Date: 21.12.2011
From: Anne Kenyon
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Subject: Is this Arthritis
Hi everyone, I am new here, but not new to pain and discomfort. I have had severe pain in my back, hips knees and ankles for the last year. I have been for xrays, and it showed 'some wear and tear', the last xray done was my right hip, which again showed minimal Arthritis?? well if this is minimal I would hate to have full blown!!! I work, and my work requires me to walk at least 10 klm per night, by the end of the evening, I can hardly move. At night my sleep is disturbed by pain, sometimes a dull ache, but most of the time, its stabbing, aching, tingling, feelings in both of my legs, the stabbing is enough to wake me. I also have pain in my back, which makes it very hard to move in bed, and my knees ache and scream out when I roll over. I am basically crippled with pain all day and all night, my balance sucks, and quite often I will stumble and have fallen a couple of times. My Doctor will NOT give me anything more than Paracetamol/Codeine, and some Ibuprophen,I am seriously at the end of my patience with it, I wonder sometimes if all this pain is indeed Oesteoarthritis??? I excersise as much as I can to keep moving, but again the pain is that severe most of the time, any movement at all is uncomfortable to say the least... any idea's. thank you
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Date: 21.12.2011
From: bsk
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Have you seen a rheumatologist? If not, ask your gp for a referral.
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Date: 21.12.2011
From: Anne Kenyon
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
My Dr did suggest this, but there is certain criteria that one has to meet ( blood tests show whatever it is) and I didnt meet that criteria apparently, the only thing she did do was refer me to a Muscularskelletal clinic???
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Date: 21.12.2011
From: Colin
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
dont sound like rheumatoid arthritis but would still try to get refered to a rheumatologist , even if you have to pay for it
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Date: 21.12.2011
From: bsk
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Muscular skeletal clinic is good. They assess you there and refer you on to appropriate care. I accessed my rheumatologist through same clinic. I got seen by a specialist physio who realised (eventually as I couldn't walk!) that I had something seriously wrong (RA.) Appt was quick to come through and you should get the care you need. I wouldn't pay for a rheumatologist yet because, if you have OA, you will be wasting your money.
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Date: 21.12.2011
From: marlene
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Hi Anne, your gp should know that not all arthritis shows up in the bloods. The true extent of Osteoarthritis doesn't show on normal x-rays. I have OA all over. I had a back x-ray that showed nothing. Two years later beiing seen by a fantastic guy in a clinic for arthrits (loose term) he said I will write down what I know. after you have had an MRI scan come back to me and I will show you what I have written on your notes. He had written slipped disc L2 L3 with lots of OA he was absolutely correct. Two months later i was to have spinal surgery scary stuff but hey ho!! im still here. The pain in the rest of my body put me back in hospital and I was given a CT scan where they inject the name escapes me. Which showed OA in my shoulder wrists fingers chest bone and knee and several more vertebrae. Thank goodness my hips appear to be fine. OA causes Muscullarskelletal disorder, physio is very good for this it teaches us how to stand sit hold yourself in the correct positions.I had to have my physio in the hydro pool i was so bad (fab). I agree with with BSK don't pay for anything. You don't say how old you are not that it matters my OA started in my 30s.People don't understand how painful OA can be. I do it can be a nightmare. Your GP should be given you better support. Go back and tell him you have been looking on the internet and you have learned lots about your condition and it doesn't always show in bloods. Unfortunately OA is not treatable only with painkillers and surgerey. But you deserve to be given the right treatment. Sorry to go on but what you posted reminds me of how I was treated in the begining. You take care and I hope you get some good help soon.
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Date: 21.12.2011
From: bsk
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Marlene is right about certain blood tests not showing the rheumatoid factor. Generally, if you've got the inflammatory type of arthritis other blood results are higher. This is what happened to me. CRP, ESR, liver etc. were raised but no RF in my blood. Perhaps this is what your GP means - perhaps you don't have any inflammatory markers even though you've got pain? Muscular skeletal department will be able to assess you based on both your bloods (if they have them) but also a physical exam. I also agree with Marlene that OA can be very painful. My mum had severe OA in many joints and had problems even after surgery. She was unlucky. Let's hope you can get some help.
