Topic: Gardening with Osteoarthritis

[cambourne7]

Hi All,

Apologies for not being on here for a while but lots going on and no time to do pretty much anything!

Anyway i have been having some health problems which started 18 months ago and in the last 3 months got a lot worse to the point i cant walk some days.  I was referred to a specialist and i have osteoarthritis in my toes, ankles, knees and hips. Might also have it in back, neck and shoulders am awaiting MRI scan to confirm if its that or a slipped disk. On top of that i have reaccuring sciatica in one left and Fibromyalgia in both legs.

determined to keep going having to work from home some days as i cant manage the 5 hour commute and am looking at bring forward the plans for the raised beds in the garden.

Anyone else out there with Osteoarthritis who has any tips please?

thanks

cam x

[Digeroo]

Sorry to hear things are not going well for you.

Apart from a cyberhug I have not got much to offer.   

Try and keep positive, though I know this is difficult.

Thinking of you.

Have you tried plenty of fruit particularly apples and raisins and nuts and coffee?

[Flighty]

My sympathies.  Thrive's Carry On Gardening website -  http://www.carryongardening.org.uk/ - may be of help.   
Take care.  xx

[manicscousers]

Hiya, Cam. Sorry to heat you are having health problems. I'e been dealing with this since I was 38 (62 now)
As I've gone worse, Ray has made my raised beds taller. They are about 2' tall now so I can put a board between and sit to garden. Then I can use short handled tools (thick, soft handles) . I sow everything apart from carrots, radish etc in pots, use a bulb planter to take out a hole and put the plant into it. I'm determined not to stop as it's the only hobby I can get involved in. If I didn't have Ray helping me, I couldn't keep the plot on. Keep on with any physio offered, hydro helps, there are lots of aids to help. You can always p.m. me 

[Paulines7]

Cam, I am sorry to hear about your osteoarthritis; it sounds as though you have it very bad too.  You will get very tired with the constant pain so just take things easy especially when doing physical work in the garden.  You will need to rest frequently so have a garden chair nearby.  Raised beds will be very helpful.

A five hour commute sounds a nightmare so if you can work from home it will be much better for you.   

I have had osteoarthritis for over 30 years now. I haven't any raised beds as my plots are on a slope and they could be difficult to build. My life changed for the better when I bought my mobility scooter two and a half years ago so it may be worth considering if you are having difficulty walking.  If you do decide to get one, pm me and I will impart some of the knowledge I accumulated over the 5 months before buying one.  I really researched them and looked at umpteen models. 

There are injections that can help with back pain but they didn't help me.  However, the one I had for sciatica worked and I have no pain  now and that was about 5 years ago. 

I hope your MRI scan result shows nothing too serious.  Thinking of you.

[pumkinlover]

I am sorry to hear about your health problems and while I have no experience to pass on I do hope that you get some help to manage it. Xx

[Obelixx]

I have an arthritic spine which can get sitff and painful and I also have several dodgy discs in my lower and upper back which lead to pain and pinched nerves for which I've had successful cortisone infiltrations and, more recently, surgery to support 3 cervical vertebrae with a cage.   My hands, shoulders and knees are a bit arthritic too but not yet disabling though movement and strength can be limited on bad days.   OH can be a bit gouty, usually after over indulging.

Some years ago I read Curing Arthritis - the Drug Free Way by Margaret Hills from the Sheldon Press.  There's a diet book too.  They helped me a great deal.   I use dits info to make a detox diet for a few weeks and now we eat almost no processed foods apart from occasional bacon, black pudding and baked beans.   Everything else is cooked from fresh and my arthritis is under control and not getting any worse.   Touch wood.

OH does any heavy lifting and we have low raised beds for veggies for ease of access and cultivation and I'm a lot less obsessive about weeds than I used to be.

I hope you find a way to manage your arthritis.  Take advantage of the good days and don't push yourself on bad days.

[lottie lou]

Sorry to hear about your problems Cam.  Don't know if this is any help but I did hear, years and years ago, that a teaspoon of CASTOR OIL first thing in morning and last thing at night helped.  Don't know anyone who has tried it so can't vouch for it.  All the best though with any management plan.  Love May

[bionear2]

Although I don't suffer from arthritis, I get periodic attacks of sciatica. At one point I had several sessions of physio, which really did not help, but one of the physios suggested trying acupuncture.
The first session did nothing to help, but I went again a week later. The following morning I was pain free - I thought I was dreaming. Now if it flares up, that is my first try.

[cambourne7]

thanks all , really appreciate your kind words and tips xxx

I am working with my boss and occupational health at moment to limit my travel so i am hoping to only be going into the office 1 days a week. And am preparing my office at home to allow me to work almost full time from there. So getting there.

