EARLY OA OR NERVE TRAPPED??

gemballoon

I have had leg pain for 3 months now. It started in my hip and I had a xray which said early OA in both hips. I have been to the DRs more times in the last two months than ever and got diagnosed with bursitis, sciatic and trapped nerve from three different Drs! Of all 7 I have seen, when I ask about the OA they tell me it is just wear and tear and normal form my age (40) and won't cause me any issues at this stage.

I have been going to a chiro which has helped a bit and a physio but the pain still goes on. I have a numb knee that sometimes feels like it will explode and I hobble about! I have been referred for an MIR which could take week and I am not sleeping well at all. On a warning at work cos of ime off and so it goes on.

Does anyone recognise these symptoms - Numb knee and originally shin but that has gone (thank god) pain in lower back, trouble walking far without back pain and night cramps in shins? They are definitely going down the nerve route at the moment as a diagnosis though.

Also has anyone done private hospitals? I am thinking of the MRI, extortionate at £560 but when I am sitting at a PC and have no slepp what so ever it seems cheap at the price!!!
Any thoughts?
Gem

joyful164

You sound as though you are having a lot of problems. I would insist that your gp refer you to a Rheumatologist. You need Xrays to see what is happening. Have you had blood tests?
You need some kind of muscle relaxants possibly.

I bought a TEN's machine earlier this year and I havefound it really good. It has helped lots with the pains in my arms, and the pains in my legs. It's no good me trying to give a diagnosis of 'what might be the problem, but you do need to see a Rheumy, that's obvious. I got my TEN's machines on the internet. Could help in the interim.

Another form of comfort is heat, prhaps on your back, wheaty bag maybe. A nice hot soak always helps me.

I do hope you get some resolve from your gp practice soon, The Help team might give you some ideas of which road to go down.

Joyful

golfer

I was diagnosed with OA which has come on since Christmas. I certainly recognise most of the problems that you have, except that I have them in the upper thigh mainly. It feels like someone plucking guitar strings with my thigh muscles and then they go numb and just ache.

I have private medical cover and had an MRI and Xrays - I would have paid personally had I not been covered as I think it is vital to pinpoint the actual problem and my MRI ruled out my back being the problem as was first thought.

I am seeing the doctor (NHS) today to try and get the medication right and also the surgery Physio to get the right exercise regime sorted (I hope).

I hope this helps and I wish you well

Chris

frogmorton

Hi Gem
We paid for my MRI when I had my back probs. I couldn't feel any of my right leg at all at the time. So this does sound familiar. It cost 400 at the time. Then the rest as normal NHS but I think sometimes they are akward about mixing private and NHS now.
Have you tired sleeping on your side with pillow between knees?
What painkillers are you on and are you on NSAIDs?
I know what you mean about the pain - sounds so familiar.
Take care
Toni x

gemballoon

I am off to my GP in 50 mins to beg her help. I think that the worry of not knowing isn't helping me relax. I am on Co codamol, trytiphenic and quinine for the cramps. Each have worked on and off, but on and off doesn't cut it really. I have called in to work as I got about an hours sleep on he sofa last night.

I seem to be popped full of chemicals which I don't like and to make it worse they aren't working anyway! Someone mentioned blood tests, what are they for? I haven't had any!
Gem

skezier

Hi Gem,

Good luck, I really hope you get some answers. Sometimes, especially in the early days we have to dig in and battle for help. Cris x

valval

bloods can show inflimation and ra so would have thought u would have had some. feel for u as hip playing up and back at gp tuesday hoping for more help will ask about rhumy as things getting worse and would love to check it is oa as doc thinks and what best meds so good luck hope u get sorted soon let me know as might help me as seem to be following few weeks behind u in this

eckstardeluxe

Hi

It is probably both OA and nerve problems, possibly RA as well, can't help re the knees. When the inflammation due to the arthritis starts it can cause the nerves to be pinched and cause sciatica etc.

I have end stage OA in spine and sacral area, I had back pain and sciatica for years but never went to the Dr as just thought it was par for the course from an illness I had in childhood.

Xrays will show up OA but everyone is different,some with early OA can be very sore yet some in the advanced stages find it bearable. I believe I only found out at end stage as I have an extremely high pain threshold due to spending pretty much all my life in hospitals and just getting used to pain.

I think you should enquire re an MRI, if there is inflammation it may be your arthur is further along than they think (sorry) An MRI will give a clearer picture re the nerves and bones and then you will be able to get the right medications to help.


When my arthur became noticeable this year, I went for xray and they sent me for an MRI the next day, I got my full diagnosis after that, sadly it was far worse than I expected, I just thought my Osteomyelitis had come back. I would push for that, you may not get results you want but at least you will know. Re the sciatica, try bending forward, this increases the space your nerves travel through, I sit all the time in the lotus position, this is most comfortable for me. Before my meds that effectively got rid of the sciatica I used a TENS which distracted me from the pain.

