What exercises can I safely do to maintain my latissimus and trap muscles? If I only do push exercises, that will create an imbalance and make me worse.

Heck, even the push exercises make me feel it in my neck.

I was told no more military press, no more pull ups, nothing above the shoulders.

I am a hardwood floor guy and a fitness enthusiast. Mid 40s.

Do I need to let upper body go for a while and just focus on getting lean?

My “Bouchard node” started to be painful and eventually hardened as a bump on the edge of the joint and never went away after years. I worked an intensive manual labour job, so I was sure I would have OA, but Xrays came back clean with nothing to show where the bump is. Idk what else it could be. I’ll see a rheum, but waitlist is long.. I hope it’s not RA

When I was first diagnosed, I was given Meloxicam. It didn't seem to work as well as it should have, and so I was switched to Diclofenac. But now that does not seem to work as well (a year or so later) and I've been given (again) Meloxicam.

Anyone here used both...and which worked better for you?

Met with Dr today to go over mri results. I have arthritis in my knee like a person in their 70’s. Also bone on bone no cartilage left. For the time being I was given a cortisone shot. Hurts worse now than it did before getting it.

Does it get better? My dr is hesitant replacing my knee bc of my age.(which I do not understand) However few people I have talked with said I should advocate for myself & get it done.

Anyone with experiences?

Also does diet make a difference?

I’m relatively active, walk an average of 7 miles per day. Five of them pushing a double wide stroller with twin one year olds.

Any advice welcome. I really want to not hurt as much as I have been.

Well it’s been 2 years since I was first diagnosed, now 41 and Initially went to the Drs with a pinching feeling in my right hip and was diagnosed with early onset.

I’ve recently looked back and realised it’s been 2 years and how bad it is compared since then. I made notes on what I’ve been feeling physically and mentally which are below.

I just don’t know what to do. I can get physio on insurance which I think needs to be my next step as the physio on NHS was useless.

Thoughts below.

Unable to sit still for more than a few minutes without having to adjust and move position

Struggling to sleep and find a position that’s comfy

Find it extremely difficult to actually turn over in bed without having to grit my teeth.

The pain is now constant even when walking when previously it felt ok just stiff. Now the actual pain

Tried physio exercises but that just seem to aggravate the issue and caused more pain after

Now getting aching and shooting pains going to my groin and into my right testicle along with shooting pains down to my knee.

The pain has also extended up onto my hip bone and whole area is tender to touch.

It’s now constantly on my mind how painful and uncomfortable it is which is really getting me down.

I’ve tried taking paracetamol and they do absolutely nothing for the pain.

My son is five and all I can think about is not being able to play with my son such as have a kick around, go swimming, take part in the dads race at school. I cant even sit on the floor now and play Lego with him as it’s too painful to sit on the floor

I’m told exercise is important to keep joints strong and mobile, but how does this not contribute to overuse that caused OA in the first place?

Exercise has other benefits for heart, lungs, etc, but I’m talking in the context of hand OA. Do you exercise them? Aren’t you just wearing away the cartilage even more? I’m wondering if playing guitar would be such beneficial exercise, or if I’m just damaging more.

Has anyone had any success with vibration or TENS therapy for OA? If so, please tell us the details.

An orthopedic doc told me that TENS might help for OA.

Hey everyone I have osteoarthritis in my right big toe joint that makes walking hurt and severely restricts mobility/social life. I’ve tried orthotics through many adjustments and have been doing PT for nearly a year. Taping to keep the toe aligned with the foot seems to be most effective but even that doesn’t seem to work particularly well. Voltaren cream didn’t make any difference but I was wondering who out there has tried other balms or creams that work? I haven’t done any injections but hear completely mixed things about monovisc if anyone has a view/experience on that, especially for a toe joint. Thank you!

Having a hard time finding the motivation to even bother trying to treat and slow down my OA in any way bc of how ruined my life feels, whats the point… but at the same time im still here, supposed to be fighting physical limitstions but instead of that im just battling my depression all day long. (mild oa in almost all joints)

Has anyone had stem cell or platelet rich therapy for OA? If so, how long ago did you have it and what were the results?

