How long from symptoms till diagnosis?

dreamdaisy

There are over 200 types, I believe. I am glad the steroid jab have helped you, I personally found them useless, I think the best result was three days of easier pain, as opposed to the three months of no pain that I was 'promised'. It's the tablet steroids that keep me going, but after being on them for four years this coming February I have made the decision to devote this year to coming off them. They are not worth the long-term health complications that I am now risking - and the bruising is worrying me, which is odd as I never (usually) get worried by anything! Quite what the 200 types are I don't know: the most common ones are OA and RA, AS is also a frequently mentioned here, as is fibromyalgia (which I think is an arthritic-type complaint but I could be wrong on that).There are quite a few PAers on here too, which is lovely for me as I don't know anyone at all with that. There are many misconceptions about arthritis amongst the general public (and why wouldn't there be?) - I heard my all-time favourite line today in M&S, from an assistant. I had to take back a pair of jeans, and I queued, with some difficulty as today is not a good day. I finally got to the counter and she said 'You don't look too good.' Sweat was pouring off me, a combination of a pred sweat (oral steroid side effect) and pain sweat and I said, 'I am in some pain today, thanks to my arthritis.' Her reply? 'Oh I had that but it went.' It's amazing how many people tell you they had arthritis but it went. Of course 'it' went, what you had wasn't arthritis! DD

traluvie

DD...
I am not surprised by your story.. i am still waiting for a diagnosis and even i know that arthritis does not suddenly disappear, , , i am aware that you can have a period of time where things can be more comfortable... but like you say if it leaves and never returns.. then it was not arthritis...
I have read info on the net, but like you said in another topic... you can not always be sure that all info is accurate.. i have normally only read info on registered organisations.. I still have an awful lot to learn..
It's nice that you are able to talk to others with PA, least they can understand where you are coming from..

Hope you feel a bit better than earlier...

Tracy..xx

dreamdaisy

AC do all sorts of publications, if you ring the helpline next week I am sure they will be able to send stuff out to you. ARC also publish a great deal of booklets etc - my rheumatology unit at my hospital has them on display and I have collected a fair few over the years. The web is highly unreliable, anyone can post anything (look at us lot for a start! ) so I never look anything up on there. I ask on here, or ask my doctors. Never, ever wikipedia et al. That way lies trouble! DD