Getting tested

[hypobug]

Hi,

I wrote a while back about my hip.
I decided to see a different Doctor. The bad news is that my hip is probably due to the nerve. I knew that! However when discussing my fingers, ankles and back etc. I mentioned testing to be sure of what type of arthritis I have.
I have never had an x-ray for my fingers or a lot of my joints.
The good new is that after I pressed she agreed to do blood work.

Question: Can you have both osteo and rhuamatoid arthritis?

Unfortunatly I was told that I would have to be patient about my hip.
She said that if it is the nerve that there is not much they can do beyond
mild pain relievers and telling me to use heat and Ice. It will take a while to heal.
That was not what I wanted to hear as this condition is limiting me.
I am somewhat disabled.

To sum up, I have an appointment on Dec 6th. Until then I have to live with it to some extent.
She gave me muscle relaxers on top of the anti-inflamitory drug and the Darvocet.
I am not sure I will take the muscle relaxers again. I don't like to feel drugged up. Now if they had killed the pain I would have a different view point!
I will keep you informed as to how it goes. Oh yes, she told me to use glucosamine with condro..oops forgot how to spell it.
Hypobug

[Jovach51]

hypobug,

Have you tried physical therapy? I have osteo and bursitis in my hip along with a bulging disc in my lower back. The disc was touching a nerve in my lower back that generating pain down my legs. After twelve sessions of physical therapy, it has helped a whole lot. I got off my pain medication as a result. I have finished pt and must now be deligent with doing the leg exercises everyday at least once a day along with using a heating pad on my lower back.

Hope you find some relief soon.

[roses4evver]

Hypobug,

I'm sorry for what you are going through & I know it is depressing to be in pain all the time. I've had chronic pain for 15 yrs & have been on many different anti-inflammatories, two different muscle relaxers (not at same time), and 4500 mg daily of Tylenol rapid release gel caps. Not good I know, but I had to have something for the pain & the Dr's all said it was the lesser of 2 evils. I was told I had Fibro, Osteo, & connective tissue disease (arthritis of muscle, ligaments & tendons), 15 yrs ago & the osteo primarily affected my knees, low back, hips & hands through these years.

My pain had increased greatly in my knees & low back in the last 1 1/2 yrs. I prayed so many times in any given day while working to just get me through the day. I got on a years waiting list for the best Rheumatologist here in my state because of this (I knew something was really wrong) & was finally called in the 11th month...I was thrilled that someone could help me. Just 5 mo ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid, Systemic Lupus & diabetes 2 (unfortunately I am only 45). I'm curently & have been on Darvocet & Ultram (2 at a time) every 4 hrs around the clock for the last 3 mo.[B]

So yes a person can have Osteo, Rheumatoid & many other variations of arthritis all at the same time.

You don't hear too much about Osteo being debilitating, but it surely can be for those who have a strong hereditary back ground of Osteo. At the present time I will be having a LT TKR in the next 6 wks or so & then the RT if all goes well. The Dr's say I'm a very high risk patient due to diabetes & Lupus. I will have to take my chances since I refuse to wait for the next 2 yrs to past by & wait to be in a wheel chair. That's the prognosis of 3 specialists. I will utilize a pain clinic for injections for my low back soon, hoping for many months of relief.

It sounds as though you have a good Dr with the meds you are on & her treatment plan. I know the muscle relaxers are hard to deal with, but in time your system will tolerate them better. I find ways to counter act the drowsiness of them by drinking caffinated drinks & taking B-complex daily. If you can't tolerate a full pill then break it in 1/2 & try that. The muscle relaxers help a great deal for me, so I have to put up with that drugged up feeling. Especially since I have to have the pain meds also. My Rheumatologist has me on 3,000 mg of just glucoamin daily for the Osteo. I'm on Arava & will be starting enbrel hopefully in the next week for the Rheumatoid. The only course of treatment for osteo are cortisone injections, surgery for severe osteo, muscle relaxers, & pain medications unlike for Rheumatoid.

Hang in there & don't give up!