not quite diagnosed....

daniel76

Hi all,

Firstly it's great to have found this website and forum. I've been reading with interest the posts and it's reassuring from what i've seen that there may be light at the end of the tunnel!

I awoke in mid-March to severe pain in my left shoulder, which the nurse at the walk-in centre told me was 'Frozen shoulder'.

Up until then, I have generally been in very good health, and have had an active and sporty lifestyle. A few years back, I had what was unofficially diagosed as an impingement in my left shoulder. It didnt happen often so I brushed it off...as you do.

I was told to take NSAID's, which after about a week or so, di the trick and I was pain + symptom free. After a few weeks later, it returned, but this time in my other shoulder. I (foolishly) battled on with it without gp advice, and it came and went. I took lots of ibuprofen, with varying degrees of success. The worrying thing was that it had moved to my right shoulder, which again, I chose to ignore as it came and went after a few days. When it was at its worst, the hand on the affected side would swell, and my arm would become immobile at the shoulder.

The pain became so bad that I finally went to my gp late May. He suggested some blood tests. They came back clear, with the exception of having a high rheumatoid fact.

I was referred to my local Rheumatology department, but sadly the first available appointment isn't until mid August. In the meantime, my gp prescribed me a one week course of prednisolone, from 30mg on day one, to 5mg on day seven. I'm not sure it's made any difference (apart from instant weight gain!), though this may have been aggrevated by physical exertion from work. On my dad's advice (RA sufferer since his mid 40's and for 16 years), I have started taking twice daily 1000mg Glucosomine Sulphate, washed down with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar each morning for good measure!

I am now taking co-codamol for pain relief, which sometimes works, and sometimes doesn't. Obviously not a long-term solution.

None of this has really helped much, and from day to day, things seem to be getting worse, to the point where I'm starting to get really worried how things might be come my referral. Just this last week, I have had a noiceable swelling appear on my the first knuckle of my right index finger. The pain can be in my shoulder/s, knees, hips, fingers, jaw, achilles, and lower back. Any combination, but this seems to be exacurbated by manual work (which I sometimes need to do as part of my job).

It's getting to the stage now where, just turned 33, I am often struggling to walk or use my arms. A three hour drive today has left me in agony tonight in my knees, the balls of my feet and my shoulders.

Apologies for the long winded post, but If anyone can offer any advice on what this may be, or anything that might be able to help, I would be so greatful. Mid-August seems a lifetime away.

Thanks,

Dan

frogmorton

Hi Diane
First of all welcome from me!
This site will help you enormously - especially to get through this wait.
I would say you have been given the best things your GP can until you see the rheumy. That date seems a long way away, but you could ring up and offer to take a cancellation at short notice?
When you get there you will have mORE bloods done and xrays and en examination. If he/she feels it's RA (which you must be suspecting) you will be prescribed DMARDS which should slow it down. There is information on the arthritis care site so read up on it and try not to worry too much about any side effects. Some get 'em some don't. I have ben ok had a bit of belly trouble but got some lanzoprazole to solve that one!
You rea doing a lot for yourself and your Dad must be really helpful. That makes RA even more likely I think if it's in the family
Have you tried ice packs on any swollen bits? It helps me no end.
In the meatime - we are here and you take care
Toni x

sarahbenn

hi there and welcome, sorry to here your having such a nightmare hope its all sorted soon for you take care
sarah

elnafinn

Hi Dan

Welcome to the forum. We are a friendly bunch of people and try to help each other, offer sympathy and we do understand all that goes hand in hand with "arthur".

Hope to see you posting more and that things improve for you soon.

Take care
Elna x

suzster

hi, sorry you are struggling, i know how you feel, i'm now 35 but my symptoms started about 2 and a half years ago, it took about 7 months from seeing gp to actually getting diagnosed, it was made harder as i had a new baby to look after to. i had some bad flare up's in that time several of them left me literally unable to walk. but it does get better, hopefully after you see the rheumy they will help and things will get easier.
for now feel free to post here, rant, laugh whatever you want!!!
take care
sue

valval

hi u r going through it sounds like a flare up but doc will know 4 sure once u get right meds and they kick in things will b much better and life will not b so bad the wait takes a while from what i have read on here have oa and seems to b under controll at moment so have not had hospital app. but wish u well stay in touch let us know how it going good or bad val

woodbon

Hello, I hope you find the forum a good place to come for tips and to ask questions. Its a very good place to have a moan or a rant, which we all need sometimes! :?

Being so young, it must be hard to accept, but when you've seen the rheummy and been given the right medication you should feel a lot better. I have OA their are lots of different kinds of arthritis, but they all have one thing in common, pain. Good luck with your appointment, your GP if very good to refer you so quickly, some people go for years without being sent to the hospital.
Love Sue

page35

Hiya Dan
i was born in 76 too.
i was diagnosed 3mths ago with RA, but i had all the pains and aches for about a year.
it does seem like along time to wait till mid aug to see rhuemy when your in pain its no joke. may be as someone else said see if you could put your name down for a canellation appointment.
hope you feel better soon.
take care
page

lindalegs

Someone's after our money again folks. This is just someone wanting free advertising space, I suggest we all ignore it :x :x

I shall report it to the moderators to see what they think.


Luv Legs