Walking With Facet Joint Osteoarthritis

[jsalt]

This is a long shot, but thought I’d ask anyway. Is there anyone on this forum who also suffers this condition? I can move this thread to personal messaging if preferred. I’m not looking for medical information, just a support group. Thank you for any replies.
Jill

 

[JabbaPapa]

Not that kind of osteoarthritis no, and bad luck for having developed it.

 

[el guapo 123]

This is a long shot, but thought I’d ask anyway. Is there anyone on this forum who also suffers this condition? I can move this thread to personal messaging if preferred. I’m not looking for medical information, just a support group. Thank you for any replies.
Jill

Hi Jill yes I was diagnosed with this condition but I am using exercise to ease the pain. Won’t stop me doing another Camino probably Sept 2021

 

[lt56ny]

I googled this and found these resources:

Osteoarthritis Support Group - OASG

Osteoarthritis Support Group - OASG. 5,041 likes. Community of like minded individuals that seek to support and improve the lives of people/ loved ones suffering from osteoarthritis.

www.facebook.com

Arthritis Foundation

www.arthritis.org.za

The Arthritis Foundation of South Africa

The Arthritis Foundation of South Africa. 2,720 likes · 13 talking about this. We give you the tools, resources and support you need to manage your health and live your best life despite your...

www.facebook.com

Arthritis

www.westerncape.gov.za

These sights may offer you some help and direction. Good luck.

 

[madhurivivit]

Yes. Worst in c-spine for me. Causes headaches also.

 

[madhurivivit]

I should add that after every imaginable alternative therapy, cortisone shots are what have helped the most. I also have it in the lower spine and elsewhere. It has not stopped me from traveling.

 

[jsalt]

Hi Jill yes I was diagnosed with this condition but I am using exercise to ease the pain. Won’t stop me doing another Camino probably Sept 2021

Thanks for replying. What exercises do you do?

 

[jsalt]

cortisone shots are what have helped the most

Hi, how long do they last for you, before the pain starts again?

 

[madhurivivit]

Hi, how long do they last for you, before the pain starts again?

 

[madhurivivit]

The ones in my neck have lasted as long as a year several times. Had one in my hip that didn’t last as long, but that happens sometimes.

 

[jsalt]

I told the specialist I’m a camino addict (I had to explain this), and that I like to go to Spain every year, just me and my pack, and walk a thousand kilometres, from village to village. This was to his question of how often do I get the pain in my lower back. I told him I am mostly fine on the camino, and he said Good! Don’t Give It Up! He thinks my pack is probably keeping my back straight, and giving support to the lumbar region. Exercise is good. Just thought I’d mention this in case anybody else stumbles across this thread when googling Can I Still Walk With Facet Joint Osteoarthritis. I’ve done a lot of googling . . .

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Jill, it's nice to hear your arthritic condition will not keep you from doing what you love, and there is nothing better than getting a stamp(sello) of approval from your doctor.

 

[OTH86]

Just found this! Thank you, @jsalt & @madhurivivit ! Helps so much to be able to put names and possible treatments to this problem! Love your doc's reply, Jill!
Buen Camino!

 

[jsalt]

Just found this! Thank you, @jsalt & @madhurivivit ! Helps so much to be able to put names and possible treatments to this problem! Love your doc's reply, Jill!
Buen Camino!

Thank you for your response. I have discovered, as @el guapo 123 said, that exercises help. The neuro surgeon sent me to biokinetics. Twice a week for an hour each time, until I learnt how to do the exercises properly at home. I still go once a week for maintenance and motivation. It has made me so much more confident. I have also had the cortisone injections, which stops the pain, which enables me to exercise to strengthen the muscles around the central core that supports the spine. I am booked on the camino with some supportive hiking buddies in April next year, and we’re hiking locally as much as we can. Just hanging in there.

