OSTEOARTHRITIS is a debilitating disease that can saddle sufferers with excruciating pain. We spoke to a York voluntary worker about how she copes with her condition.

MARGARET Potter has been used to the dull ache of osteoarthritis since her forties, but last year the pain was so bad she thought she was having an attack of angina.

"I had this terrible pain down the breastbone," recalled Margaret, 64. "It was the same sort of pain as I get with my angina so I went straight to hospital.

"They said 'Margaret, it's not your angina, it's your arthritis - it's in the bones down the side, it's everywhere'. I've just had to learn to live with it."

Margaret, of Wetherby Road, York, first felt the arthritis in her feet. She was diagnosed with osteoarthritis fairly quickly, and took six months' sick leave from her job as a bar and restaurant supervisor.

A doctor examined her and told her the pain would soon spread.

"He said: 'Oh, my love, you don't realise. It's in the whole body; arthritis travels upwards. If it has started in your feet, it will spread', and those were the truest words anyone's ever said to me."

In October, 2000, Margaret had a right hip replacement. Almost two years later, she underwent a right knee replacement operation and is currently waiting for surgery on her feet.

She takes strong painkillers, has physiotherapy on her neck, and injections in her shoulder to ease the pain.

"First thing on a morning I'm terrible, and it usually takes me an hour to get going," she said.

"It feels like really bad toothache, a dull ache."

Margaret lives in a granny flat adjoining her daughter's home, and uses two sticks to walk.

Despite her pain, she volunteers for York Wheels - a service to help people get around - which is based at York Hospital. She said keeping busy has helped her to cope.

She said: "If you let it get that bad, it can take over your life. If you sit there feeling sorry for yourself you'll suffer with it more, whereas if you can get up and do something you can overcome it and override it.

"I've been very fortunate, I've had a wonderful surgeon and lots of help from the hospital; I've had some excellent care."

Jane Tadman, of the Arthritis Research Campaign, said two million people in the UK suffered from osteoarthritis.

"It's often called the wear and tear disease, and it s the most common type of arthritis," she said.

"It affects people when they're older and tends to affect more women than men.

"The cartilage, which is the substance between the ends of the bones, wears away, leaving the ends of the bones rubbing together, which causes pain or a swelling.

"Patients should be encouraged to keep mobile and active as much as they can. Research has shown if you sit around and don't do very much it gets worse. The best thing you can do is to be active and do as much physical exercise as you can within the level of pain. Walking, cycling and swimming can help keep the joints supple.

"Some patients also find cod liver oil and glucosamine sulphate helpful."

The York Orthopaedic Support Group works closely with York Hospital. The group recently donated five special chairs to help patients on the hospital's orthopaedic ward.

Members meet every third Monday of the month at York Hospital Social Club, White Cross Road, off Haxby Road, at 1.30pm.

For information, phone 01904 430809.

To contact the Arthritis Research Campaign, phone 0870 850 5000 or log on to www.arc.org.uk.

Updated: 10:38 Friday, April 01, 2005