Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me?
Help! I'm at a loss of where to go next. I've had joint pain since I was about 3 in my elbows, wrists, ankles, and knees. Everyone said it was 'growing pains'... These pains were always symmeterical.
I've always had these pains (usually before it would rain) and I would take aspirin or ibu. because if I didn't it would be unbearable.
Jump to age 30 & I SUDDENLY (or so the pain seemed) developed BAD hallux rigidus in both big toes -- both on the same day at the very same moment. Doctors repeatedly said they couldn't do anything -- eventually I would need those joints fused, take anti-inflammatories & deal with it. They did do an arthritis screen and sent me to a rheumatologist since I had a + ANA but he couldn't find anything wrong with me.
Now, I'm 47 (as of yesterday), and still have all those same pains, and had both big toe joints fused (since the pain got lots worse.) I thought that would solve everything but when I has a recent colonoscopy and couldn't take ANY ibuprofen for DAYS I was in such agony EVERYWHERE that I called my family doc. He took x-rays & I have 'severe' arthritis in both feet (which I could pretty much guess) and also have signs of it in my ankles and my hand -- basically everywhere they x-rayed. He did an arthritis screen and the ANA was positive again (NOTE: for the 3rd time!)
THEN I went to a rheumatologist a few weeks ago. She did further tests -- all the tests came back NORMAL and she said I 'probably' have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Then she basically said that they couldn't help me and to go back to my family doctor.
I was shocked she didn't find anything wrong with me! Not that I wan't to have a problem but if I'm 'normal' why am I in such pain? Where do I go from here?
PLEASE let me know if you have any suggestions for me. I'm at a loss, I'm in pain, I'm scared... and I'm only 47. Aren't I too young to be dealing with all of this? I don't want to end up crippled an unable to do all the things I enjoy in life.
Thanks for any help or advise...
Very sincerely,
~Heather
P.S. Would/could fibromyalgia cause deterioration of your joints? I thought that was more of a 'muscle thing'...
Re: Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me?
My tests came back normal but my rheumie diagnosed me with RA. I do have inflamation and swelling but I tested negative for the RA factor. You still could have RA. If your rheumie won't do anything about it then I suggest that you get a second opinion. They put me on 15mg of Methotrexate and 50 mg of Ultram 3 times a day. I have just started it so I'm not sure if it will work or not but I am hopeful. Don't give up!! There are lots of us out there that understand how you feel. Keep trying until they do something to help you. We all wish you well!
Re: Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me?
i'm 48 i have RA it's not easy and i feel for you . don't give up. i'v been to 2 RA doc. they did me no good. my own family doc turned out to be my best bet. he helps me with my pain with hydrocodone and liquid glucosamine w/ chondroitin + msm. it took a month or so to help but it help some.ther is no quick fixes.its a day to day battle.but these 2 things help me deal with it.you'll learn what u can and can't do to aggitate it and some foods can trigger it . keep a log about your condition what u do and what u eat .to go back to when u have a flair up. good and bad days so u can learn what u can and cannot do. good luck.
Re: Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me?
Quote:
Originally Posted by imhdab
Help! I'm at a loss of where to go next. I've had joint pain since I was about 3 . . .
Three years old or since three years ago?! If it's since you were a baby, it sounds like you have JRA. Do you have a small receded chin? One limb longer than the other, leg, feet, arms, etc? JRA causes growth delays by destroying the growth centers in the joints. It can leave you with early osteoporosis and early onset osteoarthritis.
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (the big wigs in Doctorville changed the name to just Juvenile Arthritis recently) is a rare autoimmune disease that effects children. Some of the symptoms are similar to adult rheumatoid arthritis. In about 75% of cases the kids go into remission in their teens and the disease never returns.
I was diagnosed as a baby and it went into remission in my teens. Unfortunately it returned with a vengeance in my twenties. I'm part of the unlucky 25%.
Perhaps in your case you're still in remission but are dealing with the aftermath of having JRA as a child.
Definitely see another rheumatologist, whatever you do.
Last edited by AuntieLeela; 08-26-2008 at 03:35 PM.
Re: Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me?
It was since I was 3 years old (maybe earlier -- that's as far back as I can remember.) I don't have a small receeded chin or limbs of different sizes. I'm the tallest female in the family (by at least 3-4 inches) so I don't think I experienced any growth problems.
My latest (new) symptom = EXTREME fatigue. I didn't sleep well last night but this goes way beyond that. I feel like I've been drugged or something.
Thanks for all of your replies -- I'm going to see my family doc tomorrow. My gut instinct tells me that this IS rheumatoid arthritis. I seem to have all the symptoms - especially joint pain, swelling, and ALWAYS having symmetrical pain. (All the other symptoms too -- at least what I was able to find online.)
I'll let you know what ,y doc says -- I don't want to have it but I do want whatever I DO have to (finally) have a name put to it and more importantly, to have some kind of (hopefully) effective treatment.
Re: Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me?
Ask your doctor about "Limbrel". I have inflammation in many places. Had steroid injection in both knees and later needed another injection. After taking Limbrel for 3 months I did not need steroid injections.
Every time I tried to get up from a chair the groin/leg area would be extremely painful, felt like I was going to crack/break. After taking Limbrel for a while I no longer have pain trying to get up out of a chair.
I have Fibromyalgia and inflammation over most of my body.
