Hi new to Arthritis diagnosis but not the pain!

niecsey
niecsey Member Posts: 75
edited 6. Feb 2011, 11:15 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi all lovely to meet you. I will make this brief as l am in a lot of pain right now and was hoping someone would be kind enough to answer a few questions for me pls? After nearly 6 years of joint pains muscle spasms etc etc etc 1 trip to a rheumy who basically said when he learnt my doc thought l had fibromyalgia that fibro dont exsist its a depression ! Took me another year to get to see another rheumy had a dexa scan which showed early wear and tear to both shoulders, then other xrays which showed my lower spine straight and l have early wear and tear to the rest of my spine. What does this mean? I have not had a follow up to see the rheumy and l only found out the results cos l rang my pwn doc as l have been in agony and got some pain killers :( today is bad for me l done alot of housework yesterday l cannot do the things l used to without paying for it and today my chest hurt so bad :( l get lots of rib and sternum pain but xrays showed these to be ok./ So lm thinking its referred pain from my spine? Im sorry if lm ranting and going slightly of topic lve just had codeine and l feel rough of that and generally feel unwell. I have felt ill for so long now l cannot plan anything for pai n getting in the way l hardly go out and when l do try to better myself l pay for it. Please can someone make some sense for me. Thank you all so much and lm sorry your needing this forum too xxxx ps l have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia too. I also have graves disease and have had a thyoidectomy. All bloods lve had done regarding this pain have come back normal/ ps can l just ask when do thye take this seriously? What l mean is they say early wear and tear does that mean it aint supposed to be making the pain and limiting everything l do if its only early wear and tear? I am getting so damm mad tonight! Grrrrrrrr :x

Comments

  • vonski
    vonski Member Posts: 1,292
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi niecsey

    First welcome to the forum. Now about the arthur, I take you already know the wear and tear is classed as oa and yes it can be very painful as you know. Not all Drs. are sympathetic so it might be an idea to make an appointment with a different one. Tell him/her all the pain you are in and how it is now effecting your everyday life. There are various pain relief and some works better than others, keep pestering them until they take you seriously and you find the ones that work for you.

    Love
    Vonski x
  • c4thyg
    c4thyg Member Posts: 542
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I agree with Vonski. No one should be left in pain when there are so many things that could be tried. See another Dr and book a double appointment so that you don't have to worry about time. Take a notepad of questions with you and don't be afraid to show them exactly how you feel. I used to always put on a brave face until my Dr said to me that I didn't have to. Then I burst into tears because I'd been caught out but it was the best thing i could have done because it all came pouring out. I know that sometimes you feel like it's simply not worth the effort to just be ignored but you have to keep trying as there are Drs out there who will listen and want to help you.
    Take care and welcome to the forum.
    Cath
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi niecsey

    Welcome to the forum and us lot. :roll: :lol::lol: I too had a thyroidectomy, many years ago when I was 16 years old. I had a nodular goitre. I take thyroxine every day and over the years the dosage has changed. I too have Osteo Arthritis or wear and tear as it is also called. Blood tests do come back normal for OA. You may well have fibro too and it is not a depression. It is real and very painful. I have not been diagnosed with that. OA is very painful and you can get flares with it too. Doing too much does aggravate and we have to try and learn to pace ourselves, easier said than done. :roll: I do things, knowing that I will more than likely suffer later. I am a fairly positive person and I feel this does help. Lots of unnecessary energy is used up, being angry and miserable. Don't get me wrong I have my bad days too. Some days I really have to push myself or I would sit and fester or stay in bed most of the day. I like to call in on the forum and try to help others as this makes me feel useful.

    If your gp is not sympathetic, like Vonski says, I would try to get one that is. There is medication that can be prescibed, both anti inflammatory and painkillers. I find a heated wheatbag (in microwave) helps my back, shoulder and knees when playing up. Some people prefer icepacks. What do you think about a course of physiotherapy? A gp can refer you. A gp can also refer you to a pain clinic too. These can be very useful to people with arthritis. Ask your gp if you would like to try either or both of these options.

    I do hope you feel a little better soon when you see that there are things that can be tried to help you.