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Date: 21.12.2011
From: Anne Kenyon
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Thank you all for your comments. You are right about the RH factor, I really felt like I was a big Drama Queen, and they thought I was being unnecessarily weak about what I was experiencing... I did have bad swelling in my right knee one time I went, but mostly no swelling at all. I started off with trouble in one knee well over 15 yrs ago, I damaged it at work, and had periodic problems. Then this last nearly 2 yrs its had reared its ugly head, first the knee's, alternating between the left and right, then lower back, ankles, and now my hands and fingers are starting to show signs. I am 57, so oldish but not quite over the hill yet!!! I was a very active, busy person, but I find even the most simple tasks difficult, in fact I am finding Im getting increasingly lazy???? I guess its because everything I try to do causes pain, and Im sick of being in pain, dunno.
I will get hold of this Dr today, if she's working!! see what I can have in the meantime, I dont want to be like this Christmas... BIG GROWLY BEAR..grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
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Date: 21.12.2011
From: dave s
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Hi Anne
Sorry to hear about your problems.
I like a lot of others have been down your road with Lots of blood tests and x-rays and a MRI with nothing too serious showing up just some wear and tear. I tore the cartiledge in my knee and had to have an op where they then came to the conclusion that after seeing it for real i have stage 4 osteo in my knees.
After insisting that i was not a faker i got referred to a rhummy who has diagnosed me with Psoratic Arthritis and i am know on medication which is starting to help a bit.
At the end of the day you know your body better than anyone else and if you think there is something wrong insist that you want to be seen by someone
Good Luck
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Date: 22.12.2011
From: Sindey
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
hi Anne
so, how you Dr appointment went y'day ?
I hope you slept well last night. I'm 56 myself, have Gout, and it scares me (the thoughts of sleepless night).
Do you feel pain on your elbows as well ?
take care
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Date: 22.12.2011
From: Anne Kenyon
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Hi Sindey,and Dave
I couldnt get to see my Dr... no appointments available, so I will have to wait until after the Christmas break, so much for enjoying Christmas day with my family. I feel pain in my elbows at night as I have a bad habit of sleeping on my back with my arms up over my head, when I wake I cant move my arms at all for a while. Today has been a very bad day, we decided to pop out to get some shopping, and because its so busy this time of the year, finding a car park space was impossible and I ended up having to walk a long way, then work tonight, everything went wrong that could go wrong LOL, so I am now sitting here with pain stabbing down my legs, my knees ache, as do my feet, I have taken 3 paracetamol/codeine, in the hope that it may just calm down the pain so I can sleep some.... and tomorrow will be the same.
I have some friends who have gout, so I sympathise with you, I know how painful it is. I am so very tired but sleep evades me most nights.
Hope you both have a peaceful day/night.
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Date: 22.12.2011
From: marlene
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Hi Anne, sorry you couldn't get appt with gp. Have you though about going into your walk in centre or A&E. Explain you couldn't get gp appt so your last resort was them. I am sure they will prescribe a better painkiller for over the xmas until you get to see your GP. Don't give up knock on all the doors if you don't they will keep ignoring you. Let them know you will not be fobbed off and left to suffer. NO ONE should be left with pain that keeps you awake. Take Care hope you have time to get sorted before christmas X
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Date: 22.12.2011
From: Anne Kenyon
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Thats a good idea Marlene, I will see if I can get just a prescription from my surgery ( someone else suggested that) if not I will go to our local A&E DAMN IT.... Oh and to add insult to injury I had an incident last night where my knee 'locked'????? I was trying to get into the car, and felt intense pain in the back of my knee, and found I couldnt un-bend it.. it took quite a few minutes of massage and sheer determination for the knee to 'unlock' and when it did there was a clunk loud enough for my partner to hear... so there must be something wrong there, its not my imagination.. thank you again for your kind thoughts and comments, its good to talk to like minded people who understand.