Hope you feel better soon. take care

Eck x

elnafinn

Hi Gem

Hope your get some reassurance today at the appointment. Sounds like nerve issues to me - sounds like my sciatica symptoms. Horrid isn't it? You could ask to be referred to a pain clinic - physio did not work for me - tried that for a good few months on and off. I had two injections in spine recently and had 5 days of no pain but unfortunately fell down 3 steps on the stairs on my butt and since then the pains are back with a vengeance now. I am dreading going to see specialist in two weeks and tell him about my accident. :oops: Goodness knows what he will suggest now. I do hope he has some good idea.

Injections may be suggested and may work for you if you attend a pain clinic.

Luv
Elna x

debatat

Hi, it sounds familiar to me, I have end stage OA in my lower back and a few other things which cause terrible pain. You really need to push for an mri of your lower back.

Speak to the doc about pain relief there are a lot of options for pain relief.

Hope you get on ok.

Deb

gemballoon

valval wrote:

bloods can show inflimation and ra so would have thought u would have had some. feel for u as hip playing up and back at gp tuesday hoping for more help will ask about rhumy as things getting worse and would love to check it is oa as doc thinks and what best meds so good luck hope u get sorted soon let me know as might help me as seem to be following few weeks behind u in this

Will do! They upped my amyltriptoline does to help with the sleep so I will let you know if its helps!

gemballoon

Dr said that the amount of degeneration (wear and tear) wouldn't be the cause of such chronic pain in my leg and back and that the nerve can make anywhere below the spine hurt! I told her that the pain moves around, sometimes in my knee, then thigh, back etc... no rhyme or reason. Apparently this all points to the nerve issue.

MRI should be 2 weeks and I have had a weeks wait so far so just going to try a higher dose of amyltriptoline to help sleep and have ben signed off work for 2 weeks. It is the first time in my life I have had a sick note and I feel bad, but I was struggling mainly due to the lack of sleep to be honest. Called to tell my boss and cried (damn!)

Gonna rest up today and try to relax as I am sure that my worrying isn't doing me any good! Thank you for your answers I appreciate your words of wisdom and even if it turns out to be nowt to do with OA I will keep you posted.
Thanks again
Gem x

woodbon

Hi, How I hate those words 'Wear and Tear' . It isn't normal for your age to have the amount of pain you describe. Have you had a blood test? Do you have any treatment, like physio? These are things that can sometimes help. I hope you can get more help from your doc I've been sent to the pain clinic, (I have OA or as often discribed Wear & Tear) in my neck, back and several other places. Their are things they can offer. Love Sue

gemballoon

woodbon wrote:

Hi, How I hate those words 'Wear and Tear' . It isn't normal for your age to have the amount of pain you describe. Have you had a blood test? Do you have any treatment, like physio? These are things that can sometimes help. I hope you can get more help from your doc I've been sent to the pain clinic, (I have OA or as often discribed Wear & Tear) in my neck, back and several other places. Their are things they can offer. Love Sue

I thought that but they say that nerve problems are very painful too so will see what the MRI shows. They are looking at what they think is a herniated disk and I just want them to come back an say thats what it is and get on with helping me fix it. I didn't mention earlier that my problem started after lifting a heavy piece of furniture and then shortly after taking part in a 5km race (which was rather stupid!) Thats why they aren't so concerned about the wear and tear bit I think! I get physio through wk and have been seeing a chiro too which has helped a little!

eckstardeluxe

gemballoon wrote:

woodbon wrote:

Hi, How I hate those words 'Wear and Tear' . It isn't normal for your age to have the amount of pain you describe. Have you had a blood test? Do you have any treatment, like physio? These are things that can sometimes help. I hope you can get more help from your doc I've been sent to the pain clinic, (I have OA or as often discribed Wear & Tear) in my neck, back and several other places. Their are things they can offer. Love Sue

I thought that but they say that nerve problems are very painful too so will see what the MRI shows. They are looking at what they think is a herniated disk and I just want them to come back an say thats what it is and get on with helping me fix it. I didn't mention earlier that my problem started after lifting a heavy piece of furniture and then shortly after taking part in a 5km race (which was rather stupid!) Thats why they aren't so concerned about the wear and tear bit I think! I get physio through wk and have been seeing a chiro too which has helped a little!

Hi again Gem. I really hope you get answers soon, the Amytryptiline should help you get through the night, but prepare for the whacky dreams!! Try and keep level headed about your results, I only say this, not to worry you but as I thought I was going to get told I'd get a Laminectomy for the Spinal Stenosis or disc manipulation for the 3 discs to be told they wouldn't do it. Sometimes, when there is a lot of inflammation the risk of surgery can be too great. I came out of that appointment absolutely devastated. Just try and keep on top of the pain and be prepared for possibly not hearing what you want. As I said I don't want to sound like a doom monger, I just wish I had found this site prior to my diagnosis so someone could have told me not to get my hopes up too much. But I really hope they can do something for you and will keep you in my thoughts, please let us know how things are going and don't be afraid to post for help if the pain is really bad. But remember if your really bad, go back to the Dr, don't feel like they'll see you as a moaner, I kept persevering with them until I got what I needed.