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I am sorry to hear of your problems. Often, Fibro co-exists with Osteoarthritis (OA). I suffer from both & the Fibro can really exacerbate the pain of OA.
I have never heard of the neck sinking into the spine as you describe. What is your chiro doing for this? Have you discussed treatment options with other doctors (orthopedic and/or neurosurgeons)?
I have found warm water therapy to be very beneficial for the stiffness & pain caused by our conditions. Is this a feasible option for you? Have you tried physical therapy of any kind?
With regard to your inquiry about disability, if your symptoms make it impossible for you to work, then this would be an option. The process can be a long one but if you have the support of your doctors it can be made easier. You don't mention your age, but this, too, is a factor in being successful with a claim.
I hope this is helpful. Please keep us informed on your situation.
Regards,
georgiaView Thread

- keep the weight down (extra pounds on a bad joint is a greater burden leading to more pain & faster degeneration).
- keep active - "motion is lotion"; I have found warm water therapy to be very helpful with flexibility & consequently, improved mobility; walking is another good form of exercise & somewhat easy for many of us.
- stretch throughout the day.
- eat well & avoid the junk foods (this rule applies to maintaining better health for those with or without OA).
- work at keeping a positive attitude; grieving is normal but try to limit time spent on unproductive thoughts.
- keep it in perspective: living in chronic pain can be very difficult but we can all think of those worse off than ourselves.
- pace yourself.
huckeldave, have you found any medications to help with pain relief? If not, please look into help from a pain clinic and/or a physiatrist (one who specializes in managing pain). Your primary care physician should be able to refer you to such.
Best wishes to you,
georgiaView Thread

Firstly, let me commend you for leading such an active life.
I am not a medical professional however, I would say that your knee is being over-worked. I would advise resting it for a while uuntil the swelling goes down. Do you have access to a warm water pool? This can be very therapeutic to arthritic and/or injured joints while allowing one to exercise without the impact.
Good luck & keep us posted.
georgiaView Thread

When it comes to arthritic pain, it's often hard to figure its origin as often the pain becomes referred & can be felt away from the degenerative joint.
I find warm water exercise to be very therapeutic in dealing with ailing joints. Many at the gym I belong to suffer from arthritis & also find the water to be the best medicine. A few, including myself, have been able to hold off on surgery as the water has helped us that much!
I understand that the knees can greatly benefit from bicycling, be it stationary or regular bike.
Before engaging in any exercise, please check with your doctor.
Good luck!
georgiaView Thread

The only sure way of finding out what's going on with your other knee is a visit to your doctor who most likely will want to take an x-ray of that knee.
Do you recall injuring the knee? It is possible that by favoring the very bad knee the other knee is therefore bearing more of the weight burden.
I give you credit for putting off surgery. There are so many conserviative treatments along with keeping our weight down that should help us in prolonging surgery until it is absolutely necessary.
Best of luck in finding relief. Please keep us posted.
georgiaView Thread

I suffer from osteoarthritis (oa) & stenosis in my lumbar spine. I also have bone-on-bone oa in my left hip. Because I am 56 years old the surgeon I prefer (I got a few opinions due to the complication of fibrous dysplasia in my left femur) feels I am not yet in real need of a total hip replacement. I walk with just a slight limp.
I attribute this to the fact that I keep my weight down, eat a very healthy diet & perform water exercises on a daily basis along with stretching, light weights & walking as much as I can tolerate. I use a warm water pool (89 degrees) at a nearby gym & it is truly therapeutic in keeping me flexible & more mobile. I also suffer from fibromyalgia & do have osteoarthritis in other joints.
I don't deny that I suffer from chronic pain with all the conditions stated however, I manage my health well in that I not only want to avoid surgery for as long as possible but I also want to remain mobile.
Do you get enough Vitamin D as well as calcium, magnesium & other important vitamins & minerals crucial for good health?
It is hard to start exercising while in pain however, if you take it slowly & engage in gentle exercise (water walking, stretching, etc.) you will eventually be able to do more. Any amount is better than none at all.
Best of luck to you.
georgiaView Thread

Best of luck to you!
georgiaView Thread

Last year I joined a gym that boasts the warmest pool (89 degrees) in town. Membership runs about $60 per month, which sounds expensive but it is so well worth every penny. I would easily sacrifice other unnecessary expenditures in order to feel the relief the pool provides me.
If you live nearby such a facility & price is an issue for you, it never hurts to ask for discounts and/or a payment plan more feasible for your budget.
Best of luck to you in finding relief.
georgiaView Thread

The WebMD community sites are also great therapy. I am so greatful for this resource.
georgiaView Thread

The great outdoors is therapy in & of itself. The many distractions of the out of doors, whether it be pleasant chirping of a bird or even a blustery breeze in the winter time, help me to forget about my pains.
When I'm not out during the warm weather, I've got all my windows opened bringing that beautiful air inside.
Although I can't do all the yard work I once did, I putter as much as I can tolerate. I even enjoy walking around the yard picking up all the limbs, etc. before the mower arrives.
I've learn to better tolerate the more inclement weather as it makes me appreciate those sunny warm days all the more. Living in upstate NY, I've even learned to appreciate the sometimes nasty winter days as it's a good excuse to stay in & catch up on reading.
Thank you for inspiring fun conversations.
georgiaView Thread
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