Hello :) I'm new here too...

MissKat

Hey everyone, just been reading through the forum as I'm new to all this... with note to MrsWalder79's post who's new to here too.

It's such a great forum - to know you're all out there to talk to, to know there's people who won't say 'chin up', and understand what I'm feeling right now.

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

tjt6768

Hi Kat, just given you a welcome on mrsW's post, but here's a personal one..

Welcome, hope you're ok..?

Tony

skezier

Hi Kat,

Glad you started your own post and hello again

It gets easier flower the better you understand t and the better the docs help you so hang on to that. Its hard in the beginning I know. I hope the steroids do their job ad you start to feel a bit better soon. Nice to meet you Cris x

julie47

Hi there Kat

Just popping in to say welcome to the forum

Juliepf x

chrissykk

Hello im new er 2 , ad a nosey around site not sure how 2 use it yet tho lol

nearlybionic

Hi Kat
Good to meet you. I hope you find the forum a good support. There are lots of really knowledgable people here and always someone to listen .
NB

wibberley

Hi Kat and Chrissy - welcome to the forum!

Lois x

debsmartin

Hi Kat & Chrissy

You've joined a great forum, hello and welcome

debs

Starburst

Hello and welcome! I'm sorry you've been diagnosed but glad you've found us. From a personal perspective, this forum has been an endless source of support for me. I hope it is for you too.

jillyb1

Hi Kat , Hi Chrissy , welcome to the forum they're a great bunch of people and a mine of information and support whenever you need it . Hope you soon get the help and control you need over this rotten condition . Jilly

frogmorton

Hello Kat Jilly and Chrissie

(that's three for the price of one!)

Good to meet you all

Glad you have found us and hope you find thess froums as useful as i have.

Love

toni x

MissKat

Thanks for all your warm welcomes! And welcome to Crissy too! It's great to know you're all here...

So far today has been a good day, have stopped 'moping' and am getting on with things - have just bought my first place which needs some love and attention, so am glad I have that to focus on!

Hopefully I'll have some answers over the next couple of weeks, and in the meantime, whilst I can't get up the ladder to paint my flat I'll enjoying telling someone else what to do

Kat 8)

hileena111

Hi Kat,
Welcome to the forums.....glad you found us....you'll get plenty of answer on here

Love
Hileena

tkachev

Snap MissKat,

I thought I had pulled/ hurt a muscle in the back of my left leg too then within days first one knee then the other started hurting real bad. Then they swelled up and I was in agony for a year before I even went to the GP(circumstances).

I was diagnosed R.A eventually although I still thought it was an injury.

See you around the forum
Elizabeth

MissKat

Thanks Hileena

Elizabeth - gosh, a year until you went to the GP? How could you bear it?! Ouchy. When were you diagnosed?

tkachev

Hi Misskat

It was my fault. I had just moved house and couldn't join a new practice as they insisted on seeing me in person. My onset R.A was so bad I couldn't get there. They didn't seem to understand-they must have thought I was making it up! They insisted I came in and I insisted I couldn't get to the surgery.The pain was that bad. In the end my OH changed shifts so that he could take me in my car but it was a year after onset. My new GP (after the joining medical) immediately suggested R.A. and was a great help.

I don't know how I managed as had 2 children under 2 too! I think at that point there was no damage to the joints so it was all inflammation pain.Joints worked but with lots of associated pain.
How are you? Have you been getting anymore treatment?

Elizabeth

tkachev

Hi agin,

I was diagnosed in 1999. My injury was after jumping on a trampoline, legs went to jelly and then back of left leg felt sore and bruised and then both knees started swelling and flaring(within days of each other).
I never thought it was arthritis at all ! I had that misconception arthritis was for old people and didnt hurt this bad. My apologise to everyone but I learnt the hard way.

Elizabeth

MissKat

Oooo, what a tricky situation Elizabeth, and with 2 children?!

I know, again as Elizabeth says - apologies to all, but I also thought it was for old people too and not me at a mere 29... it's quite something to come to terms with...

I am doing okay... am on day 4 of taking steroids. It does seem to be reducing the inflammation a little bit, but the pain is still quite bad. Am downing some co codamol to help. My GP and Rheumy have so far been great, am due back in 10 days for the Rheumy to assess how the steroids are working, aspirate if necessary, and take some more blood for tests...

...does anyone know what will they test for in the new bloods? What specific type of Arthur it is? Would be good to know what the next steps might be...

Thanks,

Kat