Had a fitting with a specialist "surgical readiness fitter" for some proper insoles to help with the pain in the feet and am back to see the consultant in April so suggests MRI scan was not that bad as he said it would get in to see him in January if the found something. So thats good.

I have arranged for a friend of mine with a rotavator to dig my 3 beds over for me in March so i dont have to do it this year. Having always had back problems i am already working with beds and once i get the greenhouse in will get the raised beds in this should be my summer project :)

[grannyjanny]

Hi Louise. How are you coping? I hope you get things sorted soon. I have ME & fibromyalgia but thanks to a wonderful acupuncturist I live a near normal pain free life without medication. The only thing I do take is amitriptyline to give me a better sleep, I started taking it after a solid 4 months without sleep.
Take care & good luck. X

[cambourne7]

HI GrannyJanny,

Well i did have that but did not touch the pain, they prescribed me something else which made the inside of my mouth swell so came off that and now have something new to try but need to get over this cold first.

Work have let me work from home 2 days a week which has normalised the symptoms quite a bit only having a bad day after i get back from london and then it tends to right itself. So this is helping. I have some tramadol for the pain but so far have not needed it as i know from experience this will make working impossible. (had it for minor surgery last year).

Just about cleared the office and set it up to work from during the week, making some adjustments like nicking hubbies spare coffee machine so if i need a drink i don't have to try and walk to kitchen :)

Garden needs work and at the moment at the back of my mind is a growing list of jobs but there all quite low on my list.

Right now i am waiting for dinner to cook and packing for work need to be up at 5am for 6.15 train to get into work for 8:30 :) dinner is out of the freezer tomorrow night so dead easy as will not be home till 7:15-7:45pm depending on trains and then in bed by 9 with cocodamol and a hot water bottle :)

Thanks for caring x

Cam

[Debs]

Hi Cam,
I too have recently been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis.
I went to docs after having constant  joint pains mainly in shoulder & foot, which disturbed my sleep.
I expected to get properly diagnosed but was only offered a referral for physio !
He told me it was an age thing & that drugs such as glucosamine sulphate had not been scientifically proven to work !!
My hand has locked up a couple of times,  & it has quickly begun to effect other joints - is this due to cold weather?

I am seriously considering changing doctors 

Debs

[small]

That's appalling of your GP. Yes, it's a 'wear and tear' condition, but that doesn't mean nothing can be done.  I've had steroid jabs in several joints, surgery on my jaw to clean out the grotty bits, and I've been offered a procedure on my wrist which is apparently very successful - not going to take that up atm cos I don't want to be entirely out of action for even a short time.
And then there  is a huge range of painkillers to try, I find a couple of ibuprofen give me a few hours when I can manage housework-ey stuff but your GP should be able to advise on a regime for you. I'd get a second opinion if I were you, and I hope things look up.
We'll all be better for a bit of warmth, as well!

[cambourne7]

Agree Debs, thats not good!!!

Ok, origianaly i was fobbed off 18 months ago being told it was flat feet but i think you need to go back and explain and ask them for a referral to a rumatologist they can give you a proper diagnosis and refer you for physio!

Bigs hugs !   

[ancellsfarmer]

Hi Cam,
I too have recently been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis.
I went to docs after having constant  joint pains mainly in shoulder & foot, which disturbed my sleep.
I expected to get properly diagnosed but was only offered a referral for physio !
He told me it was an age thing & that drugs such as glucosamine sulphate had not been scientifically proven to work !!
My hand has locked up a couple of times,  & it has quickly begun to effect other joints - is this due to cold weather?

I am seriously considering changing doctors 

Read up on" Cortaflex" and you may then choose to try the Vet!

[cambourne7]

glucosamine sulphate v placebo is not proven and doc has told me not to take it as it can increase diabetic factors as i have a few already its safer not to take it.

[cambourne7]

Hi All,

I am holding off doing any gardening at the moment mostly due to weather and fatigue but also i had a MRI scan in December and it was redone in March looking like i may have other conditions as well as Osteoarthritis as they have found lesions on my spine and brain. I am seeing the Neurologist on 20th April might know then but i am pretty freaked out at the moment as the second scan was to rule out MS but now they cant.

Anyway loving reading your posts about what your all up to :)

Cam

[johhnyco15]

hi i have osteo all over my body the most painful is my cervical spine i have rota cuff opps on shoulders spine has shut down on my nerves at c4 c5 so i have no feeling in my hands i find a l ittle and often on my plot works betterthan most painkillers however i really suffer thru the winter months so its 1 tramerdol 1 naproxin and alittle walk do a bit then have a rest cup of coffee and then another little bit i really would seize up if i never had my plot as the saying goes i feel your pain

[small]

Cam, your inbox is full.....!