Osteoarthritis

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Mar 4, 2005

Well Kal, being a veteran of osteo myself, I can tell you that it keeps going until there is no cartilege left between the bones of the joints. That's the reason for the crepitus you hear. Some of the newer methods are an injection which seems to work for a lot of people. I forget the name of it, but the med is rather new. If left alone, it can be one of the most excruciating forms of pain, depending on the person's pain tolerance.

I currently have it throughout my body, and am disabled, with that being one of the factors of my disability. I also have DDD Degerative Disc Disease (arthritis of the spine) and it's so severe I have to wear a cervical collar due to the spinal and the cranial nerve impingement, the osteophytes on both sides of the spine, collapsed discs, and spinal cord compression that gives me headaches more severe than any migraine headache has ever been. And if you have had a migraine, then you know they're bad. I have COPD, so I'm disqualified for c spine surgery which is desperately needed. I was told by 3 different neurosurgeons I would not survive the surgery. I am not on pallative care for pain control, 2 different narcs, and one muscle relaxant, and since RBCs are produced in the bone marrow, not enough of them are being produced leaving me with being very anemic as well. I take a combination of two different irons bid to help build the RBCs, and have had 2 units of packed RBCs infused in the past. So I am also very anemic. Other than that and the chronic pain I suffer from, and having to be on 4 litres of o2 24/7, I'm in fine shape.

mandykal, ADN, RN · Mar 6, 2005

Well Kal, being a veteran of osteo myself, I can tell you that it keeps going until there is no cartilege left between the bones of the joints. That's the reason for the crepitus you hear. Some of the newer methods are an injection which seems to work for a lot of people. I forget the name of it, but the med is rather new. If left alone, it can be one of the most excruciating forms of pain, depending on the person's pain tolerance.
I currently have it throughout my body, and am disabled, with that being one of the factors of my disabilitity......
Gee Fran, I don't know where to begin. Thank you for replying. I hope with all the complications you have, that you remain strong in any shape or form thats gets you through the day. Later, if you ever find out what exactly is the name of that med, let me know pls. Thanks again, KAL

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Mar 6, 2005

Well Kal, being a veteran of osteo myself, I can tell you that it keeps going until there is no cartilege left between the bones of the joints. That's the reason for the crepitus you hear. Some of the newer methods are an injection which seems to work for a lot of people. I forget the name of it, but the med is rather new. If left alone, it can be one of the most excruciating forms of pain, depending on the person's pain tolerance.
I currently have it throughout my body, and am disabled, with that being one of the factors of my disabilitity......
Gee Fran, I don't know where to begin. Thank you for replying. I hope with all the complications you have, that you remain strong in any shape or form thats gets you through the day. Later, if you ever find out what exactly is the name of that med, let me know pls. Thanks again, KAL
I will.