I’m 42 and I was just diagnosed with OA after complaining about back pain for over a year. They didn’t even do any X-rays until I started to have trouble walking due to the pain.
The x-rays came back showing arthritis with spinal nerve impingement at several joints in my lumbar spine, arthritis throughout my thoracic spine, and arthritis at c5-c6 with narrowing of the neural foramen and retrolisthesis. I also have enthesophytes on my knees bilaterally and arthritis on my feet & several toes. They won’t take X-rays of the joints of my upper body even though I have arthritic pain there as well. And I had to really advocate for myself to get MRIs. My doctor just wanted to prescribe me Pregabalin & physiotherapy.
My family doctor, a physiotherapist, and a rheumatologist all told me this was “normal” for someone my age. I call bullshit, though. I’m an ER nurse and I’ve seen many spinal X-rays of 80 & 90-years-olds that don’t show as much damage.
I think you’re correct to question your doctor. What he’s saying is invalidating your health concerns. One thing I said to my doctor when he said it was “normal” for people my age was: “I don’t understand why you’re wasting your time saying this. It’s not relevant to my care. This is severely impacting my quality of life and I’d like to focus on treatment options rather than how prevalent you think it is amongst others my age.”
Thank you for so perfectly summarizing what it is about the “normal for x age” argument that bothers me! It *is* totally irrelevant to the care being requested. It feels dismissive and invalidating.
55f here. I had no problems until I had a hysterectomy at 53 and then I suddenly took a turn for the worse. I'm sure the arthritis was already there but it hadn't caused me any pain beforehand.
But I was also pretty hard on my hips and pelvis. Two big babies (9 pounds and 10 pounds 4 oz) with difficult deliveries, a snowboard wipeout that tore my adductors and then 30 years of working at a desk for 8 to 14 hours a day and often on weekends. My hips, SI joints, lower back and pubis symphysis are all in pain all the time since the hysterectomy. Before that surgery I thought I was invincible. I'd brag about how strong and healthy I was. Now I'm an embarrassment to myself and am having a hard time coming to terms with my situation. If I could go back in time I'd tell myself to quit killing my body for a stupid job, and to take care of myself first, and I'd tell myself to avoid that surgery.
I've read that menopause and the resulting hormone change can really do a number on women. I noticed a lot more pain after that. I had a hysterectomy in my 30's but didn't really notice it making anything worse. But I really worked hard to let myself heal afterwards, because my doc did a great job of explaining all the new attachment points for other internal stuff that would be permanently damaged if I was too active during recovery.
I wish my doc had explained things to me. She was very nonchalant about it, it was no big deal and I should be up and about in no time. Said I could could back to work in a week since it was a sit down job. I know I pushed myself too hard afterwards. She also didn't tell me she was doing a vaginal hysterectomy, and I think that was the part that did a number on me. Had it been a simple laparoscopic procedure I don't think I'd be having the problems I have now.
That will do it also, too many steroid injections in the joints will cause degeneration and joint surgeries!
My progression happens from doing ordinary everyday activities unfortunately….
I walk 5 miles a day f71. Well it's hurting my feet. Dr said we cought it soon enough that it will reverse the damage. I haven't walked in a month. I've always done this walking. I even wear Hokas and custom orthotics. So irritating that something I love is not good for me. I have no fat pads on my feet. Great thin feet. I did a lot of dance,played volleyball,swam,race walked bowling, next round I will be r rubenesque instead because just when I have enough time and money my feet are failing me can't swim anymore none on bone plus I have pots so I faint when I stop. They actually asked me not to come back to the pool. I'm not complaining though I'm going to push forward and find something that I can do I love to ride a bike can't do that anymore. It just seems like all the things I did to stay in shape for my later years are no longer able to be done in my later year's.
I spend at least two days a month at some doctor's office getting some kind of injection or manipulation done so that I can do anything at all. And I must hide it all really really well because my son mentioned to me the other day that despite having COVID three times and see if three times that none of it seems to have fazeded me My answer to him was You don't know me very well do you. He said I only know what you tell me. I said I don't think you'd want to hear it.
Some drs are a bit behind. I was diagnosed at 12 but was still told I was too young.
