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Date: 19.05.2009
From: Del

Subject: osteoarthritis

hi i have been in excruciating pain with my hand for the last 2 weeks the doctor has given me parcetamol codeine naproxen as i have bad swelling everyday that wont go down and anther tablet to line my stomach.None of these have helped much as i have been in constnat pain for the 2 weeks still. i had blood tests done which showed inflammation then i had more blood took and it showed up the same inflammation, plus i had an xray which has just shown up minor osteoarthritis. My question is if this is only minor arthritis how can i be in so much pain i cant hold anything , cant bear to touch the hand i cant use a knife undo my door nothing has anyone eles ever had this with osteo arthritis please help as im at my wits end with the pain many thanks.
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Date: 19.05.2009
From: J

Subject: Re: osteoarthritis

Hi Del, sorry to hear of your pain, I know its horrible... Ok with regards minor Osteo, it would still cause pain, maybe the Meds your doc gave u arnt touching the pain, at the end of the day, as this is all kinda new to you, your first flare up will be a bit of a shock to the system, yes
we have all been there with hand pain, it is horrible, think if i was u, I wld give it another week, and if still bad, go back and tell Doc u need stronger painkillers, lots of us are on Morphine, due to severe mutiple joint arthritis, and all of us at some point or another had to begin with just hand pain, as nasty as it is, but progress on to much much worse pain, hence the Morphine, lots of us have had corrective surgery(ive had 7 corrective surgeries, related to arthritis) its a dreadful Insidious disease and hopefully you will only have osteo in your hand, doesnt mean it will go anywhere else,so stay positive ok, lots of people are lucky where it does not go further than the hand, or mb just a foot, but however, we all reconise that pain is pain, and that u still need support with that, this place is the best forum for info and support, we will always try to help.... Osteo mean wear and tear, we all eventually get that type of arthritis in one way or another, but u dont need to suffer the pain ok, there Once the inflamation drops a little more, u will begin to get less pain, the good thing is Del, that your Doc took u seriously and sent u to get tests, lots of people dont get that, so u do have a good GP, Go back next week(can hear u say OMG that long) but in the scheme of things from a Docs point of view, its not a long time to wait, as inflamation can take a few weeks for it to get better.

Please stay positive, and remeber, we do understand your pain, cos we have it also, I have had Two carpal tunnel ops on both hands, Hand pain is dreadful

Take care

Love J
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Date: 20.05.2009
From: del

Subject: Re: osteoarthritis

hi j thankyou for your reply its nice toknow that im not alone. i have the doctors again in the morning so will update you on it. The main thing i am concerned about is that the swelling takes ages to go down just a small bit and never dissapears completely. Also the fact that i cant clench my fist the pain seems to be more across my wrist on the top and on the knuckles and my thunb on the fleshy bit by the wrist.It seems to burn all the time as well i also get the pain down my arm to the elbow and up to my neck.I cannot use the hand at all it is as though it has just seized up is this normal with osteo A as after reading on the internet it just seems to say there is stiffness.Thankyou again for replying and listening to my moans.:)
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Date: 20.05.2009
From: j

Subject: Re: osteoarthritis

Hi Del

I know that feeling u describe, mb more investigating is needed, they will find out in time im sure of that.... seems you are worse than I thought, thought was just in your hand, elbow pain is dreadful, im having that prob at the mo in fact, having an injection tomoz(steroid) mb ask your GP for that, have u had a Referal to a Rhumatologist, if no, U must, it takws a while to see one, ive waited as long as 4 months just for first visit, u msut seee one if u havnt, they will do correct tests, and give u the correct meds...

soz I cant be more helpful, this place is for us to whinge, cry, SCREAMMMMMMMMM and moan ok, we all have our turn . beleive me LOL

take care
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Date: 20.05.2009
From: Del

Subject: Re: osteoarthritis

hi j went to docs today got a bit tearful and felt a bit silly but i suffer wiv panic attacks and depression so think it all just got me down. Anyway she had a word with a senior doctor and he said i need to go to the hospital, anyway to cut it short the hospital rang me and i have an appointment with a rhumatologist on friday at 11 so hopefully things will get sorted.thanks again for your support and kind words will keep u updated big hugs Del x
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Date: 21.05.2009
From: val h

