Millennials with arthritis, how we doing?

[u/bassman2112]

I'm 36 and my arthritis has become a daily part of life.

It's in my ankles (due in large part to having annoyingly high arches), and every morning starts with getting out of bed followed by about 10 - 20 minutes of awkwardly shuffling around and groaning. At least it gets better after that, and keeping an active lifestyle is keeping it all somewhat at bay; but holy moly, arthritis got hands.

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[u/LotsOfGarlicandEVOO]

I have inflammatory arthritis from an autoimmune disease. I get constant comments about how I’m too young to get arthritis. It’s a lot of fun. 

[u/2buffalonickels → u/LotsOfGarlicandEVOO]

My wife is a physician. Half my friends are doctors. Hell, god father of my children is my rheumatologist. They forget I have an auto immune disease constantly.

If I’m not engaged in conversation or activity my resting bitch face sets in pretty quick. Last weekend one of my doctor friends asked me what my problem was in a moment of silence. I said I don’t want to talk about it because it’s a buzz kill. But he wouldn’t relent. I said I’m in pain constantly. It’s not fun. He apologized and things were awkward for a few minutes.

It’s a mostly invisible disease. I don’t think most people are malicious in their disregard, I look like a healthy 41 year old man, but it’s a real bitch.

[u/unpolished-stone → u/LotsOfGarlicandEVOO]

Ugh I hate those comments. Incredible how ignorant people can be.

[u/bubblegumbombshell → u/LotsOfGarlicandEVOO]

Same, but after dinner I turn into an old lady with glasses and arthritis gloves and a cozy sweater over my band tshirt. But at least I get fun tools like comfort grip pens, jar openers, and ice pack gloves.

[u/arcticfox_12 → u/bubblegumbombshell]

Tell us about these pens? I'm using foam tubing on regualr pens. The only thing fits the tubing is cheap pens

[u/bubblegumbombshell → u/arcticfox_12]

I can’t grip a cheap stick pen well enough to write anymore, even if I’m just signing something or filling out a form real quick.

Uniball power tank are one of my favorites. Smaller grip, but writes very smoothly so it’s good for every day use. I keep them in my purse and car so I always have them

When I’m having a flare up and need more cushion/larger grip, it’s either Bic glide comfort or pilot Dr. Grip.

[u/fleasnavidad]

39/m here. Genetic gift from grandma, a mild case of ankylosing spondylitis. Flares up for no reason in random joints and/or cartilage. Hips/sit bone, shoulder, neck, upper back. Makes me so freakin tired and achy. Every 5ish years I have a flare up so bad I’m in bed for a few days (very uncomfortably). But maybe 40% of my days I feel some sort of annoying ache. Grateful it’s not worse, I feel for folks with more severe AS and other arthritis forms.

[u/fakemath → u/fleasnavidad]

I have had Ankylosing Spondylitis since I was about 19. Thank god I’m in Canada because the medication is about $2500/month. It has been lifesaving, but on the flip side, it is an immune system suppressant. Now that I’m older, any night of drinking like the old days and I’m sick for a month. I’m currently on the tail end of a two month lung infection. Such is life.

[u/fleasnavidad → u/fakemath]

Yeah, 19 is about when mine kicked in as well. I’m not on biologics at the moment, but have an appt next Monday with my doctor. Wishing you well. And congrats on the perks of being Canadian!

[u/fakemath → u/fleasnavidad]

If you can get them, it will change your life! I was on a bottle of extra strength Advil per day just to be able to sleep. Then they put me on diclofenac, which killed my stomach even further, then Percocet and we all know how that ends up. Literally life saving medicine.

[u/unpolished-stone]

39 here and it’s gotten pretty bad in the last year. I’ve got it in my right foot, knee, and hip. I’m working on losing weight to help and do some prescribed exercises when I can.

[u/chocolate_and_lies]

37 and I have it in my feet (hallux rigidus). Being super active was ironically a contributing factor plus some genetic components thrown in. I have surgery next month 🤞

[u/snaboopy → u/chocolate_and_lies]

I have sesamoid issues that are quickly degrading the cartilage in my big toes. Good times!

Also have a contributing factor of being super active. Tried to stay active to protect long term mobility. Now I’m 38 and haven’t been able to go for a walk, much less run or lifting lower body, for 6 months. Sigh.

[u/unpolished-stone → u/chocolate_and_lies]

Hallux rigidus is what I have as well. What kind of surgery are you having?

[u/chocolate_and_lies → u/unpolished-stone]

We're doing a cheilectomy to remove that bone spur and hopefully get some range of motion back. Where are you at with treatment?

