Osteoarthritis/polychondritis

[Guest guest]

Sharyn, I don't know about hips particularly but I

have had a lot of pain in my knees, my rheumy -who I

find excellent - says it is more likely to be

osteoarthritis in the knees, so it may be true of

hips, or spines for that matter. Unfortunately just

because we have rp it doesn't exclude other things,

and osteoarthritis is very common. I also have

painful finger and thumb joints, and he reckons that

probably is from rp. Weird, isn't it. I have no

problem beleiving this: my mother had osteoarthritis

in her knees, so does my aunt(her sister). At 86 she

has had to give up walking down to the village - about

one mmile - to do her shopping!!

I think sometimes we have to deal with things

symptomatically, but not lose sight of the big

picture.

Does that make sense? What I am trying to say is that

especially whem one is trying to deal with all these

things, pain, stiffness, breathing difficulties, it

is easy to become overwhelmed, but it does not have to

be down hill all the way, I am so much better than I

was for years I am now able to feel very positive a

lot of the time.

We can help ourselves by starting a gentle exercise

program - check with your doc what is appropriate for

you - walking is pretty good to start with. Five

minutes to begin with then slowly build up. Or if the

pain is too much ask your doc for some muscle

strengthening exercises which you can do sitting down,

and stretching exercises to minimise stiffness.

Take care people, love Liz

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