Subject: Re: osteoarthritis

hi sorry u r so bad at moment it will get better its when u get a flare up like that that is so scary i only just going through first stages as well with doc tablets worked can bend fingers properly first time in months and worst of pain gone so will get better stick with it? :-)
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Date: 21.05.2009
From: J / Jill

Subject: Re: osteoarthritis

Hi Del

Glad your getting help and so fast too, u deserve it, see a few tears gets u a long way, beleive me, Like val says, its scary when something like this suddenly happens, but now that u r seeing the correct specialist, he will do the best for u, correct meds etc, first off they begin with giving u the less invasive type meds, so dont worry ok, ask the specialist everything, write a list so that u dont forget a thing, that is best, becos when u get there, u may forget, I understand your depression and panic attacks, ive had Panic attacks in the past, I know how they affect a person, not nice, but think positive for fri, no need to worry, they are there to help u, mb take a friend along for support

let us know how u got on ok

Val Hi, what type probs are u facing at the mo/ have they officially diagnosed Arthritis etc? what meds are u on?

take care

Love Jill
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Date: 22.05.2009
From: Della

Subject: Re: osteoarthritis

hi jill well i went to hospital today and here is the update. I woke feeling awful had aches everywhere even in my feet i have always had a bad back and put my aches down to that but maybe i shouldn't have as the rheumatologist made me think otherwise. basically he didnt give a definate diagnosis but i think he is thinking it is inflammatory arthritis i was given a steroid injection in the buttock and he said hopefully i should feel a bit better tomorrow,also had xrays on my hands again feet and pelvis,he has given me 500mg salazopyrin which i have to build up the dose over a few weeks and have the blood test every 2 weeks because of the liver.Initially i did feel a bit happier but now i feel on a bit of a downer as unsure what the future holds do u know much about the inflammable A does it get better or is that it now for life, i did ask questions but to be honest i was a bit nervous and in so much pain ive forgot most of what he said . he did say a few things it could be but the names are so long i cant remember, anyway hopefully i will feel a bit better tomorrow speak soon take care
Della.x
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Date: 23.05.2009
From: J

Subject: Re: osteoarthritis

HI Della

If you have forgotten the name he said, u r entitled to ring his secretary at the hosp, when the hospital ansa the phone, just ask can talk to the Rhumatologists Secretary, they will put u thru to her, DO NOT feel bad doing this, its normal for them to have patients ring them, explain that as u were in so much pain,u didnt take it all in, and does she have the name of the type of Arthritis he said u may have, mention he said some long words, u forgot them now, just tell her what u have told me, she will either tell u there and then, orshe will ring u back with the info....

Ok I have Inflamatory Arthritis due to having Reiters disease(Reiters have caused me to have Inflamatory A....Del U must remember we are all different, once u r on the correct Meds, and U must Trust your rhumatologist(most are brill im sure)but also u must help him with as much info as poss to get the correct diagnosis, no need to be nervous ok,tell him exactly how u feel, tell him how bad ur back pain is, Ive had spine surgery, so I know all about back pain< I need another one soonish... anyway Della, as I said b4 we are all different, U may have it Mildly, time will tell, this at the mo wont just go away ove night, if infact u do have Infam A, it takes a while to get it back under control, u may become painfree for months, and then u will have a Flare up, due to inflamation running around your body, its when u feel very tired and unwell that u must ask for a Steroid Jab, it helps, also your GP will now Listen to u more carefully, as rhumatoligist will write to your GP with the results also.

I dont want to tell u my story, as It wont help u, as I said b4 Della, we are all different, I have this chronically, thats all I want to say ok, becos I do not want to scare u, it wont do u any good...the reason I wouldnt tell u my experiences is becos U will be waiting for that to happen to u, and Im sure it wont.... U must stay Positive, and think this isnt going to get any worse ok... when I first like u was diagnosed(years ago) it was a slow but progressive disease for me, years down the line, ive become worse, BUT Della, this does NOT mean this will happen to you.... Infmaatory A. and R.A. is the same type pain, one isnt worse than the other, my friend had R.A. But isnt as bas as me....some people have R.A. but dont realise they have it, becos its just Mild for them...... fingers crosssed, get the right Pain relief and on the correct meds, they can do so much for u, I was Origionally Misdiagnosed, thats y im like I am today...if I had been given the correct Meds years ago, I wouldnt have been as bad now..... But I am on the corrrect Meds now, and even tho times have been hard for me, Im still Positive for my future,.,,,, Thats the best way u can cope with this Disease OK
So Chin up and be kind to your self