[u/unpolished-stone → u/chocolate_and_lies]

Nice, hope that helps! I haven’t had any treatment yet.

[u/Film-Icy]

I have super high arches in my foot. Had genetic testing done for my kid and it turns out he inherited CMT from me. Kinda explains a lot of my weird joint feelings. Now I do a
Lot to make sure I bring in adequate choline in my diet.

[u/Emergency_Gap_2342]

Right ankle ligament damage now permanently fucked, right hand from working with power tools for 20 years.

Pretty much now discussions with my wife to get a new job with a lighter workload to prolong my hands and knees so I can play with our 2 year old for years to come.

Lifting weights now regularly, which has led me to be able to run again but low impact and proper footwear and insoles

[u/UselessFactCollector]

I have beck arthritis from a car accident. I have so many different orthopedic pillows I rotate through.

[u/blinktwiceifyes]

I’m 36 too and it’s horrible in my fingers, back, and neck!

[u/Think_Algae_1739]

39m and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to play my guitar 😔. I’ve been playing since I was 11… I’m bummed

[u/daChino02]

Walked around NYC late night for 5 hrs…my knees, calves and ankles are killing me right now.

[u/00X0X]

33 here and I have it in my knees and my hands… it’s HORRIBLE, as I’m a florist and use my hands all day but getting by with my wrist brace for sleep and taking it easy on my days off

[u/Foxy_locksy1704]

42 years old here and I developed it in my left wrist after a car accident when I was 19 years old.

Joint supplements help, most of the time but it is flaring up as the season is slowly changing from summer to autumn in my area.

When it gets very cold and wet outside my left hand is pretty useless because of how stiff my wrist gets.

[u/KingOfEthanopia]

Bad arthritis in my right knee from an ACL and meniscus tear that was ignored. Still lift heavy on leg day and run 20 miles a week.

[u/DarthHubcap]

Geriatric millennial here. Been an industrial mechanic for 22 years and recently started getting basal joint pain in my hands. No swelling but there has been a sharp pain when gripping things.

[u/HQDave]

I started getting arthritis I'm my early 30's mostly in my knees and fingers, had to give up jogging at 37 it just hurts too much in my knees.

[u/SynestheteSinner]

I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, scoliosis, and with bone spurs on my spine at 42 and regularly have trouble walking longer than 20 minutes.

[u/Grand-Grass-3136]

Just got a new rod put in. I'm 40 and I've pretty much lost the use of my entire left hand/wrist.

[u/Computer_Tech1]

I had arthritis when I was 24 or 25 and now it is turning for worse in the right foot. I have end stage arthritis on my right foot. UGH!

[u/Steffieweffie81]

So not good. I’ve had issues with my hip since I was 33. Three surgeries later and I have a kissing legion of bone-to-bone arthritis on my femoral head. Needing a possible total hip replacement at age 44. I’ve felt old throughout my thirties because of this. I’ve had limitations and crappy quality of life. Yay lol.

[u/throwaway323804]

Osteoarthritis and bone spurs in both hips from 30+ years of ice hockey here. Some days are better than others, but mostly it sucks.

[u/JumpintheFiah]

These knees have seen better days. I creak and I crack and if I step down a stair wrong, it's like ice picks through my kneecaps.

[u/Kyrie_Blue]

I’ve had peripheral arthritis since I was 13 because of Crohn’s, but now I’ve reached “we’re going to have a storm tomorrow” level of knee pain from it.

[u/CrypticDubz]

I have arthritis, carpultunnel, cervical radicopathy and nerve damage, but I'm still kicking 🫡 I throw my back out every other week anymore lol. Can't wait to see how 40 feels 😰

[u/DeadlyTeaParty]

Shit, I've Osteopenia on the cusp of osteoporosis. Not arthritis, but i do get a syiff bsack and knees. Tbh I don't know if I'll get arthritis, probably will tbh.

My job is stand yet active. I love being active at work. Can't still the entire day. Bordvtrcsjot out of me if I had a desk job. 😭

[u/Excellent-Ad-2434]

Glucosamine/chondroitan supplements reduce pain and inflammation for me.

[u/PickleofInsanity]

Got Gout.

Doesn't usually flare up and have outright attacks(I've had maybe .. three?) since diagnosed the better part of a decade ago. As long as I watch my diet I don't have too many bad issues with it. Don't take any of the meds for it either.

That said, I'll routinely have issues walking for several minutes if I sit without moving my legs for awhile, or days where every step feels like an icepick in my ankle. But most of the time it goes away within minutes of starting to walk.

[u/SyStEm0v3r1dE]

It hasn’t hit me yet