Osteoarthritis anyone?

I'm 61 and guess I should expect some osteoarthritis. But it has suddenly gotten so much worse. All my fingers, hands, wrists, feet and been hurting sooooo bad.
Yes, I spent 3 days in a row planting flowers. We finally had some sunshine and dryer weather here, and I felt like I had to do it all before it rained again.

But I feel like its totally out of proportion to what I've done. I suppose that's the fibromyalgia, right? Maybe the arthritis has triggered a flare?
I already have 2 fingers pointing in the wrong direction. I need a knee replacement, which I really don't ever want to have. Some days I can hardly walk because my feet are so messed up.

I'm sort of surprised. Its been a terribly long, cold winter and now its warming up and the sun is shinning. My body is supposed to be getting happier........but now its in constant pain.

Anyone else have osteoarthritis that seems to worsen everywhere all at once, and also maybe trigger a fibro flare on top of it all?
I even have some stinging-nerve pain in places.

I can't participate in life like I want to. NSAIDS help alot, but I can't take them because just a little bit of them destroys my GI tract.
When there's so much pain, its easy for my mind to wander........thinking I have some horrible terminal disease.

Thank heavens I have my "gimpmobile"........its am electric golf cart that takes me around our large property so I can enjoy nature. Its hard for me to keep positive when I'm in so much pain.
Thanks for letting me whine a bit!

Hi Cathy, I can relate to having a "multiple flare"...having RA and osteoarthritis along with some other goodies, I definately understand how it feels along with fibro.

Today, I will be out doing some yardwork and will have to be extra careful to pace myself. My 7 prescription meds and 5 OTC meds do a pretty good job of keeping my symptoms down. Flares still happen and when they do, it is important to slow down some.

I'm off to get my walk in first, that will loosen me up :)

Hugs, Robin

Just a thought......I used to get palpations until I had an irregular EKG and ended up on a low dose metoprolol and can't remember the last time I had an issue.

Thanks GSDgirl and Chutz,
I'm on a little bit of metoprolol. I don't know if it helps my irregular heartbeats, but it helps with my feeling like I'm going to pass out, and my feelings of hypoglycemia.
That feeling like I'm going to pass out has plagued me since I was about 8. As soon as I don't take the metoprolol for a couple days, it comes back. Its awful, and I'm really glad there's a med that helps it. I don't know if its a form of a migraine or panic or what......but I hate it! Its a very curious sensation.

Chutz.........I have a finger that is getting a big middle knuckle and catching when I bend my fingers. This stuff seems to be working from my thumb slowly to my little finger! Sometimes I almost can't hold a coffee mug.
I did see a hand surgeon once, but it didn't sound good. Wouldn't ever be able to bend my last finger joint again. (not that I can bend it now....haha). At least when I'm giving people directions, and pointing, I can indicate a 45 degree turn, just with the end of my my finger. haha

I just planted more flowers and a bunch of tomatoes. I'll suffer for a few days, but at least I beat the rain!
I can empathize with your sadness over having to give up your little plant nursery. That must have been really hard for you.
Fortunately, my husband loves to weed (can you believe that? What's wrong with him??) haha......but I'm glad he does, because I just can't do much of it any more.
Keep at those flowers and your quilting/sewing Chutz. We can't give up those things that feed our souls, even if it means pain!

That dropping things part is hard.  I once dropped the conditioner bottle while in the shower, it landed on my foot and hurt for days.  Thankfully, my hands do not hurt me too much, it's more of a stiffness with me.  I have the enlarging joints too.  The pain I have is in the hips, shoulders/neck, and feet.  I keep walking though and I just tell my body it has to learn to conform to life as it changes and keep moving.  I also have small fiber sensory polyneuropathy, along with osteoarthritis and fibro.  Sometimes it's hard to figure out which one is giving me issues so I just blame them all at once.