Limbrel works different from the other anti-inflammatories. In fact Limbrel is intended for osteoarthritis treatment.
I also had inflammation in all fingers/thumbs and needed trigger thumb release on one thumb. I asked the orthopedic surgeon what he was going to do about the other fingers and thumb. He said nothing. I came unglued and asked why. He said to wait and see what Limbrel does. Guess what, it has been 1 1/2 years and I do not need surgery on the other fingers/thumb. I get a little discomfort off and on but is very liveable, don't really notice them anymore.
Please ask your doctor about taking Limbrel. Research and learn more about it too.
Re: Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me?
Well, I saw my rheumatologist and ALL of my additional tests came back negative. She basically said that was good, don't take my anti-imflammatories (since it was causing swelling in my legs/ankles) and said I had osteoarthritis and then said goodbye.
I left but was in a kind of state of shock. Relieved that the tests came back negative but also VERY disappointed and frustrated. I felt for SURE she would figure out what was going on and would prescribe something that could help.
I went back to my family doc and he also said it's DEFINITELY not rheumatoid arthritis -- it's osteoarthritis. He changed my meds to Celebrex but I can't fill my prescription because my insurance company said they won't cover it. My doc's office is filling out paperwork to try and get it filled so in the meantime I am on ibuprofen when causes me to be in agony every 4 hours when the effects wear off. I have to take some kind of anti-imflammatory or it's pretty unbearable.
I STRONGLEY feel that there IS something going on with me. The past few mornings I've had trouble standing on my ankles and I'm feeling pains everywhere and the pains are always symmetrical.
Is it possible to have symmetrical pains with ostoearthritis? I mean, EVERYWHERE? I thought osteo was 'wear and tear'? How could my body be 'wearing and tearing' all over: ankles, knees, feet (multiple places), hips, neck, fingers, elbows, thumbs, and sometimes even my jaw.
This is SO scary! Does anyone have any advise or words of wisdom? I am calling my docs office right now to see if they can recommend anyone in the Chapel Hill area (I'm in NC). I feel I MUST get another opinion.
All of this seemed to get worse towards the beginning of the summer. I just don't understand any of this...
Re: Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me?
Let me know if you find the type of doc that will help you. I have the same issues plus more and when I visit the Rheumologists I paid my $45 copay for him to be in the room 3-5 mins and say u just need to stay on pain medicine. When I talked to my Bone and Joint doctor he just keeps giving me epidural shots that have not been working long at all. I have been to 2 rheumologists, 4 Neuro, 3 Ortho and my regular ones and none did a vitamin D test. My GYN is a PA and she called me one day saying you know since you hurt all the time cna I do a vitamin D test and thyroid. Needless to say I have severe vitamin D deficiency of 11 and hypothryoidism. I am mad that all these doctors just want to give out pain medicine and not search for dxs. I have considered going on disability from all my pains but trying to hold out as long as I can because afraid of losing my home. What state are you in?
Re: Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me?
removed I've just been diagnosed w/RA - my previous internist didn't know what it was - a rheumy in Florida said osteo at the very least & then one of my sisters found Dr. Trentham @ Beth Israel Hospital in Brookline, MA who treats with teeny doses of minicin (I had to be started on methotrexate at least for awhile) then he'll switch me to the minicin he said. He found mine after bloodwork & xrays - but I've had that done by other doctors & they didn't catch it...so ask friends, relatives for recommendations...do not, whatever you do, give up...
Re: Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me?
Jump on over to the fibromyalgia boards. There's a lot of information there. I too have fibro and osteo. I am 59 and do my best to keep a healthy balance of all in my life. I wish you well with all your research and pray that you find a doctor that can actually help you.
Re: Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me?
Hi,
i have this terrible osteoathritis,,,I have it all in my spine,,both hips, (at the same time ) and both feet ( at the same time ) it does happen...Oh I do not want to forget both hands...At the same time, As the matter of fact..That was the beginning of it,,bith hands hurting..Fingers with nodules..at the age of 30..then it is in my back, all over,, then fighting my hips, for the last 3 years,, now my feet, hurting like,+++++ for the past 3 pluss months..And I am now 46,,So for 16 years fighting this,,But I also have other problems..Have a inoperable brain aneurysm..So I can not take asprin..So I take morphine,,for my arthritis and methadone for my disabling head pain from my anuerysm that is pulsating on my cranial nerves..I can not take any of the arthritis drugs cause of the damage it can do to the aneurysm or if it were to blow...I would be in awful trouble,,and probaly would not make it to hospital and would bleed out..But That is your best bet...Get you a good Docter, May it be a Rheumy or a pain Doc (that is who I go to ) or just a good family docter that will be behind you 100%..Good luck, Hun, Studey
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thuderbolt headahe Jan3,01 DX with a inoperable aneurysm. severe headaches everyday for 9 years. SSDI for severe pain R/t inoperable aneurysm pulsating on cranial nerves.
Re: Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me?
You can have severe osteoarthitis. They really don't know what all the genetic causes are. I have osteo in both hips, knees, spine and feet. Luckilly I have nothing in my hands. It is not always from wear and tear and that can be a misnomer. For some reason some people lose cartilage in their joints beyond the normal wear and tear.
Please help! Osteoarthtis? Fibromyalgia? Why won't my doc help me? 
