Posted 12/9/2014 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome.
I am sorry to read of your diagnosis at a still very young age. Unfortunately, Arthritis has no age barrier. I have read when arthritis can be seen in x-rays it is already in an advanced stage. What was being looked at first was my head and neck.
I was diagnosed at age 50 but my problems with chronic pain began a year earlier. I also have Fibromyalgia which likes to enhance the pain.
For me, the cause is a bit of all the things mentioned above. Car accidents, falls, repetitive strains at work all contributed. Yes, it runs in my Family.
I have not had surgery done on my neck. There a number of people who write in Chronic Pain that have had surgery. I live in Canada and surgery was not offered as a solution. I am now 60. What has gotten me to age 60 is Physiotherapy, many different types but what works better for me is Physiotherapy in a heated pool. This therapy helped my right hip pain. I had a bad fall, I could not sleep on my right side. The therapy, which took years, has improved my hip. I no longer have pain there. I will tell you, I have OA in my neck, neck to collarbone, collarbone to shoulder blade, wrists (carpel tunnel too), lower back, knees and feet. Some are mild still. My lower back has given out on me 3 times. It is very hard to stand up with neck problems too. I managed, so far, to overcome it with pain creams, exercise (taught by physiotherapists) and slowly but surely walking. I do some back exercise on my bed. I used to get on the floor, it is good for your back but the bed works just as well.
I of course am on medication. It is an individual thing. You will have to work with Doctors to find something that helps to relieve some of the symptoms.
Don't be afraid to move some. Yes, life will have some restrictions but you need to keep moving. Nothing extreme, pleasant walking is good for you.
Take care.
Loring
Osteoarthritis in Multiple Joints, Fibromyalgia, Neuralgia, Chronic Daily Headaches, I.B., Hard of Hearing...