16 next saturday and just getting worse..

Hey,
I'm struggling a lot right now. I've still not got a diagnosis for wrist/ hand pain including fingers or knee and ankle pain. Now been diagnosed with trochanteric bursitis in my hip supposedly because of how I walk with thee other weight-bearing joint pain.
Next Saturday is my birthday, I'm also having a party at the cinema to see The Hobbit but I'm not sure I'll cope with being sat down for so long or with being out so much.. And then the day after I'm out again, involving a long car journey.. If anyone has any ideas on how to cope they'd be greatly appreciated
While walking home last week (yes I know I shouldn't but I have no choice some days) my friend was talking abouut how 'I used to be'.. Basically she pointed out all the things I used to be able to do.. I climbed mountains and could work tirelessly all weekend; I could basically do anything without any problems. My friends don't really understand what's happening to me (how would they when I don't know myself..) and they really struggle with the fact I've given up on my GCSE's and basically my whole life plan which has been planned since I was 11 including having to go to a different college next year because I can't cope with a 9-5 day which is basically a normal job..
Sorry to complain so much.. I just need any advice anyone has on coping..
Thanks,
purpleape

Believe it or not, sitting on a "donut" (those round cushions, usually inflatable, that have a hole in the middle), help to displace the weight in your hips. They're often utilized by pregnant women (for other means) or people with sacral problems.

I'd also strongly encourage you to go to physical therapy. I have bursitis as well, and I couldn't emphasize enough how getting a jump start on muscle strength catered to your particular bursitis is. Posture is crucial for those of us with bursitis. Weak "butt muscles" make this pain much worse! In general, the sacs inflame and cause terrible pain, pressure, and reduced range of motion. Weight bearing is brutal.

Watching your weight is important to help reduce stress on your joints.

Dietary things, like avoiding inflammatory-causing foods. Check with your physician about anti-inflammatory meds, perhaps even fish oil. If it's quite severe, in my case what they did was steroid injections. (It doesn't hurt).

You can recover from this. Bursitis is very treatable, especially if you're aggressive. Check with your doctor before embarking on anything to make sure it's safe for you.



M.

I understand where you're coming from and very compassionate about your situation.

Prior to my "problems" (too many to list), I was extremely athletic. (A klutz as a child, then I turned that around). I climbed mountains, ice climbed, skated, rode horses, hiked, did paragliding, bodybuilding,....

So I do get it, I really do. And now I filed for disability because I cannot stand or sit for very long either. (I'm also 50 so I should in an odd way give you hope because I made it through many years dealing with these issues).

If you are knock-kneed, your feet pronate, your hips are stressed at an unnatural angle and your low back will start to kick in if it hasn't already.

That isn't the order (it's not knees first, but it's generally watching someone walk with these problems, it's easy to spot the knee tracking incorrectly).

I really want to emphasize exercise. Yes your "diet" (I hate that word, it implies there's an end in sight) must be tight, and unless you're allergic to gluten I don't understand avoiding it. But I am not a doctor or your doctor, so go with their advice.

Absolutely exercise is crucial, learning to walk a new way to take the stress off your hips and knees and ankles WILL make a difference. Just like doing nothing will result in things degrading further and faster.

You can overcome this, you really can.

Physical therapy, working out at the gym, (ask your physio about something called "gait training" and get started on that), and tighten the diet if you happen to be overweight. Sit up straight, don't slouch (you'll grind those joints)...muscle weakness will make your pain feel ten times worse.

I can promise you these things make a difference, because I did them and they kept me healthy and in way less pain for over 20 years. I still incorporate all of these factors because they work. As a long time personal trainer, I worked with PT's for years, and we'd share clients, and I'm just passing along information I've learned.

Remember, this isn't medical advice, I'm not a doctor, and I'm not trying to post information to take the place of any practitioners you're seeing.


M.

PS: I've needed more than one injection,..they only work for a few months. There are also other meds you can be on that will permit you to have a quality of life and go out with your friends and move about.