New to forum

mrswalder79

Hello,Feel a bit silly really but i was diagnosed with borderline Arthritis back in June this year and my GP has been really good keeping an eye on me but today had to go and see him due to pain being more constant and severe and limiting my capabilties.

So im unsure just what im suffering from apart swollen hands,ankles,pain in almost every joint and having trouble walking.Im 31 years old and was told at an early age i would suffer in later life but its come as quite a shock to find out this young!!!

At the moment im trying to get my head around it all and stop thinking the worst,My mum was diagnosed at 40 which is why i found out earlier as she recognised her symptoms in me.

Anyways just wanted to say hi and hopefully get some answers to any questions or at least some understanding xxx

Rainbow77

Hi Mrs Walder

Welcome to the forum. It is good to see you posting.

You do not mention what type of arthritis you have but glad that you have a supportive GP. You should not worry about going if you are in pain and struggling as that is what they are there for. It is important that you get the right level of pain relief to make things easier. If what you have does not work for you then go back again as different medication affects us all in different ways, what works for one, does not for another.

You are in the right place if you want to chat and lots of people here do understand. You are young, 31, but you will find that arthritis affects people of all ages and not just the old. Has your dr referrred you to hospital? Have you have blood tests and x rays? What does he mean by borderline arthritis?

Well if you have any questions, there are lots of people who are happy to help.

Take care

Fayann xxx

tjt6768

Welcome to the forum. Sorry that you've had to join though. It's not good having Arthur when you're young. I am 42 but have had osteo-a for a number of yrs, now have sero-neg A as well..

Sorry that you're suffering so much, have you been sorted with any medication yet?

Tony

cherrybim

Hello Mrs Walder and welcome, so very glad you've found this place of sanctuary. It's certainly been a haven for me

I've had RA since I was 34. All the peeps here support one another so you'll never feel alone with your problems.

I'm now coming up for 66 and the positive thing I can say is that treatment and medication is so much better than it was in the old days.

Keep posting, we all try to get the positive vibes going, 'cos for me there's no way that ugly Arthur's ever going to win my hand

Cherry xxx

mrswalder79

Hello Fayann

Well this why i feel a bit silly as i kept falling over this past summer due to intense swelling in my Ankles or rather the area where my ankles used to be and the last fall i landed on my wrist which then ballooned casuing me to have to have my wedding and engagement rings cut off so the hospital could xray my wrist to check it wasnt fractured.At this time also i was feeling constantly tired and dizzy so my GP took blood tests and the result came back as borderline arthritis which i was told explained the swelling in joints and general pain and achiness i felt.Ive suffered with knee and back pain for the last 5 years but got told it was my weight causing it.

The Doc i saw today has requested more blood tests so we can find out what kind of arthritis and what kind of medication/treatment i might need.But she did say looking at the swelling in my hands and wrists it looks like rheumatoid artritis.Im so confused really so thats why i joined this forum as i want to get my head around what life could hold for me.Ive always led an active lifestyle but recently even walking is a challenge.So i still have no answers!!!!Not yet anyway!!!

Thank you for your welcome and i hope to get some insights

mrswalder79

Hello Tony and Cherry

Thank you both for your welcome,Im not up to speed on the different types yet,i only found out today there are over 200 which is mind boggling really.

It is nice to be able to talk to people who understand what im feeling as no one seems to get what im trying to say,Its not just the pain that bothers me but the small things like when my hands are painful and i cant get a lid off a pen or grip a knife and fork or the worst get coins from my purse.

