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Erosive Osteoarthritis
I have been trying to get answers for many years to find out why my OA in my hands is so painful and debilitating. It doesn't look as bad to the eye as many other people I have met that also have OA but have huge joint nodes but say it's not too painful. I had the traditional basal thumb surgery on left and right hands,left went well 10yrs ago but right which I had one yr later has never been pain free.. About 6 mths ago the pain in the back of my right wrist became so much worse at the same time a large lump appeared.I thought this was probably a Ganglion then a few weeks later a softer round lump appeared on the dip joint on the inside of my right little finger which as made the joint very swollen. Eventually got Xrays of both hands which have now been diagnosed as Erosive Osteoarthritis which I have never heard of. Prognosis doesn't look good with this type of OA. Has anyone else been diagnosed with this and do I ask to be referred to a Rheumatologist ? How do I deal with this ? Is there any meds I can take for pain and to slow down the progression ? Thank you
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Are they sure they are not Rheumatoid Arthritis, it destroys the bone. I was thought to have what you do only to have the Rheumatoid type. I got a shot of numbing agent followed by Cortisone and it has been over a years without pain. Might ask about that. Had pain for years before I went to a hand doctor for the shot.
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2 ReactionsHi everyone,
I'm updating a comment I made in April of this year re: the use of NSAIDs, specifically diclofenac to treat arthritis joint pain.
Taking any NSAIDs, prescription (Celebrex, diclofenac) or OTC on a daily basis can be hard on the kidneys. I was taking diclofenac to treat an arthritic hip (later replaced) and it worked well. At the same time, my left shoulder was in need of replacement and very painful. So I kept taking diclofenac.
I had my left shoulder replaced on August 6th, and had a pre-op physical in July. My creatinine number ( a measure of kidney function) was too high, and had increased 50% from the last time it was taken. My reading was 1.5 and the max is 1.3. This just means that my kidneys are not cleaning my blood well.
The NP for the pre-op contacted me with this info and suggested I stop taking diclofenac or any NSAIDs. Given the pain I was in, that was easier said than done, but I did manage to cut usage below 50%, and the week before surgery I wasn't allowed to take any NSAIDs. On the day of surgery, my creatinine count was just under 1.
So please be careful with these drugs, Rx or otherwise. They aren't meant for long-term use, as I learned. They are still helpful for short-term use. As always, check with your Dr.
(Follow up - I'm two months post-op for an anatomical TSR and I don't need any pain meds, not even Tylenol.)
All the best to all of you.
Joe
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4 ReactionsGet a rolator and walk outdoors for at least 1/2 hour every day and start your day with a short bible reading to ponder all day long, then have an early supper with a glass of red wine. Go to bed by 9PM stay away from the tv at night and You'll sleep like a baby and every day will seem a little bit better.
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1 Reaction@marthadean , that sounds nice!
@parrotqueen So Interesting. Thanks for sharing your experience. Just started my continual injections, but you sure gave me something to think about and research. Appreciate you!
Wow, congratulations. That is really a heck of a lot improved. Glad to hear that.
Really appreciate this update. Very important facts on very relevant information.
I'd replied to your initial post cuz i am also concerned about usage. Medications leave their marks. Your creatin #'s going down that fast must of been a big relief.
Did you have any ugh reactions that week of no snri meds before surgery? All the best to you. Thanks again..!
@heyjoe415
Hi Elle,
Its was definitely the chronic use of the Rx NSAID diclofenac that caused my creatinine number to rise above normal. Any NSAID used regularly can possibly cause this. It was a surprise to me. And a high creatinine number means the kidney is not working at 100%.
So in just a few weeks, and by cutting my diclofenac use by about 70%, my creatinine number went from 1.5 to 1. The top range is 1.3, so I was above that line.
As for no NSAIDs before surgery - My shoulder was really hurting, so yeah I missed having it. I was able to take Tylenol and use a lot of gel pads from the freezer! The surgeons insist on stopping those meds because they thin the blood, and they don't want that during surgery.
And when my blood was taken just before surgery, my creatinine number dropped to .9 - so the diclofenac NSAID was definitely affecting my kidneys. The lesson is to not use NSAIDs on a regular or daily basis. I didn't even know that.
I hope that helps you Elle. I'm two months now post-op for my shoulder replacement and I'm off any painkillers, even Tylenol. I've had my knees and a hip replaced before, and the subsequent pain relief is glorious.
Don't get me wrong, joint replacement is a significant and traumatic surgery, and the first few days post-op are the hardest. But the satisfaction rate among patients is generally in the 95% range, so these surgeries have really been refined and are incredibly safe, IMO. The rehab work done by the patient is very important.
Any other questions Elle? Thanks so much for reaching out.
Joe
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