    Hope to see your name around the forum more,

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • minky67
    minky67 Member Posts: 2,328
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,niecesey,i too have oa(wear & tear)in most of my joints & was diagnosed earlier this month with Fibro.
    the rib/sternum pain could be costochondritis(inflammation between the ribs),which ive just found out is associated with Fibro.
    i take diclofenacs for the inflammation.which help me more with the hand/wrist pain.
    ampripyline for sleeping.
    oramorph for break through pain.
    cocodomol 30/500(which are do to be changed nx wk for Tramadol)
    zomorph(again to be changed to gabapentin with the choice of pregabalin if the gab doesnt work)its the tiredness & constant pain that im struggling with & have been for over 2 yrs.
    to get the diagnoses of Fibro was a releif to get an answer were the drs had failed for over 2yrs.i think that depression comes with most conditions as we all get rundown by the constant pain & trying to keep a house etc.Today myself i have got up,thrown up after a cuppa tea & my meds, then slept all day(which is so unusual for me)not the sickness mind. so i can understand how your feeling.you need to go back to see a different gp & ask for decent medication,which you are entilted to.take care luv debs
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi felt like u do for ages as did not tell doc out right how bad things had gotten they seem to wait for u to go back before trying next step but when on anti inflams and pain meds life much better even thinking about catching up with house work so if u still bad go back and tell them keep going back until u get right meds good luck u will feel much better and every day will not be such a struggle
    val
  • niecsey
    niecsey Member Posts: 75
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    WOW :) Thank you all for all the replys :) nice to see so much support x Have tried various medications over the last few years tramadol dont agree with me dihydra?codiene doesnt so have codiene phosphate and paracetemol, heat pads etc when things are really bad and lm trying diclofenac again which gives me diarreah but with lansoprazole to try to stop this, Please excuse my typos today heads not with it :) I was ready just to accept the fibro diagnosis cos no one believed l had any bone problems until the xrays... the times they said to me 'your bones are fine' is unbelievable, I KNEW there was a problem you cant go through this much pain for nothing!! I think the first rheumy l seen ythinks middle aged woman aches and pains = depresion thats the impression he gave me wanted to know about my relationship which is not perfect but good and lve never complained about it to anyone before! Anyhow thats old news now now l know l was right there was something wrong l do feel like l; want to write to that forst rheumy and say oh by the way l dont think me seeing some sort of shrink would of helped the oa in my shoulders or spine or the bottom of my spine which has turned straight do you? Does any of you guys know what its called when your lower spine turns straight? Somethign s wrong with this page l cannot see the end of my message the page is keep jumping up will go for now and be back later thanks all for your help nice to meet you x
  • niecsey
    niecsey Member Posts: 75
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Shocking to see lm still fighting my way through this l done this post on 09 for gs!!! Ive even older posts on other boards before l found this site!! Does anyone know how you go about finding a new gp who has an interest in the conditions you have? Ive really got to do something about this!!! x
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hey!!!

    Good to see you after all thsi time!!

    To be honest here it seems hit and miss, but If I were you I would ring all the doctor's surgeries and ask them if they have anyone working there who is interested in arthritis.

    I have been lucky as we got a locum who is and l followed him to his permanent practise.

    Love

    Toni xx
  • niecsey
    niecsey Member Posts: 75
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Toni lm still shocked at what l put up with and for so long! x Glad you have a good doc x
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    google the local practises and look what each doc specialises in mine is menoporse which is good because this is what triggered arther for me lol try booking in with different docs in your practise if you can a good gp is a god send belive me my rhummy does not do xrays ect but gp did and found out the hip pain that been making life intolerable for years coming from knee lol at least i treating right bit of me now good luck keep going back till they listen val
    val
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,280
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    And welcome, It is a battle to get the right treatment, I did change my GP last year, I get rib pain and have been told it is referred from my back .
    I also know that some GPs dont recognise fibro, so you will have to find if the new practice does.
    Good Luck with everything
    Barbara x
    Love
    Barbara
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi niecsey,

    Welcome back and the doctor thing... its not always easy to find one that's got some kind of expertise with whats wrong. Any decent doctor though should be able to help you and I hope you find one who is both good and interested in you as a person as well. Nice to see you again. Cris x
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Welcome to the forum from me too.. I am also an OA'er.. Took many years for the so called proffesionals to acknowledge that it wasn't in my head too...

    I still suffer with pain on a daily basis but can cope most of the time, but payback is one hell of a so and so and you will have to learn to try and ease off before you reach your limits.. Not that I have room to talk, no doubt someone will come along and laugh at me for trying to give you that advise, lol...

    Hope you can get a decent GP, at least an understanding one...

    Be wll

    :grin:
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • niecsey
    niecsey Member Posts: 75
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks girls x for soemthign so common you would think there would be more understanding :( l guess unless they have it .......... payback has well and truly got me new pain not to shoulders but under left one at fron top of chest and left collar bone l can hardly move my arm :( l feel like lm been attacked left right and centre :( looked at local docs on nhs and never seen any with any specialist subject matter......... just one who can speak german LOL lm so grateful to you all xxx
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh well, that's charming, thanks girls?! :shock: :eek: :shock: what am I scotch mist?

    Lol
    :grin:

    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP