new to site and arthritis

glo123

Hi,
as the heading says i am new to the site and arthritis.
I was diagnosed 6yrs ago with Graves disease, i had 4 RAI treatments, now the thyroid seems to be under control....for the time being anyway, i still have to attend the hospital for check ups to see how it's going.
I also have thyroid eye disease which i am having treatment at the hospital for, i was on Prednisolon for 2yrs for the inflamation in my eyes, the eye muscles swelled up really badly and the pressure went high, i have to put drops in my eyes twice a day to keep the pressure under control, i am off the Pred now, since coming off them i have had a lot of problams with my joints so i was sent to a rhumatologist and he found i had osteoarthritis in both knees, i think it's in other joints too because i can feel it, he said it was probably there befor but the Pred was masking it, he is sending me to the hospital for physio, i am waiting for the appointment to come through, well that's my story

I have it in my knees and my feet and i think my lower back and other joints, it's very painful when i sit after being on my feet for a while, then when i get up up after resting for a while it's even worse i hobble around for a bit! also going up and down stairs, and when i get up in the mornings i am sore and stiff, and i can't kneel down anymore because it's painful and then i can hardley get up.

Sorry for going on.....just wanted to explain.
Chris.

lindalegs

Hi Chris,

Don't know much about Graves disease but do know about RA as I've had it for the greater part of my life. Pain is no fun whatever the cause and sometimes life seems one long battle but I've found with my RA it does come and go (never altogether) and I've learnt to live my life around the disease. On good days I go for it, even if it means paying for it later and on a bad I rest most of the time.

Never give in to it altogether otherwise that means Arthur's won the war and we can't have that.

Take care.

Luv Legs

colinone

Hi Chris
Well it seems like you drew the short straw Chris you have been through it a bit. I have RA and PA so dont know much about OA but you will get some more replies soon. Welcome to the site its nice to meet you and dont forget to make use of the other forums on the site.
You sound really p---d off and fed up, the constant pain gets you like that and its difficult to find a way of coping with it all. But thats all we seem to do is cope. Prednisolone is good but as you say it does mask other problems as i know only to well. It gets difficult to find medication to work with little or no side effects. Anyway Chris Keep your chin up and take care.
Colin

glo123

colinone wrote:

Hi Chris
Well it seems like you drew the short straw Chris you have been through it a bit. I have RA and PA so dont know much about OA but you will get some more replies soon. Welcome to the site its nice to meet you and dont forget to make use of the other forums on the site.
You sound really p---d off and fed up, the constant pain gets you like that and its difficult to find a way of coping with it all. But thats all we seem to do is cope. Prednisolone is good but as you say it does mask other problems as i know only to well. It gets difficult to find medication to work with little or no side effects. Anyway Chris Keep your chin up and take care.
Colin

Sorry i should of explained......Graves disease is were the immune system turns on the body and attacks it, the thyroid goes overactive, RAI is radioactive iodine, that kills off part of the thyroid, eventually it will go underactive, then i will have to take thyroxin for life.
The eye disease is part of it also.

This is how they explain it...........
the immune system produces antibodys to fight off infection, when it goes wrong it also produces what are called auto antibodys that attack the body as tho it were attacking infection, no one knows why it all goes wrong.

Hope i have explained it ok?
Chris.

lindah

Hi Chris and welcome to the best place on the net for people with arthritis.They are a great bunch and you will quickly begin to feel at home.
Linda H 8)

suziev

hi chris

very well explained
welcome to the site.
i don't know if you are aware that thyriod problems can come hand in hand with RA! first i got ra then an underactive thyriod! it seems that autoimmuine diseases do interlink.
keep your chin up
suzie

skezier

Hi Chris,

A welcome from me as well, its a good site and very helpful.

I just wondered do you have any tablets to help with the pain while your waiting? Take care, Cris

elnafinn

Hi Chris

Welcome to the forum. I had a nodular goitre removed at age 16 and have taken thyroxine tabs ever since. I am sorry to hear of all your problems. I too have osteo arthritis which raised its ugly head around 18 years ago. I have it in my thumbs, knees and probably will end up with it in my shoulder, which is already painful from time to time due to a massive inoperable rotatator cuff tear. In January 08 I had a total knee replacement. The other knee is complaining big time now - probably jealous

Physio may well help you and I hope an appointment is arranged for you very soon. I am attending physio at the mo, off and on, for sciatica. Oh yes, forgot or trying to forget about my awful spine

Hope you will stay on board, Chris. This site has certainly helped me, I have been around for a good 2 years now and have made good cyber friends. I warn you it is addictive!!

Luv
Elna x

breane

Hi Chris,A big welcome from me too. I have OA and RA and I know how painful it is especially first thing in the morning.Really difficult getting out of bed and getting dressed as my hands,legs and feet are so stiff.This is the place to be if you need help and support so hope you will log on often. Breane.x

page35

Hi Chris
Just wanted to welcome you too.
I have RA and am quite new to this forum and bit rubish with advice but luckly everyone else is pretty darn good.
Page

glo123

skezier wrote:

Hi Chris,

A welcome from me as well, its a good site and very helpful.

I just wondered do you have any tablets to help with the pain while your waiting? Take care, Cris

First of all....thanks to all of you for a very warm welcome.........

i take paracetomol, not that it helps much! my Dr gave me some gel to massage into my knees, that helps a bit, i find that if i have walked a lot they ache at night.
Chris.