I was diagnosed nearly 48 hours ago with osteoarthritis of the knees at the age of 32 and I just wish that I had someone to talk to. My husband and family are all brushing it off as though it is nothing and I shouldn't be freaked out, but I've gone from being able to exercise at will and training to compete in national sporting competitions to being told I should rather take up walking or swimming.
Every website I read has all these really scary facts and I can't open up to anyone because they all want me to be okay. But I don't feel okay. Surely it's okay for me to be a little emotional while the news is so recent? I don't even know how bad it is yet, I have to wait until I've seen a specialist but my doctor is talking surgery. I have to wait until after exams but I can barely concentrate and I'm writing next week. I feel so alone and I am so angry because I've always tried to do everything right, I have never smoked or done drugs, I don't drink, I eat healthily, I exercise regularly, I've never gone clubbing or done anything to abuse my body and yet I've now been told I have a disease that I'll have to live with for the rest of my life. My siblings have done most of the above and they're fine, and I know life isn't fair, but I'm not feeling very pragmatic right now. I just wish that I knew exactly what to expect or some reassurance that I'll still be able to do normal things. And there isn't any...
I guess I just needed to get all of that out without someone telling me not to stress because it will be just fine
JustMe, Just breathe. Welcome here, you have found a great group of experts, contributors and members who will support and comfort you like no other site. You are not alone with your fears. It is quite normal to have many thoughts and fears after being told you have anykind of arthritis and at a youg age of 32 it is difficult. But, don't think for a moment that your life, as you know it, is over. You sound to be quite physically fit and that is a plus. First, It sounds as if you may have had some xrays and that pointed your physician to send you to an Ortho. Don't go overboard yet until you know the final results of all of your tests. You probably had some pain, i'm guessing, that made you go to the doctor to begin with? Well, hopefully for your sake they get at the cause sooner rather than later. Osteoarthritis, by itself, is not then end of the world. You can and will adjust to what you can and can't do. You will find what you can push your body to do and what you can't. Just, go one step at a time. Figure out the extent and then start on the treatment. Hang in there, Barb
Thanks Barb *breathing*!!!
Thanks for the welcome, and for not making me feel like I'm losing my mind. Am somewhat calmer than when I wrote this....and a little less emotional, so here goes...
I did have xrays but the doctor didn't say anything about additional tests or needing to confirm a diagnosis, he just told me that I have OA and that I need to see a specialist about surgery and then gave me a long list of things I'm not supposed to do - which was basically 90% of the things I do. So it has all been very confusing, very scary and with a minimum of information (which isn't good for a control freak). So I went from being healthy to having them discussing cutting into my knees in the space of 15 minutes. Kind of felt like I climbed into a taxi and halfway through San Francisco got told we had no brakes.
I went in to see the doctor because I landed up in casualty on a drip with gastro and I mentioned the problems I'd been having with my knees because my hubby made me promise I would. I'd just assumed that they were from exercising and tried to train through them. Being horribly sick when I found out about it didn't help my sanity levels either, especially since I wasn't even in much condition to ask questions and didn't get a chance to either.
I will be seeing the specialist in 3 weeks, after exams, and having done some research at least I feel as though I can now ask questions. If it is OA as the doctor said, it's going to be an adjustment to my mental processes as I've always been the kind of person who pushed through something if I wanted to do it (I completed my brown belt grading with a broken arm before heading to the emergency room). I just hate not knowing... that is honestly the worst thing in the world for me.
Thanks for listening and responding rationally. I feel like you're the first person who has. My family just brushed it off as nothing or a mistake and the doctor just had something better to do and I was just really frustrated and emotional. Looking forward to getting to know everyone here a little better.
JustMe, you are very welcome. On the xrays your doctor complete, he probably say that the space in you knee has decreased. Which pointed him to conclude you have Osteoarthritis. There are so many things the medical community has now to assist with combating the effects of Osteoarthritis. The specialist, I would guess is an orthopedic surgeon. He will probably get at least a CT Scan or MRI of the knee, so he (she) can better understand what is going on. I would take the advice of your physician adn not push through pain or overdo on exercises until you have seen the specialist. I know for a self proclaimed "control freak" this is difficult, but your knee will thank you later. One thing I have learned over my years experience is that the only constant in life is change. For your personality type, it would seem that this concept is difficult. You will learn overtime what your body can do. As you get a handle on the OA. Here is a websit that discusses the types of cartilage that we have and what is in your knee. http://osteoarthritis.about.com/od/osteoarthritis101/a/cartilage.htm Another one is http://www.arthritis.org/osteoarthritis.php
As for your family, don't beat them up too much, you may need them at some point. Also, unfortunately society has been inundated with OA adds and the fact the OA is an "Old persons" disease, not true though. That you can simply take a pill and feel better and move on. As you finding out, not quite that easy, so you must try and educate your family as you go. Hope all that helps, keep me posted with your progress and what the speciallist tells you. Hang in there, it will get better, Barb.