New to this - what can this be

lollypop

Hello, I have sort of stumbled across the forum during a google search so I have not made any contribution before and hope you do not mind me asking this. My situation is as follows, I have been wearing splints on both hands for my wrists since May and started physio just over a week ago. I also have pain although only slight in my shoulder, knees hip and ankles. Had tests done on wrists, not carpol tunnel that was ruled out, . Went back to my drs approx month ago, he then said he thought I had start of Arthritis, did blood test. I have not been back as the Physio phoned me up about 3 weeks ago saying No, its not Arthritis nothing in your blood, we shall do some work on your wrists, and wrists only. Had one session so early days. Now over past couple of weeks my knees, are swelling, the pain is excuriating coming up and down four flights of stairs(live in a flat) and when driving. I get red patches and pain is horrible. Although not all the time comes and go. Now I feel like a hyprocondriac (excuse spelling).. my friends say oh your too young for Arthritis (im 42), so i feel like i should just shut up and put up. I have started swimming, early days... and have not had a cigarette for 3 weeks..(yes I know filthy habit).. Am really trying to help myself. Sorry for this outburst and I know from reading you guys really have horrible problems..I just dont know what else I should do

skezier

Hi Lollypop,

Welcome to the forum and sorry you have needed to find it but nice to meet you.

There are so many types of arthritis and osteo and some of the inflamation types don't come up in blood tests so nothing in the blood doesn't mean no arthritis I am afraid. It also can effect people of any age at all. You may have been xrayed? I think it would be better to go and talk to your doctor and see if you can get a referral as you need to find out what is going on. Good luck and take care, Cris

lollypop

Thank you, I had an MRI scan on my neck when they were trying to find problem of the wrists which showed my spine great. I think probably I should return to DR and see what he thinks. I take ibrufon which helps with the pain. Both my little fingers swell as well. I case I have been put off going back as the Physio had access to the results of my blood and he told me it was negative, then you start to wonder. Again my friend saying its probably stress as i am too young, but now reading the forum its obviously not the case with regards the age.

chris7

Hi lollypop
Welcome, I too stumbled across this site and am learning so much from it. Sadly no one is too young for arthritis, and I have learnt already that I have put up and shut up as you say, for far too long.
Like you I realise that others here are experiencing perhaps more complicated and painful problems, which makes me not want to moan. Have been struggling with hip and knee problems for 6 years, which after x-rays the unhelpful doc. says is a "a little bit of arthritis"! (I'm 49) I have made an appointment with my doc. for next week to let her know just how much I am now really struggling. Sorry you are in such pain at the moment, there will be lots of people here who will better be able to advise you than I. They have already made me feel not so alone and confused with all this.
take care
Chris

paula39

Hi Lollypop,
Sorry to hear that your in a lot of pain at the moment, my name is Paula and I am 39 years old I have osteoarthritis in my left knee and ankle and it sound to me as you may have it too, because like you I also get pain in my leg when I walk ( as I call it too far ) and also when I am driving, so if I was you I would go back and talk to your doctor again as osteoarthritis doesn't show up in blood tests but they can see it on x-rays, I wish you all the best.

elnafinn

Hi Lollipop

I am sorry to read your thread. Welcome to the forum. You may well have arthritis of some kind or another. You are right, young babes can have arthritis and it is a myth that you only get it when you are much older. I can see that you really are trying to help yourself and that is very commendable. Stress does not bring on arthritis but it may aggravate it. I would get back to your gp. I really do not think it is your physio's job at all to give you a diagnosis one way or the other. Please do not be fobbed of by remarks from anyone be it a medic or otherwise that this is all in your head. It most certainly is not. You can have arthritis without it showing up in a blood test. There are many different kinds or arthritis too, but some are much more common than others and easier to diagnose. The most common are Osteo and Rheumatoid arthritis.

Look after yourself,

Luv
Elna x

ps if the swelling on your knees and redness, comes and goes, take photos because you can be sure that on the day of your appointment there is no swelling to show the gp or whoever you are seeing!! :roll:

sharmaine

Hi

There are many people with arthritis under the age of 40! There are also many types of arthritis. I think if your pain persists your GP will have to carry out more tests. Have they x-rayed yet?

I was told I had sciatica for years but when I moved home my new GP very quickly recognised the symptoms as being arthritis and I had my knees x rayed and blood tests done.

I hope your find out what is causing you pain. I think pain is very real - you're not a hypochondriac...!!!

Regards
Sharmaine

vonski

Hi Lollypop

Welcome to the site but sorry you've had to find us. You really do need to go back to your Dr. and see what he/she can come up with. I know quite a few people who's had blood tests for RA and nothing has shown up, doesn't always mean you don't have it, hope you don't though. Like others have said there is so many types of arthritis if you look at the tabs at the top of the page I think the About Arthritis one might help or you could post to the Chat to the Helpline Team who are very good.

