New to Board, I'll just state the facts, It started with once in a while fingers going to sleep in the middle of the night,first 3 fingers on both hands,alternating between the hands, tingling,now the pain is in knuckles in the fingers ,fatty part under the thumb area:very painfull upon awaking hurts up to elbow,if i bend my writsts down i start to get pain on the palm,middle finger and index. Other times its just very dull I cant close my hands. Went to the Dr. he said get a brace I did. Its a hit and miss for relief. Tried all kinds of pain meds. They dont help.Seems the symptoms come on at night/but I have had this happen In the middle of the day I dont sleep with my arms up, or underneeth me so i dont think its Carpal tunnel
I also have joint pain very deep in my hip and have had my feet feel like pins and needles.Mt kness hurt if I sit with them bent I have to work them out to walk I just need advice as to where do i start.
Thanks

I will start by telling you that you should see an orthopedic doctor. Your family doctor should have referred you to one. I am 21 and I started having hip pain really bad. I went to the ortho and they did x rays that showed I have avascular hip necrosis. I had to have a hip replacement. I now have arthritis in my ankle. My doctor says the bone damage is a result of taking prednisone for my prior kidney transplant. I know your case may be different but be on the safe side and go to an orthopedic.
CHEEKS

Hey Cheeks;
I have AVN and just got my second hip done 4 weeks ago. I also had a great Doc who does them in such a way that he's never had a single one pop out, which is a good record. I believe he said it is a "posterior" method or something. He says a lot of Docs are stuck in old ways of doing THR's

I just wonder if this "tight and tired" local feeling in the hip ever goes away.
Andy

[This message has been edited by ajgepper (edited 06-18-2003).]

Hello ajgepper,

I hope you are doing better. I am really glad my doctor is performing the new way of THR. I feel better than before. The pain had gotten so unbearable. My hip had gotten so bad that it fell out of socket. My surgeon said the prednisone just wore them down so fast. I had an infection in the bone so my first surgery was not a permenant hip replacement he could only put in a antibiotic spacer.Last year I had my permenant put in and I am so happy with the results. I don't have the tight feeling that you mentioned. I do notice that when it rains or is cold that I get a little achy.Is the tight feeling only due to the surgery you just had or is it there when the hip is good and settled? Do you know what caused your AVN? Are you having any other problems with other bones or joints?
Thanks
CHEEKS

[This message has been edited by CHEEKS (edited 06-18-2003).]

I'm only 43; I had avasular necrosis in both hips. I think the cause may have been repeated nerve root injections I had in the pain clinic(about 8 or 9)or it may have been genes. My mother has osteo and had her hips done in her early 60's. I hate it when it rains all day; this summer seems to be monsoon season.

Could you walk and get around with a spacer? I heard any infection and they remove the parts and you wait in bed till the infection is gone. Never heard of a spacer.

Andy

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"Activity is Key"

Diagnosed DDD-IDD L/4/5/S1 1995
Failed SCS 1995
IDET 1996 - 2 yrs. 50% relief
Diagnosed Osteoarthritis-AVN 2002
2 new hips now 2003
Facing 360 fusion, trying to hold out.On Oxycontin since 1996

Yes I could walk fine. It was a regular hip prosthetic but it was temporary. There is a plastic tube with antibiotics that will treat the infection. I was also on IV antibiotics for 6 weeks. I had the spacer for 2 years before I had my permenant because I had enrolled in school and did not want to take a break. The prosthesis I have now is better because it allows my bone to fuse into it and it seems to be stronger and I have more range of motion.

Yes I would see orthapedic thats were I receved my diagnosis though it was my back turned out to be oa in both hips.

Good luck!

For othe people who responded is anyone seeking disability or on it for athritis

I receive SSI since 99 for my kidney disease, kidney transplant and avascular necrosis till now. It is such a hassle dealing with them. They send me numerous papers and occasionally the same papers as if to see if I am going to lie about something. I have now notified them of the arthritis in my ankle so I don't know if they will continue to give me disability. It is said that if I am disabled I am inhibited from doing anything of substantial gain. Such as school. I am 21 years old and I refuse to sit around, be in pain, and not be able to at least get an education. I will keep you posted on what Social security decides on my case.
CHEEKS