How long did it take for you all to be diagnosed?How did you get diagnosed?Does the weather affect your conditions?I have so many questions but dont know how to find the answers

kerrie xx

tjt6768

Hi Kerry. Don't worry, we all still have questions from time to time.
With my Osteo Arthritis it took them a long time to actually give me a diagnosis, I think it was because of my age, a lot of the specialists I saw were useless, one even said that I couldn't have arthritis as I was too young! :shock: If only eh?
It was only when they finally did an MRI that they found it in my lower spine, since then my knees have got quite bad and it shows up on the xrays now.
As for the sero-negative Arthritis, that's pretty new to me so I still have lots of questions too.. They did xrays of my wrists in Feb this year and went back in March, said that I don't have enough spacing in my wrists and diagnosed sero-neg, I think that's a type of Rheumatoid Arthur when nothing shows in the blood tests..?

Hope that's a little help at least..


Tony

barbara12

Hi mrswalder79
You have come to the right place,everyone are so supportive, and it is so good being able to talk to people that are going through the same.
There are lots on here with RA, so post whatever questions you have, and someone will be along with some answers
Hope to see you posting more very soon
Love
Barbara x

dorcas

Hi Kerrie and welcome to the forum!

You'll find lots to read here about arther and his many 'guises' and lots of support too from all of us.

I'm sorry you're in so much pain just now and hope that you'll be able to get a diagnosis really soon and then benefit from the treatment and meds. :!:

I have PA (psoriatic arthritis) which is one of the many 'sero-negative' inflammatory arthers...( where blood tests are negative for RF (rheumatoid factor)).

Hope you enjoy being part of this community... there are a lot of good people here.... and look forward to see you posting around the forum.

iris xxx

Iris xx

julie47

Hi Mrs walder

and welcome to the forum. I have had RA since I was 25 and It did come as a shock. At 47 I still have questions, I find this forum very helpful.

I hope you soon get the right medication so that it makes it a bit easier for you

JuliePF x

mrswalder79

Wow Thanks to all for the really warm welcome!!!!

I was so dubious about joining a forum as i thought it would be all pity me which i certainly dont want,But its so intresting to hear about people living with this and i love the way its referred to as Arthur,makes it seem less scary in a way more manageable.

Also to know theres people out there who get what im going through makes it a little easier to deal with.And maybe in the future il be able to help someone like me who is desperately trying to come to terms with what it all means!!!!!Thanks for all the kind words and support

Kerrie xxx

cherrybim

I think the best thing about this forum Kerrie is that no one is a barrackroom diagnostician

Everyone listens, makes only comments that have applied to their own situation and leaves it there

Truly hope that you get good help with your Rheumy. If it's nipped in the bud whilst you're young that's a brill thing

Cherry xxx

dreamdaisy

Welcome mrswalder, it's nice to have you aboard! I hate to douse you with cold water on your first excursion onto a public forum but I feel I should warn you that diagnosis may not be that straightforward - it took nine years (from onset) for me to be accurately defined as having PA (psoriatic arthritis, it's similar to RA but with the added benefit of skin trouble), and five years (from onset) for people to realise that it may be something in the arthritic arsenal that was causing me such trouble. Rheumatology tried to plam me off onto orthopaedics (who wouldn't play ball and rightly so - that wasted a year). That time lag could be due, however, to the fact that no-one else in my family has this problem: as usual I blaze a cra**y trail for no-one to follow. It may well be a different story for you as it is in your family.

We are all individuals on here, and although we may share diagnoses such as RA or PA or OA or fibro or Lupus etc etc etc each individual version of the disease is as unique as the affected individual. We recognise similarities between us yes, but how we are affected does vary quite widely. Another wide variation is the individual responses to the medications - you just don't know what will work for you until you try. Don't be afraid to ask questions - we have a tremendous range of experience on this forum with just about everything and no question is too small or daft to be answered.

This forum isn't self-pity central - this is the place to sound off and rant and rail about the sheer INJUSTICE of this malarkey - everyone will understand, no-one will tell you to 'shape up' or 'stop going on' - we know what it is like. It's nice to meet you. DD

Rainbow77

Hi

I am glad that your GP took some more blood today. Basically they are testing for something called the RF factor to see if your have Rhematoid Arthritis. However, be warned there are types of arthritis with exactly the same symptoms as RA but no factor shows up in your blood. But it does not mean you don't. They will also be testing for inflammation levels but by the sound of your pain and swelling, yours are probably high.

