confused.com

mellman01

Right an update for you lot, to say I’m confused would be an understatement but please read on.
Right I went to see specialist for a second opinion regarding my post op pain and flare from osteoarthritis of the kneecaps. Now the specialist seems to think it could be more of an RA problem than an OA as they both feel that the amount of wear I have is quite serious it isn’t the culprit, so now I have to go and see another specialist this time in RA and OA, can RA come along on the back end of RA and if so what types are there and what symptoms do they give you?, one important thing is I also have gout, I have had this since I was 37 I am now 49, one noticeable thing is with all of my problems my joints don’t swell up very much at any time gout did make my leg swell up once but that was years ago normally it’s minimal.
He also seemed to think I would be able to go back to my old job yet the original surgeon said I would not?, I think this will be a bit to late as they are considering me for ill health retirement or the push, anyway off for some blood tests etc so the dice are still rolling but I fear they won’t stop in my favour. Any advice or info on all types of RA would be really useful as I have no idea as to how it works.

dreamdaisy

I think it's possible to have two forms of arthritis. RA is inflammatory, OA is degenerative. As you already have gout I would have thought that RA was the more likely of the two as they are both inflammatory, but I'm not a doc, I don't know.

Poor you. There is nothing worse than not knowing what you are facing. I hope they can come up with some answers soon. Dreamdaisy

frogmorton

Hi mell

You must be a bit shocked :shock: I hope you are ok.

Thing is it would expain things wouldnt it?

Easy for me to say but try not to worry till you get to the bottom of it all.

At the end of the day if it is RA (or any of the inlamatory arthritis') you have probably been battling it for longer than you knwo.

Hey weekedn's nearly here - no work for a couple of days

Love

Toni xx

page35

Hi Mell
sorry you got this worry,guess you just have to wait and see what the docs come up with, if it is RA or similar they will prob put you on drugs to help stop or slow down its progress so you will have to get a bigger pill box :roll:
you take care and try not to worry
Sharon xx

skezier

Hi Mel,

Oh I am sorry to see that..... I know its not easy to have 2 arthritis. A ((( ))) first.

There are so many inflammatory ones that you nee to see a rumo to determine which one it is. I know my oa hid the pa for many years as all the bone things were pinned on that but which ever one you have remember they can help you.

I have kinda lost my brain a bit just now but wanted to just give you a bit of support. Luv Cris x

tillytop

Hi - so sorry to hear that you might have RA as well. Just not ****** fair is it?! I don't know much about OA other that my understanding that it is, as DD says, a degenerative "wear and tear" arthritis. RA on the other hand I do know about. Apologies in advance if I am saying things you already know - I shan't be offended if you decide to stop reading part-way through! RA is an auto-immune disease where the body attacks its own joint tissue (and sometimes other body tissues as well). It tends to occur in multiple joints simultaneously and often in a symmetrical fashion - so if a joint is inflamed on one side, the same joint may well be inflamed on the other. Because it is a systemic disease it can make you feel "flu-ey" and unwell when it is active. Uncontrolled RA inflammation can cause erosions of the bones which is why it's important to try to get and keep it under control. In terms of swelling, I don't get much of that. Even when my RA has been raging out of control and moving around is painful and difficult, I don't get much in the way of swelling - other than my hands. If you find that you do have RA, hopefully you will be able to get going on some effective treatment soon and will start to feel better. Seems completely daft to me that you have to see a different specialist for each type of arthritis doesn’t it? Total lack of joined up thinking! Hope some of my ramblings help – and really good luck with your blood test and next consultant appt. Hopefully you will get to find out what’s really going on! Love Tilly x

tkachev

Hi Mell,

You could have had R.A all along. i have R.A and O.A. It might have gone undiagnosed for you. some peeps arent diagnosed for years.
R.A can be controlled by medication. In fact I once had terribly painful knees, swollen and fluid filled but now my knees are very good.I can swing them and weight bear on them( although cant bend right down).Bearing in mind you have suffered so badly that might be a good thing for you.
At various times i have been told OA in hip but then surgeon said no mostly R.A but all R.A patients get some OA.
I def have OA in my foot and am awaiting an operation to triple fuse joints.
Whatever the diagnosis lets hope the outcome is good for you.
Elizabeth.