 

[OTH86]

Again, thanks for this, @jsalt ! So far, stretches, yoga, recumbent bike, and a couple of ankle, hip, and back adjustments, have helped. A few years ago, I was having arthritic pains + bursitis, and was given a cortisone shot for the bursitis. It seemed to take care of the other pains - but I don't remember for how long. Possibly for almost a year. I DO like your philosophy that reducing the pains could help get the exercise needed to strengthen the supportive muscles! Thanks for that! Best of luck, Jill.

 

[jsalt]

I DO like your philosophy that reducing the pains could help get the exercise needed to strengthen the supportive muscles!

I was waiting to get a (first) appointment with the neuro surgeon (he is SO busy), BUT, in the meantime I was in so much pain that my husband managed to get me to the hospital, in the middle of Covid (which was a mission unto itself) for the cortisone injections. So by the time I got to see the specialist I was fine again – for a while. RIGHT, he said, NOW you do core exercises while you are pain free – and when the pain kicks in again, he said, we’ll look at a rhizotomy. Google it.

 

[jsalt]

NOW you do core exercises while you are pain free – and when the pain kicks in again, he said, we’ll look at a rhizotomy. Google it.

The cortisone injections have worn off, and the pain returned. I am scheduled for the rhizotomy procedure in two days time. Anyone else here had that done? Anything I should know?

I so much want to get on that plane to Spain in January - covid I can cope with!

 

[Former member 91017]

The cortisone injections have worn off, and the pain returned. I am scheduled for the rhizotomy procedure in two days time. Anyone else here had that done? Anything I should know?

I so much want to get on that plane to Spain in January - covid I can cope with!

Haven't done it.
Please report back to us!
And very good wishes for your procedure and result.
I have this form of arthritis in my thoracic, lumbar and sacral spine.
All my physician says is "Everyone your age has this...." but my god, if I mis-step on a down-step, or have inadequate support in a sofa (at my mother's for example) the pain feels like I've been hit with an electric bat when I try to move...
And then there are the sleep disruptions.
And this is why I am planning the Norte for later this spring... do it now, while I still have some hills left in me, before I can no longer carry my pack...

Edit: in general, Canadians do not have access to this surgical route unless we are in danger of losing mobility and are very young, or are professionals who rely on our bodies for our income (think: dancers, athletes). Others might still benefit from the information.

 

[OzAnnie]

I so much want to get on that plane to Spain in January - covid I can cope with!

I’m hoping everything goes well Jill. (If it’s meant to be ) ie If anyone can swing it- you can. !

Stay safe though -
Buen camino
Xx

 

[el guapo 123]

Haven't done it.
Please report back to us!
And very good wishes for your procedure and result.
I have this form of arthritis in my thoracic, lumbar and sacral spine.
All my physician says is "Everyone your age has this...." but my god, if I mis-step on a down-step, or have inadequate support in a sofa (at my mother's for example) the pain feels like I've been hit with an electric bat when I try to move...
And then there are the sleep disruptions.
And this is why I am planning the Norte for later this spring... do it now, while I still have some hills left in me, before I can no longer carry my pack...

Edit: in general, Canadians do not have access to this surgical route unless we are in danger of losing mobility and are very young, or are professionals who rely on our bodies for our income (think: dancers, athletes). Others might still benefit from the information.

I have considered all these options for my debilitating facet joint arthritis and despite excruciating pain taking the Napoleon way three years ago (thank you hospitaleros for your help and concern in Roncevalles) I am prepared to soldier on for the Aragones Camino next May. I will walk til I cannot walk any longer and my heart goes out to those in a similar condition. Buen Camino.

 

[jsalt]

I was all prepped to go into hospital at 6am tomorrow morning, but it has all been postponed due to an emergency that needs my theatre slot. My op has been postponed to 11 January.

My grandson’s flight from the UK to here has been cancelled as we’re red listed again. Won’t see him now for another year. That’s my pain-free family Xmas ruined.