Hi Elna

Love
Vonski x

valval

hi u need to go back to doc it does not always show in blood so go back untill u get help ask for rhummy they will do more tests good luck

mistywillow

Hi Lollypop
Just to welcome you to the site, its full of good advice and lots of friendly helpful people. I agree with the others, blood results can help with a diagnosis sometimes but frequently they dont show up anything and yet you can be in dreadful pain. There are so many different types of arthritis affecting old, young, middle aged. Its not picky im afraid. I do think that under the circumstances that perhaps a referral to a rheumatologist would help you. They are the best doctors to deal with this sort of pain.
Don't 'put up'. Your body is complaining for some reason and you should listen to it and investigate why.
Gillx

eckstardeluxe

Hi there

Well welcome to the Forum. Your friends are wrong for a start, you are not too young to get Arthritis. I'm 33 I have end stage Arthritis, had it since I was 12 and just thought my pain was from an earlier illness. There are children very young with arthritis.

You definitely sound like you need further investigations, have you had any xrays yet? They will show arthur if the damage is significant enough. An MRI would give a clearer image of nerves and surrounding tissues.

Don't feel like a hypochondriac, you obviously know your own body and you don't go around googling your symptoms unless you are really worried for yourself. I think you need to speak to your Dr again and don't feel you are badgering them. I felt this way at first, in fact they fobbed me off about my back for years when I said something was wrong. Now nothing can be done for me except pain management. Get in there and fight, it's got to be done sometimes!!

take care

Eck
xxx

joyful164

Hi Lollipop.

Welcome on board.
I can't say anything different to what the others have said. Yes you need to see a doctor again. Wouldn't matter if you did see another dr in the group if possible. Second opinion. And then get a referral to a Rheumatologist or Pain Clinic.
You need warmth at the source of the pain. I do find, however that ice packs help with my hands. I think I have Carpul Tunnel and due to have the testson 2nd Dec.
I'd have a word with the Helpline team if I were you. I get the bi monthly magazine. There are a lot of benefits when you take out a subscription.

joy

lollypop

Thank you all very much for your kind words of reassurance and advice. I am going back to the Dr on Monday. To be fair to the Dr I have not been back since he initially said he thought it was and gave me a form for the blood tests. It was the Physio consultant I had initially been refered to because of my wrists that said he checked my results and they were negative. I guess I wanted to leave it sometime just to ensure it was not a torn muscle, although logically thinking the pain is in both knees and ankles, and tops of legs, both shoulders so that ones out. Im also increasingly tired but have put this down to me being so fed up. I will keep you all posted hope you do not mind.. Thank you all once again.

frogmorton

Hi Lollipop
Good to meet you and no need ever to apologise for how you feel, long posts (or even being an ex-smoker ). You are very welcome.
The others have said you may well have arthritis - not all types show up in your blood. Only really rheumatoid arthritis. even that doesn't always show in your bloods at firts and some people don't get positive results for years.
As the others have said - you get back to your GP pref as swollen as poss and see if you can get some more tests and better pain releif too.
I do wish you luck and hope that soon you will let us know that you are feeling a good bit better.
Take care
Toni x

joyful164

lollypop wrote:

Thank you all very much for your kind words of reassurance and advice. I am going back to the Dr on Monday. To be fair to the Dr I have not been back since he initially said he thought it was and gave me a form for the blood tests. It was the Physio consultant I had initially been refered to because of my wrists that said he checked my results and they were negative. I guess I wanted to leave it sometime just to ensure it was not a torn muscle, although logically thinking the pain is in both knees and ankles, and tops of legs, both shoulders so that ones out. Im also increasingly tired but have put this down to me being so fed up. I will keep you all posted hope you do not mind.. Thank you all once again.

Hi
I don't know if you work, or if you do, what you do. Would you be suffering from some kind of RSI? If so, you need to get an assessment of your work area. Very important. I had an Access to Work assessment done for me and the cost of the equipment, if you need to change desks, chairs etc. is split between employer and employee. worth checking out.

joy

lollypop

Hi All, just thought I would give you a quick update, well went back to Drs today...she told me whilst the blood test did not show rheum;;;; she wanted to refer me to the hospital after I explained my symptons, severe pain/swelling in knees, redness, pain in ankles etc. She has told me to continue with physio for my hands. She has told me to stop taking the ibrufeon and has prescribed me AMITRIPTYLINE 10mg, and told me she thought I might have...and guess what it was a long name fibro something but I did not write it down. I have searched on the tablets and its for depression, im fed up but not depressed she did not say anything about depression bit confused she told me to take it at night ????? thank you all once again

debatat

Hi Lollypop, did she call it fibromyalgia? Amitriptyline is often prescribed at a low dose to help with pain and aid sleep. Although it is an anti depressant, it is prescribed at a low dose for pain.

It can really help.

Deb

lollypop

Hi Joy, yes I have had a workstation assessment, equipment on order the organisation paying for it all, been very good, I am under the Dr with occupational health as well as my own doctor.

Hi Deb, I think that could possibly be what she said, have checked the prescription and it says for neuralgia pains, Im one of those people that if you bombard me with information I just do not seem to take it in.

I will await my visit to the hospital and see what they say. Am going swimming in the morning, trying to be positive...sort of getting used to pain if that makes sense although at times could just scream..And am also still not smoking....but stuffing myself with food instead oh dear..