Diagnosis can take some time and depends on a variety of things. One thing I would suggest is keeping a diary with your symptoms. Make a note of your pain, type of pain, which joints are affected and also if you feel unwell, tired and anything that it has stopped you doing and so when you go back to GP or when you get referred to the hospital you have a record of it. This is because we forget and they do find it helpful.

If the pain tablets are not working, go back to your GP and get some different ones. Don't suffer in silence.

I am 33, so nearly your age. I have a different type of arthritis but totally understand what you are going through.

Take care and keep posting

Fayann xxx

ironic

Hi Kerri,
A big welcome to the forum from me too. It is good that your Dr is taking the steps to get to the bottom of things for you. When she has the results of your bloods she will be able to give you more information and decide if you should go to a rheumatologist. She will probably give you some medication to help in the mean time. All this does take time so all you can do is pace yourself as best as you can.
In the mean time keep posting and asking questions. Once you have started your medication things will improve for you.

Hope you are feeling a little less alone now.
Lv, Ix

Wonkylegs

HI kerrie & welcomd to the forum.

I'm glad you are finding it helpful, but sorry you need it in the first place

I can't add much to what already has been written so will add some hugs ((((())))) for you & wish you well with the pain management.

Wonky

speedalong

Hi Mrs W and welcome,
sorry your arthritis is worsening. Perhaps it is time you asked your GP for a referral for some meds to help with the pain and slow down the progression of the arthritis.

This forum is great for support and help.

Speedy

MissKat

Hi Kerry, and everyone... I'm also new to the forum

I am also in the early stages of having tests, seeing consultants to find out what is going on with me! So having read your post, and everyone's replies just thought I'd say hello, I know exactly how you're feeling... and how great this forum seems to be

I'm 29 and have some form of inflammatory arthritis in both my knees. It started in August, I thought I'd just pulled a muscle in the back of my leg... but it gradually got worse stiffening, clicking, locking, restricting movement, giving way, I was in excruciating pain and my right knee just seemed to pop up over night, it was scary how quickly it went from one knee to two.

At first I was sent to an ortheopaedic as they thought it may be a torn cartilidge, but the MRI showed nothing, and they had no clue what was wrong. Have since had blood tests which showed high levels of an enzyme (I think released by the bones?), and this morning I saw a rheumatologist who has now put me on steroids to help with the inflammation whilst they do further tests to find out what's going on.

As crummy as it feels to not know exactly what's wrong, and how scary it seemed when the doctor first mentioned Arthritis, it's great to know you're all here to talk to and there's people who understand how I'm feeling

Kat

tjt6768

Welcome to you too Kat, glad you could join, but not glad you had too, if you know what I mean :shock:

Tony

skezier

Hi Kerrie,

I am late to this I am afraid but welcome and glad you found this lot. they are so good at helping and just being there.

I can't really add to what has been said but do know once you have been diagnosed it does get easier. I hope they will start to hep you soon and nice to meet you. Cris x

Hi Kat,

Welcome to you as well flower. I am sorry you have the arthritis but its good you found the site. ice to meet you a well. Cris x

jillyb1

Lots of new people to welcome and say hi to , welcome kerrie , I was diagnosed when I was 25 so know what you're feeling ! I am now 55 and with lots of lifestyle adjustments ; Iam still coping ok and enjoying life . I use every disability aid available to improve things and keep going in my own unique stroppy way . My motto has always been accept me as I am ; a crotchetty crock some days , more relaxed on others , or don't accept me at all ! Jilly

frogmorton

Hello Mrs W

welcome to the forum from me

very pleased to meet you.

I hope you find these forums as helpful as i have done.

I hope you have an appt scheduled to see the dr soon to get your results and hopefully treatment. sooner rather than later.

you atke care

Love

toni xx