One in five adults in the UK are affected by arthritis at a cost to the economy of over £18 bn. That’s 20 per cent of your local adult population.

Despite this, the condition does not get the same level of attention or priority as other conditions within the health service. Arthritis Care would like to see this situation change – we would like to see health, social care and employment for people with arthritis being made a priority.

The General Election campaign that has been announced is an ideal opportunity to raise issues of concern to all people with arthritis. Arthritis Care is encouraging its supporters to raise these issues at a local level during the campaign.

Do you want more information?

http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/home/index.cfm?region=northengland

Hi Owdlad
Interesting reading, i've tried just about everything for my arthritus, now i'm trying fish oil tablets.

I don't have it as bad as some people, just the hip, not so bad just yet, i also tried swimming every day for one whole year, didn't help at all, it's a great feeling in the water but as soon as you get out you're right back to the stiff joints again.

Poppins

me fella has it in his knee but over the years he's just learnt to put up with it. will have to have a knee replacement though when he's older, he's only 27 now so he's got quite a wait!

My Gran swore by a garlic supplement for her arthritis; whether it was psychosomatic or not, I don't know. Perhaps worth a try though Poppins?

Welcome back by the way! :thumbsup:

i have it in my knee,4 weeks ago i had cortizone injections and within a couple of days it felt brilliant,it felt so good as i came down stairs i was saying how good it felt and fell down tearing the inner ligament in my knee ,i have just started physio and ultras ound .:( :(

Originally posted by roughy101
i have it in my knee,4 weeks ago i had cortizone injections and within a couple of days it felt brilliant,it felt so good as i came down stairs i was saying how good it felt and fell down tearing the inner ligament in my knee ,i have just started physio and ultras ound .:( :(

Cortizone injections are great, i had one in my foot for arthritus, i was told it would only last 6 months, that was 6 years ago, still feels great.

I remember when you could buy cortizone over the counter at boots, that was years back and i don't remember what form it was in, but i do remember my aunt in the states sending for some as it was perscription only in the us then.

My mum has osteo arthritis in her back and hip. It took ten years to diagnose so she learnt to live with it! She's had injections in her back but says it was really painful. She's going to need a hip replacement eventually :(

Apparently changing your diet can help - in particular tomatoes and oranges are said to aggravate arthritis, and should be avoided by suffers... a friend of mine who suffered really badly tried following the plan in this book (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007132824/qid=1113416585/sr=8-9/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i9_xgl/202-1460947-4927036) and had some relief from her symptoms, the downside is it's not a particularly easy diet to stick to, especially if you don't have a lot of time to prepare meals etc.

Originally posted by Lucy_Smith
My mum has osteo arthritis in her back and hip. It took ten years to diagnose so she learnt to live with it! She's had injections in her back but says it was really painful. She's going to need a hip replacement eventually :(

My frien had her hip replaced last year, she said she had never felt so good in her life, now she wants to have the other one done and there's nothing wrong with it ?

Also depending on your age a hip replacement on'y last's 25-30 years, then has to be done again, so my doc told me!

I have congenital hip displacia from birth and arthritis has spread from this in to my other hip which is also now week
from years of compensating for the other.
Im looking into the metal on metal hip reserfacing. As the plastic one only lasts 10 to 15 years or so but the birmingham hip resurfacing - metal one lasts a long time.
there are two docs at the northern general who will do this one.

also read this.

http://www.people-logistics.com/cost/index.html

Tara, there isn't really a hard and fast rule as to how long a hip replacment will last before it needs replacing again, for instance a friend of mine had both his replaced 15 years apart.

Hip one is still as good as the day it was inserted, almost 20 years down the road.

Hip two has been in place for around five years and is looking like it needs replacing already.

I have a ten year old replacement that is as good as the day it was inserted, but would be very interested to know how things work out if you go ahead with the resurfacing.