbar spine as young as 30s. Suddenly, it wasn't so cool.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading your post, I was hoping for an announcement of some grand new treatment. I'm sorry that wasn't the case.
Yeah, I was sorry too - but at least he was a nice guy about it! In the 30's huh? That sucks!
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