OA diagnosis ??

jhjm

Hi all,

I have just recently found this site. I have had pain on and off in my foot/ankle for about 12 years now, visited a GP at the time, who examined my foot etc, sent for an x-ray which did'nt show anything. I was prescribed an nsaid which I asked for, I was'nt diagnosed with arthritis or anything else, but I think it relieved my pain, and I just put up with it. I no longer take the medication from the advice of a consultant, due to having coeliac disease, but now taking an alternative herbal medicine, I will see how this goes, as I feel I need some support. I have recently visited a GP as I can no longer cope with it, and not really knowing what is going on. She examined my foot, asked me about symptoms and said that I probably have osteoarthritis, to take pain relief as and when needed. I kind of left a little bewildered. Is this a diagnosis
of OA? Any advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Janice

caterina57

Hi Janice
Welcome to the forum, you will find plenty of people here who will offer support and advice gained from their experience and knowledge of their conditions. However remember we are not Drs!

I have spondylosis and OA of wrists and thumbs, that was diagnosed following x ray. My GP has recently suspected that I may have OA in my knees as following examination he said that he could feel/hear grinding and I am also having trouble with my hips, and because of additional problems with my hands he said that I may have carpel tunnel syndrome.

I do not consider my GPs suspicions as diagnosis, although because of the pain and symptoms I have he is probably right. I think for a proper diagnosis I would need some evidence either by scan or x ray.

Cath

elnafinn

Hi Janice

Welcome to the forum. I am sorry that you have been having problems with your foot/ankle even if it was off and on, for 12 years.

You have been given a diagnosis of sorts by your gp of OA (osteoarthritis) but I am a little surprised if this was done without sending you for an xray as the last one you had done was 12 years ago and apparently showed no signs of arthritis. Perhaps this gp has an added interest in OA and could see that was what it was. Out of interest what type of consultant did you see who suggested that you no longer take nsaids? I would ask your gp why you have not been sent for xray as it would be interesting to know why not. Would some kind of ankle support help, made to measure orthotics, if so you should perhaps be referred to the Othotics Clinic. Could you have a steroid injection in that area to lessen the pain, would physio help - these are all questions that I would be asking my gp if it was me.

I wish you well,
Elna x

dreamdaisy

I don't have OA but I think another Xray wouldn't be too much to ask for - that will show any joint damage and perhaps enable a 'proper' diagnosis. As for treatment, well, there is not a great deal to be done: exercise, pain relief and an anti-inflammatory are the usual things, but given the fact you have Coeliac Disease I am not sure what would be appropriate. I think you need to see the GP again and ask for either clarification, an Xray or both! I wish you well. DD

barbara12

Hello Janice
And welcome to the forum
It can be confusing, I spent around two years before having xrays that said I had OA, then I have had blood test to check for RA, one came back positive but think goodness the others weren't.
I found that you have to get your GP to take you seriously, there are so many people with Arthur that sometimes they dont.
Getting the right pain meds will help, but you will have to see what suits you, everyone is so different.
You will get lots of support off the lovely people on this forum,
Hope you stay with us
Love
Barbara x

seamonkey

Hi Janice and welcome to the forum,
I have had 12 years of leg pain and back pain, my doc recently told me i had arthritis in lower spine but didnt go into more detail, i then saw a consultant who sent me for an mri i saw him for results and he wasnt sure it was arthritis! Im now waiting for spinal surgeon appointment. Its very frustrating when you are not sure what is going on with your own body, all the ifs and buts and is it or isnt its really get to me.
I know i should go to doc and ask what she thinks is going on but im just not that type of person. You could go back and ask what the diagnosis was for you so you can find support etc.
The forums have been great for me, really kept me going at times,
I wish you all the best
seamonkey

jhjm

Thank you all for your kind replies. The GP said that an x-ray would'nt and does'nt usually cofirm OA, which I find bewildering as that is how Cath's was diagnosed and from reading through posts, others' was diagnosed too. It was a consultant gastroentoroligist whom I see that advised I stop taking the meds as they are not good for my gut. I have actually contacted a podiatrist whom I am going to see and hopefully she can give me advice/opinion with a possibility of orthoses. I have decided to go an see another GP at the practice. I can see why it is so frustrating an ailment for people to have, you feel like you are banging your head off a brick wall at times. I will let you know how I get on.

Best wishes

elnafinn

Hi Janice

Please do keep in touch. I think it is an excellent idea to see another gp. As you say, it is most surprising that your gp says OA will not show up on an xray. Perhaps if the next gp you see says the same you could mention this forum and that most of us have an xray(s) if OA is suspected.