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Date: 22.12.2011
From: marlene
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Hi Anne, the clunks and loud cracks with OA unfortunately is caused by bone on bone. Remember to tell your GP, my family often hear my neck or shoulder crack. No its not your imagination. You go girl don't let them keep sending you away without be satisfied they are doing what is right by you. Take Care Chin Up and Stay Strong.
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Date: 23.12.2011
From: Dave S
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Hi Anne
Marlene is spot on it does sound like OA if you do manage to get to see someone ask for anti inflamatory tablets i find they help quite a lot. I used to take Diclofenac but they have now said that they cause lots of other serious side effects so am now taking Naproxen 500mg and i know about it if i miss them.
I know what you mean about your elbows i sleep with my hand under my head and wake upto 6 times a night in agony.
On the plus side at this time of year you can mask pain with lots of christmas tipples
Merry Chistmas
Dave
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Date: 23.12.2011
From: Anne Kenyon
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
lol, Dave, I would, but am no longer a drinker..loonnnng story :) Christmas is looking not so good at the moment, today we have had two large Earthquakes within hours of each other, and aftershocks that feel just as bad, my nerves are shot, every jolt and shake make my heart skip a beat, it has left me feeling extremely tired, thank God my partner is not at work today... Oh well something else to think about instead of Arthritis.... we are in Christchurch, New Zealand!!!! I think lol
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Date: 23.12.2011
From: Sidney
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Hi Anne
I spelt my name wrong earlier... not SINDEY, it is SIDNEY.... and I am not in Australia, but in The Hague, Netherlands.
Well, NZ experiancing earthquake quite often... I know NZ is situted on the fault line... but quake is always scarey... I used to live in Taiwan for years... there I think almost eveyday, we used feel some shaking.. initially I woke up from my bed (if it happened during night hours).. but buildings in Taiwan are all quake proof.... so,nothing happens.... but once, I remember I was on Taiwan WTC building .. on 30 floor or so (to visit HKG Shanghai bank there)... & that quake was heavy .. may be 6 or 7 in rictor scale... the whole building sway from 1 side to the other (may be several meters)... I tell you the truth ( I thought I almost wet my pants that day,)..
lucky for me, I could manage to stay dry. lol.
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Date: 23.12.2011
From: Anne Kenyon
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
OMG sidney that sounds so very scary, 30 floors up, no thank you very much, I have trouble handling earthquakes at ground level. But I know that the buildings over there are built to withstand greater magnitude quakes than we have had here so far, unfortunately Christchurch is full of old buildings, well was full, not so many now, as they have all fallen down in the previous earthquakes... we had been lulled into a false sense of security, the last sizable shake was in June of this year, previous to that was Feb and then the first one in September 2010. Its a wonder I didnt have an accident too lol
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Date: 08.02.2012
From: Anne Kenyon
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Subject: Re: Is this Arthritis
Well, here we are again.. just experienced another good shake... man I am sooo over this!!!
Anyway, I finally got to see the Muscular Skeletal person, after having to cancel and re schedule appointment several times ( people keep dying and I have to go to funerals.. not a good thing) anyway I saw a very nice man, who, I thought very thorough in his examination and questioning of my ailments.. the initial conclusion... Fibromyalgia... apparently I am presenting with ALL the right symptoms. He still wants to do blood work etc, as it has been a while since the last lot, but he is pretty much sure thats what it is,and seeing as how I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue some years ago. He said that I may well have arthritis as well, and my left knee is looking and feeling as though there is definate arthritic tendencies... so YAYYYYYY at long last someone who knows what he is talking about, and is prepared to do something about it... I dont know whether to laugh and jump up and down with happiness that finally someone has put his neck on the line and diagnosed me, or to sit in a corner and snivel!!!! I think laugh and TRY and jump up and down is a better option!
So now I have to read all I can, and also see if there is anything I can do in the way of self help.. I have cut my working hours back by just over half, in the hope that the extra time at home resting, helps, I do know however that I must keep fit, so the muscles dont waste.
So, there we are.. I know there are many here that have Fibro, so its good that I will be able to ask questions of them...
Happy New Year people :)
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