I’m just waiting for the date for my knee replacement next month due to OA. I’m 48.
Pain killers and anti-inflammitaories were touching the pain, cortison shots worked for maybe a week or two. Steady cycling is OK, but walking is always painful to some degree, which is a bugger when your job is basically lots of walking on rough ground (Outdoor Access Officer). The last year has been a trauma both for family stuff and managing to work and play.
It’s taken me a year to get to see an NHS consultant, so bear that in mind, some areas are even longer wait (2 years Aberdeen). I looked to go private and got a private consutlation, but it would be £12k for the operation that I don’t have laying about.
Bear in mind that any cortisone shots will delay any operation by atleast 3 months (depends on the consultant, the private one told me 6 months)
I also have OA in a wrist, but thankfully an annual cortisone shot in that seems to be working for now, ultimately I’ve been told it’ll be a wrist fusion to look forward to!
Only you can decide how incapacitating it is with work, family, fun and sleep.
All the best in getting some peace from it.