sharonslp
Former BoneSmart staff member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2011
- Messages
- 3,501
- Age
- 76
- Location
- Middle of the Mitten
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
My OA began in my 40s, but it didn't start crimping my life until my mid-50s. By 60, I was still in enough denial that I didn't want to consider surgery, but pain was becoming a big issue. I tried the ibuprofen in a therapeutic dosage, and it was great for two weeks. But then the stomach issues were simply not acceptable. Same with naproxen, and tylenol. Finally I tried Celebrex, and as Goldilocks likes to say, this one was just right! That bought me about a year and a half of good time, until one day I was suddenly bone-on-bone. Denial just folded right up and slunk away...I wanted surgery ASAP.
OA has its sudden flare ups, and as just as unpredictably, it's remissions. I encourage you to maintain consistent activity to keep your muscles and core strength strong. If you're able to afford it, massage is wonderful for helping to release tight tissue. I also benefitted (and still do) from osteopathic manipulation to maintain alignment.
Prior to my THRs, I had pain in lots of places...always moving and shifting. Low back, sciatic, bursitis, tight IT bands which then impacted thighs and knees, shins and calves, ankles, sometimes even toes. One day unbearable in one area, next day fine. No rhyme; no reason. After THRs, almost everything resolved. I still find that if I don't stay in a consistent sweet spot of activity, I get a flare of bursitis and IT band syndrome. When that happens, I increase my targeted massage schedule, take Celebrex for a few days, and get back to a consistent walking schedule. So far, so good.
Good luck to you. I'll be very interested to see how you progress...with your OA and with your surgeon.
OA has its sudden flare ups, and as just as unpredictably, it's remissions. I encourage you to maintain consistent activity to keep your muscles and core strength strong. If you're able to afford it, massage is wonderful for helping to release tight tissue. I also benefitted (and still do) from osteopathic manipulation to maintain alignment.
Prior to my THRs, I had pain in lots of places...always moving and shifting. Low back, sciatic, bursitis, tight IT bands which then impacted thighs and knees, shins and calves, ankles, sometimes even toes. One day unbearable in one area, next day fine. No rhyme; no reason. After THRs, almost everything resolved. I still find that if I don't stay in a consistent sweet spot of activity, I get a flare of bursitis and IT band syndrome. When that happens, I increase my targeted massage schedule, take Celebrex for a few days, and get back to a consistent walking schedule. So far, so good.
Good luck to you. I'll be very interested to see how you progress...with your OA and with your surgeon.