Leaving it too late - UK

[Guest guest]

This is a point which interests me greatly. I am 53, female, must

have had OA for a good 10 yrs but only diagnosed recently by a

chiropracter following private X ray. GP and local hospital X ray 4

yrs ago somehow failed to see anything except very tight hip

joints ... Well, when you don't know any better you don't question

it do you?

I can walk about 5 miles on a good day in one go, can do more after a

good rest. I get back ache because the spine is twisted as a result

of the hip, havn't been able to run for more than 10 years. The limp

used to be sometimes, for a long time now it has been constant. I

have no cartilage on the right and thinning cartilage on the left.

At the end of March I had a private consultation with the local

resurf surgeon and was prepared to pay for the op if necessary. He

asked me how many times I had woken up in pain in the previous week

(I have never woken in pain at all), how far I could walk, looked at

the X rays and tested the range of motion. He said I was very

flexible for what showed on the X rays, I should carry on doing what

I do (I work in an office part time, walk the dog about 50 mins per

day, do belly dancing - with caution - for an hour a week, line dance

for another hour). I don't take anything for pain, I get it, but

when I stop doing what I'm doing it stops, it hurts but its not

unbearable. He said take pain killers if necessary, do as much as I

can, take glucosamine, wear cushioned shoes as much as possible and

swim. He expects to see me back sometime in the next five years, I

will know when to come. The activities I mentioned should not cause

undue damage and provided I pass the osteoporosis test he expects to

be able to do a resurf.

The problem is of course with the waiting list you need to be in the

queue before its too late, hence the question: How can I tell I am

12 months off the point? Any suggestions please?

I have been watching this site for a couple of months and I know

people are much worse off than me, but there must be lots of you out

there in the same situation!

Regards

Margaret

[Guest guest]

Dear Margaret,

You sound like me about two - to three years ago.

Waling about six plus miles per day -in three

sections. Would have weary hip after, say three/four

miles but recovered after three/five hours. five mile

walk at one time very tired. Could not tie my right

shoelace for four(ish) years. Did much gum work and

like you got tired in the old parts but recovered. I

lived in a warm climate (Hong Kong) and upon

retirement came to New Zealand two years ago. the

parts have really gone down hill since then and

walking is now measured in 100 yards instead of miles.

I can't throw mi leg over the bike to cycle and

exercise has almost gone. Did the cooler/dryer

climate speed things up - I personally think not as my

final days in HK were marked by some pain.

All I can say is that I was like you three years ago.

I used to benefit from gluconamine - but no more -

poss too far gone. Pain is not so severy, even now,

that I would consider medication for it - its

uncomfortable and stope much activity to the point

where I must do something. I thought that I could,

with exercise, put things off for a long time, but

possibly reached a point of no return.

john --- margaret_searles

margaret_searles@...> wrote:

---------------------------------

This is a point which interests me greatly. I am 53,

female, must

have had OA for a good 10 yrs but only diagnosed

recently by a

chiropracter following private X ray. GP and local

hospital X ray 4

yrs ago somehow failed to see anything except very

tight hip

joints ... Well, when you don't know any better you

don't question

it do you?

I can walk about 5 miles on a good day in one go, can

do more after a

good rest. I get back ache because the spine is

twisted as a result

of the hip, havn't been able to run for more than 10

years. The limp

used to be sometimes, for a long time now it has been

constant. I

have no cartilage on the right and thinning cartilage

on the left.

At the end of March I had a private consultation with

the local

resurf surgeon and was prepared to pay for the op if

necessary. He

asked me how many times I had woken up in pain in the

previous week

(I have never woken in pain at all), how far I could

walk, looked at

the X rays and tested the range of motion. He said I

was very

flexible for what showed on the X rays, I should carry

on doing what

I do (I work in an office part time, walk the dog

about 50 mins per

day, do belly dancing - with caution - for an hour a

week, line dance

for another hour). I don't take anything for pain, I

get it, but

when I stop doing what I'm doing it stops, it hurts

but its not

unbearable. He said take pain killers if necessary,

do as much as I

can, take glucosamine, wear cushioned shoes as much as

possible and

swim. He expects to see me back sometime in the next

five years, I

will know when to come. The activities I mentioned

should not cause

undue damage and provided I pass the osteoporosis test

he expects to

be able to do a resurf.

The problem is of course with the waiting list you

need to be in the

queue before its too late, hence the question: How

can I tell I am

12 months off the point? Any suggestions please?

I have been watching this site for a couple of months

and I know

people are much worse off than me, but there must be

lots of you out

there in the same situation!

Regards

Margaret