Perception of pain

Froglet

Payless wrote: »

I have a job that involves walking and being on my feet all day. I have recently cut my hours but my feet and legs are still killing me by the end of the day. I have asked for work that allows me to sit more often (it is available) but they agree, do it for a couple of weeks and then everything goes back to how it was. My union rep is useles!

I don't ignore it. My GP has given me painkillers but they make me whoozy and I'm allergic to NSAIDS. I also have steroid njections into my feet but can only have them every 6 months and the next ones are due in 4 weeks. I find them to be very good but the effect of the last ones has worn off and I'm feeling very sorry for myself. If I tell my biomechanic that the pain is bad now he will refer me to a surgeon and I am scared of having a big op. I hate just sitting around and the recuperation will involve a lot of that. Mind, that is assuming that the surgeon is willing to operate as I am told that I am young for bone fusion.

I think that I'm probably going too far with the idea that thinking positively will help me cope.

Stretching sounds good but, as far as I'm aware, the only way to get rid of my pain is not to walk.

I have arthritis and it is getting worse.Combined with bunions ( both inherited from family members ) my feet were in a lot of pain.I have had both operated on and the bones fused.Yes,recovery is painful,and takes time but the ops have worked and I am no longer getting pain there.So worth considering,definitely.

My fingers and thumbs are bad from the arthritis,and again,an operation has been suggested,but I am finding a lot of relief from special gloves that I wear all the time.Well worth a try,they are only £9 from a company through ebay and last me 2 to 3 months.

I am 62 by the way and have had these problems for nearly 10 years.

teddysmum

I sometimes wonder , for a very short time, whether I imagine my pain, as it sometimes disappears when I'm very occupied with something.


However, when I have a sudden realisation, that I'm pain free, it comes back with a vengeance.

Payless_2

Hi Lessonlearned. My biomechanic said that I can't have insoles because of the amount of bone growth around by big toes. I am trying to eat a more healthy diet as I am aware that I haven't been eating enough fruit. I also quit smoking 2 months ago and have consequently put weight on. I have gone up a dress size making me a 12-14 but have no idea how much I weigh. It has occurred to me that the weight gain may have contributed to some of my pain.

I have arthritis in my hands too Froglet but, as yet, it isn't particularly bad. However, my grip is week and I got this handy little gadget from Lakeland to help me to open jars, screw top bottles etc. (Edit - it's green and has Zyliss printed on it) I can't remember what it's called but it's brilliant. I am 54 and my feet have been arthritic for about 15 years but only became really painful 2 years or so ago. My big toes have very little movement in them now. I am definitely going to see what a surgeon has to say. I am baffled as to why I have so much osteoarthritis as my parents didn't suffer from it at all.

Haha teddysmum. I sometimes wake up and thik that I feel really good today but they are the days when I go and do too much and then regret it later. Nice while it lasts though.

meer53

I'm 58 and have osteoarthritis in both knees and my big toes too. Been like this for the last 8 years. I know what the OP means about not showing others you are in pain, i have a 15 year old daughter and try my best not to moan too much in front of her ! She knows i have pain but she doesn't know how much. I sometimes take Naproxen and it helps but affects my stomach too much to take regularly. I do take Omeprazole when i take it but that doesnt agree with me either so i tend to put up with the pain as much as i can. I'm delaying any more surgery (ops on both knees so far) my consultant wants to fuse my toe joints but i've heard so many horror stories about how it doesn't work, i'm delaying it until i can't walk anymore ! I take painkillers most days, only paracetamol to try to take the edge off so i can still function but i'd rather not have to.

[Deleted User]

I am so sorry for the people struggling with constant pain, in legs and hands especially, there is no rest for some with families and work

Investigate the nightshade family, they are very `folk lore` triggers both for inflammations and stomach. I cannot eat green or red peppers and tomatoes without triggering mine, Sometimes you just have to test one food at a time. There are very good anti inflammatory foods, lists can be found on the internet. I almost always have a watermelon in the fridge, it is very calming and I eat berries every single day. My breakfast today is again porridge with added frozen blackcurrants. I eat berries twice a day. Lamb is easier on the body than beef, turkey easier than chicken but I only eat meat twice a week max. Sugar is very bad but that is my downfall, I love a biscuit or piece of hm cake or a bun. I make my own and find a good currant bun very mouth satisfying but should not be eating it at all

My mother had RA, really bad and it came on very suddenly, so I am very self aware and can feel when inflammations start up in my body. My ankle might feel warm, my fingers and wrist might feel different and there might be a bit of redness around a finger joint. When I notice that, then it is all systems go and I get out my green life juicer so I can get more veg into me. I cannot tolerate all the veg fibre, my stomach quickly reacts and gerd follows, so I juice the old `new age` way, my green life is over 30 years old. I make enough for 3 days and store it in the fridge. Celery, swiss chard, carrot, one apple, beetroot, cucumber etc