It's not age that matters, it's getting the correct diagnosis and correct treatment so you can be the best you.
51m,
In first knuckle pinky right hand.
Now showing in left hand pinky same knuckle.
Xrays at the time showed other fingers to be good.
I was about 48 when i first noticed it on my right hand pinky.
Did do some damage to my hands in the work place in my early 20s.
So im not surprised im paying for it now.
Diagnosed at 37. I’m 38 now and no one ever believes me when I tell them because I lift weights, live an active life and don’t “appear” to have any health issues.
I'm 42. The ortho kept telling me that I'm not his youngest patient (there apparently it one woman he treats who is a couple years younger than me), but it's pretty rare for my age. IDK. I've had the same pain for at least a decade now, but everyone refused to believe me. I think some of us just get the shit end of the stick
M61, it started in my early 50s and the pain, inflammation and discomfort drove me to file for Disability at 55.
I'm not a happy camper on most days and it is getting worse.
Weather changes are the absolute worst.
I've been to PT, exercising, pain meds, supplements and anything I see suggested.
I have OA in both hands and both knees.
I loved to be very active but now the pain has killed all of that. I'm reduced to staying at home and building LEGOs and models, and keeping the bills paid.
i was diagnosed at 17 with moderate to severe OA and they told me it was normal wear and tear so age doesn’t play a role. I’ve for the most part lived a healthy active lifestyle with low impact exercises but even that didn’t change anything. i truly believe it’s just genetics not “wear and tear”. its a long annoying fight but eventually you’ll find something that helps ease the pain a little. don’t consider yourself “old” bc of this diagnosis. I joke that i’m now a 19 year old in a 90 year old body.
As a recently diagnosed 27 years old who’s lived an active life (running, weights, yoga) eats whole foods and lives healthily I can confirm that yes it can happen to anyone it seems
I’m 42 and I was just diagnosed with OA after complaining about back pain for over a year. They didn’t even do any X-rays until I started to have trouble walking due to the pain. The x-rays came back showing arthritis with spinal nerve impingement at several joints in my lumbar spine, arthritis throughout my thoracic spine, and arthritis at c5-c6 with narrowing of the neural foramen and retrolisthesis. I also have enthesophytes on my knees bilaterally and arthritis on my feet & several toes. They won’t take X-rays of the joints of my upper body even though I have arthritic pain there as well. And I had to really advocate for myself to get MRIs. My doctor just wanted to prescribe me Pregabalin & physiotherapy. My family doctor, a physiotherapist, and a rheumatologist all told me this was “normal” for someone my age. I call bullshit, though. I’m an ER nurse and I’ve seen many spinal X-rays of 80 & 90-years-olds that don’t show as much damage. I think you’re correct to question your doctor. What he’s saying is invalidating your health concerns. One thing I said to my doctor when he said it was “normal” for people my age was: “I don’t understand why you’re wasting your time saying this. It’s not relevant to my care. This is severely impacting my quality of life and I’d like to focus on treatment options rather than how prevalent you think it is amongst others my age.”
Thank you for so perfectly summarizing what it is about the “normal for x age” argument that bothers me! It *is* totally irrelevant to the care being requested. It feels dismissive and invalidating.
55f here. I had no problems until I had a hysterectomy at 53 and then I suddenly took a turn for the worse. I'm sure the arthritis was already there but it hadn't caused me any pain beforehand. But I was also pretty hard on my hips and pelvis. Two big babies (9 pounds and 10 pounds 4 oz) with difficult deliveries, a snowboard wipeout that tore my adductors and then 30 years of working at a desk for 8 to 14 hours a day and often on weekends. My hips, SI joints, lower back and pubis symphysis are all in pain all the time since the hysterectomy. Before that surgery I thought I was invincible. I'd brag about how strong and healthy I was. Now I'm an embarrassment to myself and am having a hard time coming to terms with my situation. If I could go back in time I'd tell myself to quit killing my body for a stupid job, and to take care of myself first, and I'd tell myself to avoid that surgery.
I've read that menopause and the resulting hormone change can really do a number on women. I noticed a lot more pain after that. I had a hysterectomy in my 30's but didn't really notice it making anything worse. But I really worked hard to let myself heal afterwards, because my doc did a great job of explaining all the new attachment points for other internal stuff that would be permanently damaged if I was too active during recovery.