Before arthritis, I've been told that it would be better to have restdays in between workouts to allow the body to recover. But since being diagnosed with arthritis, I know that more movement is better for me. Motion is lotion and all. But I'm still not sure what the correct exercise routine should be. Are we supposed to exercise everyday? Or should we still have rest days in between exercise days?

I'm currently doing PT exercises and walking.

My knee mri is in a few hours. I finally found a sport and a dojo where "everybody knows your name". It isnt severe OA because i feel no pain now. Should i give it up for swimming? Im 51 yrs. Any advice helps. I want to remain mobile into my 80's tho. I think, if i get the unblemished facts from people who know whats happening "down the line" i can do the right and informed decision.

My doctor literally wrote to me “Chair will not make a difference.. take tylenol as needed “. I figured it would help some with pain etc. Anyone else had similar experience?

Hi,

I'm only 44, but have arthritis in my knees and feet. I rely on Cocodamol (prescribed) to get me through the day, but it's not enough to stop the pain completely. I can't drive and i gave no choice but to walk a lot. More than my body can cope with, tbh. I'd love to learn how to drive, but I'm a single mum and can't afford to do that. Being able to drive would help me more of a normal life, as I'm very limited in where I can physically get too in my current state and it's not fair for my children.

I'm wondering if the pain will get worse as I age? Do you think I'll need one of those mobility scooters sooner, rather than later? Will I become bedbound? What shpuld I expect from the NHS in England? Ideally, I'd like knee replacements, but they've said I'm too young atm. I'm suffering though and I'd rather have the knee replacements now, while I'm still sort of young. I'd like to try to enjoy life as much as I can, while 'youth' is still on my side.

Can anyone advice me, please?

So i have serious osteoarthritis with serious cartilage loss in my right ankle,Had MRI scan and was told Tuesday that the only option was to have Ankle fusion,Im 45 n this scares me as i dont want to lose the use of my ankle once fused,Is there anything i can do or take to help with pain etc

What do you guys think about the pain after surgery? Like literally right after? I don't think it could possibly worse for me than what it is now. I'm using a cane but atill very unsteady and untable, i can't sit without putting both hands on something to lower my body.

I have a high pain threshold. I had 2 emergency y c-sections and refused opioids. I took Advil only. I just sucked up the pain.

What do you think? How bad will it be?

Ty! I hope everyone is dealing well with their OA. It SUCKS.

I had to stop all NSAIDS. It's been brutal.

I've been using diluted clove essential oil on my hip and it really seems to help!! It's crazy!

Anyway, is it safe to use topically if my surgery is in 3 days?

Hi everyone. 41F with OA in both knees due to a congenital defect and late side effects from cancer treatment. Trying to stave off knee replacements until my little kids are older. Euflexxa injections six years ago helped immensely; only needed one series in each knee and I was pain free until this year. Got a Durolane injection in my right knee in October; with PT, it helped immensely. Hoping the Durolane I got in my left knee last weeks helps similarly.

Once my left knee improves, I need to get into an exercise routine to lose weight and take the pressure off my knees. Problem for me is shoes. I have wide feet and a low arch. I think my everyday shoes are not helping the knee problem. My sneakers (New Balance 574s) seem to be all right, but I'm wondering if I can do better.

Any recs for sneakers (will likely be doing a walking program and cross training, no running/jogging) and casual summer flats or sandals for wide feet/low arch? And should I be wearing sneakers in the pool for water aerobics and water walking, or better to go bare?

Thanks!

Hi. I was wondering if anyone has any experience or advice for me. I hurt my knee last December. I fell and then later twisted it. It did not stop hurting and went to the doctor for sports medicine.

First he gave me a steroid shot in the knee and a week’s prescription of generic Celebrex. He said if it still hurt get an x-ray and MRI which I did. The MRI indicated mild to moderate osteoarthritis. He gave me a Durolane gel injection and said I should be fine.

It been almost 3 weeks and literally it did nothing. After walking my knee burns and makes me nauseous. This also has affected the way I walk so my hip is bothering me now. I don’t know what to do and am very depressed. Also the generic Celebrex doesn’t really help anymore. Maybe I have a tolerance to it now.

