Hello.

I have pretty wide spread pain, but for now I want to talk about my knees. Since I was a child, my knees have cracked and popped loud enough for people to comment and ask if they hurt. They were uncomfortable but did not hurt very much until I got a little older. Now the pain can get agonizing. An x-ray showed mild degenerative changes.

My question is, can I have osteoarthritis that causes a high level of pain while mild degenerative changes are seen on x-ray?

Thank you.

My x-rays showed mild changes, and I was in serious pain with RA. So,yes, you can show mild changes with horrific pain.

I have osteo in my knees with mild degeneration and at times I have very bad pain. Are you on any medications? I have been on plaquenil for two years which had not been working well any more. My rheumy had to finally put me on a low dose of Imuran to try and control joint pain and I take Ultram (tramadol) when needed for pain. Weather changes also make pain worse.

Hope you get some relief soon.

Take care

Thanks, serendipity02 and Jovach51!

I was told by a rheumatologist that he thinks that I have developed fibromyalgia. That may be true but, I do know that this problem in my knees has been around since childhood and I think that it is a specific joint problem. The pain is the same kind as it was, just alot worse.

I have taken every anti inflammatory available, ultram, darvocet, anti depressants (I guess my knees are depressed!), and a couple of other meds that I can't remember the name of. I was offered stearoid injections.

It seems like some doctors want to manipulate me with psychology to believe that I really don't feel what I do, or that I should feel ashamed for talking about it. It is real and it is intense enough to merit attention. I do not feel that humiliation belongs in this mix.

You're very welcome. I have had to have steroid injections in my knees and take prednisone. I'm practically bedridden without steroids in some form. For this reason, my rheumy put me in a research clinic for a new auto immune drug. No steroids and no pain! Arthtitis sufferers are going to love this drug when it gets out on the market, which, I believe, will be in 2007. I've taken every drug out there and this is the only one (besides steroids) thats taken the pain away. No side effects either. I had given up on ever having a normal life before this drug.

That sounds like a wonderful new treatment! I bet you were/are thrilled about it! I hope they put it on the express lane to get it on market. Is there any adverse side effects? I am just now working on losing the last of 50 pounds that I gained while from the other drugs. I did forget to mention that they tried prednisone on me for awhile. Thanks for telling us about that new drug!!