Re: Need some suggestions

The non medical treatments on the site were great - a good reminder as you say. Sometimes when things flare I go through my book and make sure I am doing all I can. Sometimes I am - sometimes I have slipped on things like the timer. All of these things can be tried safely while waiting for a doctor's answer which is nice.

Thanks Lou Jean.

Kelly

"loujeanb" <medical23SkidooFISH@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:gv7kj7$49r$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Great answer, Kelly. We all could re-read stuff like that as we tend to get involved in all the complicated medication and treatment and forget that quite often the simplest thing (rice socks in the microwaave) that give a lot of relief.

--
Navy
Take out the FISH to email me.
"kelly" <kelly.e1@xxxxxxx> wrote in message news:4kpRl.132276$ew.39395@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I would question the osteoarthritis diagnosis with a rheumatologist. Osteo unless inflammatory in nature (much like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, etc) is generally not treated with prednisone. It is usually treated with a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) There are many ofthese such as aspirin, ibruprophen, as you have mentioned but also some that are not over the counter and have stomach protection such as arthrotec. there are many NSAIDs and they are often used in conjunction with stomach protection such as previcid or nexium.

5 mg of prednisone is a low dose but generally it still causes problems at that dose long term so the doctors do keep it for uncontrolled RA or inflammatory diseases only until they can get another med (disease modifying anti-inflammatory drug DMARD) to work. These meds are not used for osteo unless it is a special inflammatory osteo and then they are used under the care of a rd or rheumatologist.

In the meantime there are lots of things you can do that assist the nsaid meds if they determine she really does have osteoarthritis. Personally I would check out the www.arthritis.ca site (which the the Canadian Arthritis Society ) for some of their tips. There is also an excellent book with tips which is used for a program called ASMP or Arthritis Self management Program. I recommend this program for everyone with any kind of chronic illness. You learn how to work on solving problems such as how to cut food, how to open doors easily (levers, rubber grips), how to handle fatique, real life situations. The book helps but the program is excellent if you have good peer leaders.

A major help to Osteo or OA as I will call it from now on is weight control if you need it. Even 5 pounds will help. Keeping moving helps as well believe it or not - swimming is excellent as is yoga (yes they have it sitting in a chair) or beginner pilates. All of these help to "lubricate the joints". They must be done before pain - stop before not after - set a timer if necessary. Remember to include time spent doing other activities and time it to avoid fatique. Don't let her go at it too fast. 1 15 minute activity twice a week might be enough to start - might be too much. cut back but continue.

Let me see - weight, exercise, timing, fatique management. Next would be splinting if necessary. Many of us wear wrist splints in the day or night or both. They can be fitted by an occupational therapist if her wrists are a problem. I have silver splints as my fingers are swan necking or dipping. They help with the pain in my fingers (especially when typing) and keep them from locking (my tendons tend to swell and stretch out of place - technical term). Some people need splints for knees or orthotics for feet. All of these can help with OA.

Ice, heat - whatever works. I have a foot spa and I use it and have a paraffin wax bath which i would not do without. Add 2 or 3 rice bags (can be cotton socks with rice or barley or whatever in - tied with a cotton string or sewn shut better yet - do not tie with a metal tie wrap - duh we had someone here who did that). Heat in microwave - depends on the microwave - don't walk away. Apply gently to affected area.

None of these ideas are going to do any damage but she needs to be seen by a specialist or needs to know why her doctor feels it is OA. Is one area affected (ie hands or feet or knees?) Is it mainly or only on one side of the body? Fatique? Does it get better or worse throughout the day? Morning stiffness or Night stiffness? Which joints on the hands - the last joint or the middle one? Heat and red swollen joints? What age is she? All these things matter.

this article is technical but basically says many of the same things I have said with the exception of the hyauloric injections for the knees (if that is the area affected). These and cortisone shots (not the tablets) have helped when the knee is not bone on bone. The article is from the Association of rheumatology in the states. http://www.rheumatology.org/publications/guidelines/oa-mgmt/oa-mgmt.asp


http://www.rheumatology.org/publications/abbreviations/mq.asp The criteria for different diagnosis for OA and for recommendations for medical management are on this link.

Hopefully this will help. More information might lend us to give you some other sites which will help you to ask your doctor for some answers or will make you understand some of the things he or she might say. Knowing age, and who the doctor was that made the diagnosis might help.

People around here can help with support (a major major thing), ideas on how to do things easier (we just had an excellent discussion on cooking and recipes done easily and healthy), exercise options (we are always talking about this), shoes - a major bug bear for many of us - the feet are always a trouble with shoes - there was a discussion on croks in the house today).

Hopefully these links help. Would love to see her join us for a discussion and support if she would like. Nice to see a husband caring enough to try to get answers. Feel free to stick around.

Kelly in BC

"DS" <rps@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:a01398ba-e0d3-430c-9b4d-00cd09d22a37@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My wife has osteoarthritis. It has flared up badly in recent weeks.
She was taking 5 mg a day of prednisone which relieved her symptoms
(arthrtitis and asthma both.) But her doctor says even this small
dosage will cause serious bone problems eventually. As soon as she
discontinued it, the pain flared back.
Glucosamine doesn't seem to do much for her. Advil gives her relief
but upsets her stomach. Tylenol and Iboprofin don't do any good.
We just don't know where to turn. Does anyone have a similar story and
if so, how have you handled it?
ds





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