I made another appointment to see him this Tuesday. Any advice or help is appreciated!!!!!

Hello Osteos! The last three visits (about three months apart each) my doctor has been pushing denosumab (generic name for drug) for my osteoarthritis. (I previously turned down Fosomax because I read negative comments about it. )Apparently denosumab is an every-six-month injection. Anybody have experience with this drug?

Thank you!

Hi. I'm trying to get back into my pre covid routine. Gained weight. Last few months been taking fast walks. Sometimes to the point of almost running. Past week I walked a couple miles everyday. Today Im aching like hell. I have sever arthritis in my hip, and knees. Vein issues in one leg. i also machine lift 3 times a week. And do like 3 Minutes of step ups/over the tops on an aerobics stepper.

Thinking of taking a break today. Should I drop the road play maybe to every other day?

Hi,I have had OS for 10 years now I was diagnosed at 34,the pain and swelling was slow at first but the past few years it got bad really quickly.I have been having alot of symptoms pointing to RA too so I see a rheumatologist on 16th May,my dad and sister both have RA & OA,my mum has OA and both my paternal and maternal aunties/uncles have one or both too so it runs deep in our family. I seen my GP and after seeing my hands he put a emergency referral though and said he thinks I have RA in my hands too and that they are very bad for someone of my age.Im severely allergic to all NSAIDS so I can’t rely on them to take some swelling down.With new lower finger joint and knuckle pain and swelling on top of what I already had I can’t use my hands at all and they are bent and I can’t straighten them. Are they really that bad though?? The docter was shocked when he seen them? I figure everyone on here know all there is to know Both hands are the same..Thanks

This is mostly a vent ig, im scared and worried it will effect my life more drastically than i think.

Im 25 and my family has a history of oa and ra, from mother father grandmother and further. the youngest ive heard was my cousin with ra at 27.

Ive had on and off pain since i basically became an adult at 17-18. At my first job at almost 19, after work every day id sit down to relax and the second i stood up it was like knives in my feet and knees. I figured since i was living basically a sedentary life for a year due to depression, that it was just what was expected.

When i turned 20 I had to wear a knee brace due to the pain I felt from my work. It felt like it was a pulsing pain and i thought i pulled something. It eventually went away, however it was replaced with burning shoulder and elbow pains. And my skin stung when i ran my hands over it.

This could be the oa beginning, however when it started I worked as a press operator, so it could also be a RSI.

I quit that job at 22 and have worked various other jobs with less stress on my joints, but I still work in manual labor. I still have to be on my feet for long periods of time. I do everything I can to help it, braces, shoes with soft soles, inserts, and cushy socks. It mostly effects my knees and an elbow rn. I wake up every day with something burning in my wrists or ankles but it goes away after i start moving for the most part.

What im worried about right now however, its one of my knees wont stop hurting. It will stop here and there, and if i take a double dose of ibuprofen, but Ive been keeping track of it and the entire month of april i was in pain, even on my days off where i rested. Its a radiating pain, and it burns. Sometimes its warm. But i dont get any swelling so maybe i pulled something. Im scared bc i make the money for my family and dont want to make it harder on us bc of this.

My family doesnt really understand my fears fully bc theyve lived with it for a long time, and everyone just grins and bears it, but i dont want to hurt every day anymore. Im going to a doctor soon and seeing if theyll refer me to a specialist about it.

Tldr; im afraid im getting oa bc its a family thing, and its beginning to hurt me worse as i go on, and im the main breadwinner in my house.

I'm really scared :( I went into urgent care last week because I was having full body joint pain all over so they told me to see a rheumatologist. They did scans of my hands and knees. My hands were fine, but my knees has signs of wear-and-tear or ostheoarthritis. I am really scared. Of course my dumb self went to google and it said people typically live for 30 years when diagnosed. Is that true? I am really terrified.

Hi, I wanted to post in here to wish everyone a Happy Arthritis Awareness Month 🙌🏼 and thought this would be a great opportunity for everyone to share their arthritis hacks and products that have been lifesavers!