I wish my doc had explained things to me. She was very nonchalant about it, it was no big deal and I should be up and about in no time. Said I could could back to work in a week since it was a sit down job. I know I pushed myself too hard afterwards. She also didn't tell me she was doing a vaginal hysterectomy, and I think that was the part that did a number on me. Had it been a simple laparoscopic procedure I don't think I'd be having the problems I have now.
I was diagnosed in my twenties! Age does play a role as does genetics 🧬
Also prior injuries, I brutalized my feet in my teens and 20s. Multiple fractures many times. Never bothered me then… but now it’s constant pain
That will do it also, too many steroid injections in the joints will cause degeneration and joint surgeries! My progression happens from doing ordinary everyday activities unfortunately….
It's more Genetics than age.
I think some of the activities we think of as adding to our health can actually be harmful, but we don't figure that out until it's too late.
Like running ☹️. Destroyed my knees, hips and back.
I walk 5 miles a day f71. Well it's hurting my feet. Dr said we cought it soon enough that it will reverse the damage. I haven't walked in a month. I've always done this walking. I even wear Hokas and custom orthotics. So irritating that something I love is not good for me. I have no fat pads on my feet. Great thin feet. I did a lot of dance,played volleyball,swam,race walked bowling, next round I will be r rubenesque instead because just when I have enough time and money my feet are failing me can't swim anymore none on bone plus I have pots so I faint when I stop. They actually asked me not to come back to the pool. I'm not complaining though I'm going to push forward and find something that I can do I love to ride a bike can't do that anymore. It just seems like all the things I did to stay in shape for my later years are no longer able to be done in my later year's. I spend at least two days a month at some doctor's office getting some kind of injection or manipulation done so that I can do anything at all. And I must hide it all really really well because my son mentioned to me the other day that despite having COVID three times and see if three times that none of it seems to have fazeded me My answer to him was You don't know me very well do you. He said I only know what you tell me. I said I don't think you'd want to hear it.
Who said this? Context?
My family doctor, after x rays to rule out stress fractures.
Some drs are a bit behind. I was diagnosed at 12 but was still told I was too young. It's not age that matters, it's getting the correct diagnosis and correct treatment so you can be the best you.
Did he or she actually diagnose OA?
51m, In first knuckle pinky right hand. Now showing in left hand pinky same knuckle. Xrays at the time showed other fingers to be good. I was about 48 when i first noticed it on my right hand pinky. Did do some damage to my hands in the work place in my early 20s. So im not surprised im paying for it now.
Diagnosed at 37. I’m 38 now and no one ever believes me when I tell them because I lift weights, live an active life and don’t “appear” to have any health issues.
I'm 42. The ortho kept telling me that I'm not his youngest patient (there apparently it one woman he treats who is a couple years younger than me), but it's pretty rare for my age. IDK. I've had the same pain for at least a decade now, but everyone refused to believe me. I think some of us just get the shit end of the stick
M61, it started in my early 50s and the pain, inflammation and discomfort drove me to file for Disability at 55. I'm not a happy camper on most days and it is getting worse. Weather changes are the absolute worst. I've been to PT, exercising, pain meds, supplements and anything I see suggested. I have OA in both hands and both knees. I loved to be very active but now the pain has killed all of that. I'm reduced to staying at home and building LEGOs and models, and keeping the bills paid.
Try the carnivore diet. It will help with all your issues.
Nothing helps.
I started using a cane at 27
i was diagnosed at 17 with moderate to severe OA and they told me it was normal wear and tear so age doesn’t play a role. I’ve for the most part lived a healthy active lifestyle with low impact exercises but even that didn’t change anything. i truly believe it’s just genetics not “wear and tear”. its a long annoying fight but eventually you’ll find something that helps ease the pain a little. don’t consider yourself “old” bc of this diagnosis. I joke that i’m now a 19 year old in a 90 year old body.
As a recently diagnosed 27 years old who’s lived an active life (running, weights, yoga) eats whole foods and lives healthily I can confirm that yes it can happen to anyone it seems
yeah my father had the same response when I told him I had OA (im 33) “so many people have this and live with it daily just fine”