Re fruits, I eat grapefruit but not oranges. I eat kiwis and apple. No bananas ever, they were a massive trigger for indigestion. I avoid fruits like mango, papaya, even peaches. I love fruit but I love not having inflammation more, loads of sugar in certain fruits

Weight is a big cause, LL said about the extra stresses on joints. Yes two small ankles and knees. I have lost some weight since my husband died and my trousers are getting a little baggy but I am no-where slim enough for my age. 10 stone eg is 210 lbs on each joint when walking and that doesn`t count carrying any bags.So weight is my weak point, gone are the days of running around as a child, playing tennis as a teenager, running around after small children .

Osteoclast and osteoblast functions are more important than ever. Not easy to understand but this explanation was quite good
http://random42.com/bone-biology-osteoblasts-and-osteoclasts-animation
We need to do the equivalent of star jumps, haha but pushing against something will help. I have a rebounder on my landing and after it hitting home yesterday, that my trouser length has decreased by 2 inches and that my back was aching, I am going to do ups and downs on the re-bounder. It supports and is not harsh. I get so easily bored so will not time myself, just count instead.

We need our muscles to support our joints so we need to strengthen muscles. Plenty of info around on that or even better, if at home, do what I do and join an over 60s exercise class, esp one linked to cardio via the surgery. I don`t have cardio problems but was able to join the class, no question. Such a good class too and very very good instructor. I bought some stretch bands and pull them, when I think about it but that is the problem, remembering to do it

Re good herbal suppliers. I recommend napiers in glasgow, their joint support blend is excellent and I always have it standing by. Haven`t needed to use it for a few weeks now but it works as does their capsicum and ginger warming cream, which I am rubbing on my shoulders arms and wrists at the moment. It does seem to help me sleep better, that and my wrist supports when I overdo the relentless jobs

ancientofdays

My adult son who lives with us, has a chronic pain condition and I really don't want to get into a competitive pain thing with him! Having written that, I had to spend a day away from the office, where we have good supportive chairs, sitting all day in a conference chair, though I did get up, stretch and wiggle throughout the day. The disc that I slipped years ago is flaring to the point where I can feel the heat if I put my hand on the small of my back and am walking like a pirate who has just come ashore. With some additional limping from bunion surgery number two, which seems to have healed wrong.
So a bit fed up this morning and tired as kept awake by pain.
Shall now paste on artificial smile and get on with it.

lessonlearned

I agree with Kittie about diet and was going to write a very similar post.

Thanks Kittie - that was a great post very heful.

I have radically overhauled my diet and it has really helped. It is trial and error but if you keep a food diary and note your symptoms you can work out your pain triggers,

A little hint - if something causes gastric distress then it also likely to be causing or at least adding to your joint and muscle pain.

So if eating breAd or oasta mAkes you feel bloated and uncomfortable then wheat is most likely your trigger.

The most common culprits are grains, anything from the nightshade family, citrus fruits, lactic acid, alcohol and caffeine

It really is trial and error. It's taken me a few months of tweaking my diet but ive more or less got my pain under control.

I can now eat once forbidden foods in moderation without any ill effects.

ancientofdays

I can't eat peppers or fresh pineapple, as both give me bloating and severe stomach ache. I can't tell if they affect my arthritis, having avoided them for so many years. Suspect that they might but probably best not to experiment

PennyForThem_2

lessonlearned wrote: »

I echo what kittie says.

Gout: He has this daft notion that admitting it makes him an old man so he ignores it, meantime his condition gets worse. A couple of weeks ago he paid the price with a massive flare up which left him unable to weight bear.

If he carries on at this rate he will soon be in a wheelchair. He is just 50. I just hope that this time he treats this episode as a warning and actually does something about it - for my sisters sake

Don't ignore pain. Yes you do need to sometimes "work through the pain" but usually this means movement and gentle exercise not just ignoring it or pumping yourself with painkillers to mask the symptoms.

Colleague's husband has flare ups of gouts - he is in 40's

from this site:
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Gout/#who


Who Is Likely to Develop Gout?

Scientists estimate that 6 million adults age 20 and older report having had gout at some time in their lives.1 It is rare in children and young adults. Men, particularly those between the ages of 40 and 50, are more likely to develop gout than women, who rarely develop the disorder before menopause. People who have had an organ transplant are more susceptible to gout.

lessonlearned

Thanks for the link

Apparently BIL has seen his GP Who gave him a stern talking to. :rotfl:

Tests confirm its definitely gout. No meds, but dietry advice and instructions to lose weight. I reckon he needs to lose 3 to 4 stones min.

Let hope he listens This time before he does some real dAmage.