I am 60 and have already had both knees replaced and one hip. In 2 months I go in for the first shoulder replacement. Being heavy all my life (but still very active hiking, canoeing, swimming, camping, biking) I was led to believe the joint damage was as a result of the weight. I could see that with the load bearing joints but the OA is also in both shoulders and is starting in my neck. I suspect it's what is also causing the pain in my back as the x-rays of a chiropractor have shown. Since my mother had it and my dad's mom also, heredity is probably playing a part. Apart from the replacements, daily doses of Tylenol 1's and ibuprofen get me by. Since the hip replacement, the unevenness of the leg lengths is a contributing factor to the low back pain. I look forward to getting back to the gym once the shoulders are done. I still manage to work part time as a banquet hall bartender but know that those days are severely numbered, at least right now.

I had a total knee replacement age 54 after suffering for many years (tough operation but for me the results have been excellent). The OA was due to trauma, multiple skiing accidents where I perhaps could have followed advice more closely (young and bullet proof!). My other knee is in line for the same treatment and I have OA in both ankles. I have had a back injury (a lifting accident) and I suspect my numb arms are related to OA in my spine. Oh well! Life goes on. I find Voltaren (Diclofonac) a great relief, having taken a break from it when I found I had reached a tolerance and it was ineffective. Working well at the moment though! I am now looking at diet. Have also used glucosamine with condroiton and fish oil, heat rubs, wheat bags, electric blanket and when turned off (of course) a hot water bottle. I walk, bike, work, play (non-impact!)And I have no intentions of stopping. Some days though you just wish you could get pain free.

I had surgery on my left thumb about 5 years ago. They performed the surgery that required taking a piece of my tendon or ligament from my left arm and wrapped it between the joints of my lower thumb. I had amazing results with this type of surgery. I am now taking two steroid shots in my right thumb until I decide to have the same surgery (which my Doctor is pushing for). They help for 2 to 3 months and then I go back and get two more shots. Yesterday I went to the VA hospital to get my shots and almost fell and landed hard on my left heel. Now I'm in a boot and waiting for an ortho consult for a fractured bone spur in my heel. Arthritis is an ugly thing.

I just found out I have osteoarthritis in my spine. I am only 17 years old and nobody knows what the cause of it could be. Before diagnosis I was suffering with severe pain in my lower back and hips whenever I did anything that involved moving. It would take me a long while to get out of bed in the morning to the point where I had to finally begin online schooling for my senior year. I finally talked my parents into bringing me into a doctor for my pain as they thought the only reason I was saying I was in pain so often was for attention. I have tried the steroid injections but had a major allergic reaction to the medication so right now I'm in a rut with my treatment. Pretty much the only thing I can do now is wait for my doctor to figure out if fusion surgery will be good for my problem. I feel very badly for everyone who has to suffer with something like this on a daily basis as I do.

Just after Christmas this year, I went out for a walk with my husband. There was a broken pavement and my foot caught and I was propelled forward. As I swung around I felt the most tremendous pain as something snapped in my leg. I pulled ligaments in my left foot, I went to the hospital and went home to recover. I was on crutches for several weeks due to the severity of my injury. In the meantime my right foot started to ache, when I went to physio for my left ankle the physiotherapist discovered that I had 'inflammation' on my right foot due to bearing the weight of both ankles. She treated me for this over a period of three months, but ten months later. I discovered that I have a condition called 'Non insertional Achilles Tendinopathy' This was diagnosed by an Orthopedic Consultant, now a X-ray taken to determine what was happening to my foot (painful stiff in mornings and a small hard lump and localized swelling) has shown early 'osteoarthritic type changes' would anyone know that the injury would have caused this?