Finding life a bit challenging at the moment, but realize that others have it far worse. Just needed to cry on someone’s shoulder – thanks for listening. I’ll feel better tomorrow.

 

[Former member 91017]

I was all prepped to go into hospital at 6am tomorrow morning, but it has all been postponed due to an emergency that needs my theatre slot. My op has been postponed to 11 January.

My grandson’s flight from the UK to here has been cancelled as we’re red listed again. Won’t see him now for another year. That’s my pain-free family Xmas ruined.

Finding life a bit challenging at the moment, but realize that others have it far worse. Just needed to cry on someone’s shoulder – thanks for listening. I’ll feel better tomorrow.

Oh... H-e-double-hockey sticks and hot-spit (as my aunt used to say).
Very sorry to hear this.

 

[Paladina]

I'm sorry to hear of your last-minute cancellation, and it's probably not much consolation to you right now that your donated slot may be making the recipient's life much easier. I hope you really will feel better tomorrow and that you'll enjoy a pain-free celebration a little later than anticipated.

 

[jsalt]

An update. I am a new woman. For anyone suffering from facet joint osteoarthritis have a look at the rhizotomy procedure.

Not only that, I was SO impressed by my treatment at the mediclinic in Nelspruit. The staff were amazing. I was admitted at 6am and finally discharged at 6pm.

EVERY nurse, male and female, and I met at least 20 (long story) throughout the day, if only for a second or two, greeted me with a smile and introduced themselves by name (and they are LONG names in Africa ).

They all called me “Mrs Salt”, never using my first name.

It made me think of my dear deceased mother (a state registered nurse in the UK during WWII), a very gentle person, of the old school, who never used first names. She would be proud of them.

Times change, but I found it SO respectful.

Camino here I come!

 

[jsalt]

Two years on, and just thought I’d post an update, in case anyone else on this forum has osteoarthritis in the lower spine, and wondering if they can still walk the camino.

The rhizotomy procedure lasted about 5 months. The nerves grew back, I made the wrong move, and I was flat on my back again in agony.

I ended up back in hospital, and the specialist said “I can do nothing more for you” – well, it WAS Sunday morning .

I understood what he meant; he dealt with REAL spinal problems - like car accidents - not minor things like arthritis grabbing the spinal nerve .

As he started to walk away, I said, desperately, “well, can I at least have the cortisone injections again”, and he said OK. So that’s what I do now; every 6 months or so he writes out a prescription for “facet joint infiltrations”.

And so we're back to post No. 6 in this thread:

I should add that after every imaginable alternative therapy, cortisone shots are what have helped the most. I also have it in the lower spine and elsewhere. It has not stopped me from traveling.

How's it going @madhurivivit ?

I walked most of the Camino Invierno in Sep/Oct last year, and now planning the Camino Primitivo in Sep this year . Still hanging in there . . . Jill

 

[madhurivivit]

Two years on, and just thought I’d post an update, in case anyone else on this forum has osteoarthritis in the lower spine, and wondering if they can still walk the camino.

The rhizotomy procedure lasted about 5 months. The nerves grew back, I made the wrong move, and I was flat on my back again in agony.

I ended up back in hospital, and the specialist said “I can do nothing more for you” – well, it WAS Sunday morning .

I understood what he meant; he dealt with REAL spinal problems - like car accidents - not minor things like arthritis grabbing the spinal nerve .

As he started to walk away, I said, desperately, “well, can I at least have the cortisone injections again”, and he said OK. So that’s what I do now; every 6 months or so he writes out a prescription for “facet joint infiltrations”.

And so we're back to post No. 6 in this thread:


How's it going @madhurivivit ?

I walked most of the Camino Invierno in Sep/Oct last year, and now planning the Camino Primitivo in Sep this year . Still hanging in there . . . Jill

Sorry it took so long to respond. I didn’t see your question until this morning. I had a cervical rhizotomy day before yesterday. Fingers crossed. I also had lovely people helping me at the surgical center.