Love Jill x
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Date: 23.05.2009
From: Jill

Subject: Re: osteoarthritis

Just one m,ore thing Del, Ive three different things going on with me, I have Reiters Disease, DDD(disc degeberation) and cervical spondy(wear and tear of soft tissues in neck and spine... plus Inflamatory, so mine is a complex prob, Not just Inflamatory A. thats y im as bad as I am, not just becos of Inflam A. So U MUST stay Pos, and U will Def get this under control OK...Trust me xx
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Date: 26.05.2009
From: Della

Subject: Re: osteoarthritis

hi jill thanks for your messages i find them really comforting. had a really good night when i came back from the rheumatologist the pain went off a lot and i could really move them a lot better but when i went to bed that night i had a terrible nights sleep woke up unable hardly to put my neck on the pillow thumping headache and a panic attack which i was really scared about and upset as i have suffered with them for 25 years but they have been few and far between lately but having them quite often lately due to the worry i think so i have been really depressed about that.i seem to have one day where i can get through the day and another day where i cant stand the pain any more and am really down, when i had the steroid injection he said i should feel a lot better the next day but it doesnt seem to have made any effect does it take a while to kick in?.one thing i wanted to ask was can you describe to me the pain i know that is proberly a silly question but i just keep thinking maybe it is something eles and not arthritis , say it is something eles they havent picked up i know that sounds so stupid but my mind plays overtime and thats when i get anxious and panic. It feels like someone is sticking nails into my hands all the time i still cant clench a fist and it is still swollen even though i take the anti inflammatorys all the time. I'm so sorry to moan all the time but i cant stop worrying at the moment sorry Jill i do hope you are feeling ok you must be a very special person to have suffered like you have and yet you have all this advice and kindness to give to other people i thankyou again big hugs Della.x
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Date: 26.05.2009
From: val h

Subject: Re: osteoarthritis

hi u sound just like the rest of us i am lucky the doc caught it early and meds working i thought it was all in my head at one bit every day another part of me hurt so put off going doc but she was great told me i not hypro. and not all in my head. you feel so much pain u start thinking all sorts of things we all feel pain differently so yours might be different to other people but just as bad or worse u will get it sorted it sometimes takes time to get right med. 4 u stick with it did not realise my self till coming on here that some of the things i was going through was conected to the arthritus it helps reading what others have to say take care of your self
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Date: 26.05.2009
From: Jill

Subject: Re: osteoarthritis

Hi Del(((hugs for U))) Val is correct, we are all different, but I must say yes the way u describe your hand pain is exactlly like that for us, how I describe it is like this, and Im sure u will agree, its like Toothache, Pulsating, thobbing, sharpe Nerve Like pain, A kind of Gnawring pain deep into the bones, thats how I describe the pain I get...Regards the steroid Jabs, it shld have kicked in, but I doubt it would have made a Magic difference to your Hand, But Imagine Del if u DIDNT have the Injection, U might have been far far worse off, So think positive ok... I had one last thurs....mine usually work, but it hasnt this time Del.... please dont think the worst, I did that years ago, thinking the same as u, that mb they MISSED something nasty like...the big C, Please try and control your Worry, hard I know, but u know that a Panick attack will NOT hurt u, I told u I had them, and what I did at that time, after I had had a few, I then knew they cant Kill me, so I use to say to myself....Calm down Jill, this is just another one of those stupid attacks, and It cant Hurt me....Honest that was what I use to say ot Think hard to myself, and them the feelings use to subside, infact I got quite good at stopping them from blowing up to a full panick attack....GP put me on Cipralex, I still get Palpatations, those are scary too....but again Ive had all the check ups and im fine regards my Ticker LOl.....remember Della, all of us on here at one time or another have often thought, have they got the right diagnosis.... its a normal thing, but also remember, altho there is pain that goes with our conditions, its Not life threatening, and for me I think of that a lot, keeps me Positive, becos there r so many very sick people, that wont recover...at least us lot hve a chance in life


Take care della


speak soon

love Jill xxxx Del Email me when ever u want x
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