Look after yourself, unfortunately we do sometimes have stand up to the medical profession, frightening as that can be. There is a mine of information to be obtained from this forum and its members. Stay with us and ask as many questions as you like and we shall try to answer them and support you.

Elna x

jhjm

Hi Elna,

Thanks for your kind reply. It is sometimes very difficult to say what you really need to with GP's, but my partner is going to come to the next consultation with me, so hopefully I will get somewhere.

Kind regards

Janice

barbara12

Hi Janice again
I do know what you mean about not knowing what to say when you see your GP, I get there and it all comes out wrong, you have a practice what you want to say, it may sound silly but it worked for me, and I couldn't have done it without the support of the lovely people on this forum.
Good Luck
Love
Barbara x

elnafinn

Hi Janice

An excellent idea. Two against one
Seriously it really can help. Your partner remembers things you may not, should you get a little tongue-tied, your partner steps in and may well think of questions to ask you do not. I am sure you will get somewhere. We all pay these medics to keep them in work. It is their job to help their patients and if they cannot, they should refer you to someone who can.

All the best and do let us know how you get on.

Luv
Elna x

speedalong

Hi Janice, I don't have anything to add just now, but wanted to welcome you to the forum.

Speedy

frogmorton

Hi janice

Good to meet you

sorry you haven't had much help from teh dofcs, but I think an xray is a good idea (perhaps it costs money??!!)

I do hope you get one so you at least know what you are up against and teh severity.

Love

toni xx

caterina57

Well I am very bewildered if your Dr says Xrays dont show arthritis, last year I had terrible problems with my wrist, I was sent for an xray and was eventually told I had tendonitis, the treatment was to immobilise the wrist for two weeks - initially they were going to put a plaster cast on my wrist to make it immobile but eventually decided against this due to me having bad arthritis in the wrist which showed up on the xray so they gave me a velcro fastening splint instead to stop me having to have physio if I had the plaster cast put on.
Perhaps you could ask for a scan?
Cath

prefabkid47

Hi jhjm
I'm surprised your GP didn't follow up her diagnosis of 'probable OA',with an X ray,but sometimes you have to diplomatically suggest what the GP should do next!
I myself suggested some years ago to do a blood test to check for RA (which proved positive) and just last year to do X ray on my ankle which confirmed OA (as I suspected)!
I'm no awaiting surgery on my ankle in the next couple of months.Hope they get you sorted.

Ron

hileena111

Hi,
Welcome to the forum.....I have OA in hips, back, ankle, neck etc LOL....I had pain in one hip {never thought arthritis!!!} went to the doc about it who basically said nothing wrong, I went back and back and back LOL evrentually he sent me to a rheumy at the hospital whop diagnosed arthrits of hips and lower spine. GP then put me on paracetamol!!! Wonderful....
Love
Hileena

jhjm

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think that is the problem x-rays cost money!! I guess I will be pestering gp's for some time too, and snap, paracetamol was suggested to me too . Does anyone feel that their joints are affected more by the weather, if it;s really cold or raining? I have'nt been out for a few days as I've not been able to walk that well this week, but foot settled down, so I went out, it was really cold that you can feel it penetrating your bones and foot was more achey.

Janice

hileena111

Oh yes....the weather makes such a difference...today was beautiful and apart from feeling more cheerful the aches and pains wern't as bad.....damp and cold affect me......I found and I think a few others as well.....last year humidity affected us as well.
Love
Hileena

lavenderlady

I had the weather discussion with my DR last week saying how bad it makes my OA feel, he said does it really make it worse a lot of his patients say the same , I told him you better beleive it,
over the past few years I have had so many scans I've lost count one day I had 19 x rays on different joints ALL showed OA in fact my right hip knee and feet were badly damaged along with my feet hands etc, I'm lucky in that I have a very good GP, in fact I went to see him and told him the pain in my big toe joint was so bad and so swollen and deformed it was getting hard to get shoes on along with pain on my other big toe joint, he by passed the rhumatologist straight to the surgeon, and am only waiting less then 3 weeks for my appointment and thats after having a TWR Nov 2nd last year, x rays most certainly do show up arthritis, I do feel so lucky getting sorted so quickly I know I now need my toe joints done and then its probably my hip and knee, OA sure makes you well known at your local hospital, good luck on your next appointment try writing down your points you want to make so you dont forget anything

Airwave!

I've just crossed out 3/4 of a page, I was tempted to rant, sorry. I have been there, read the book, seen the film and got several T-shirts, which I hate ironing.

The real answer is to find your own way, a way that suits you to deal with arther and carry on with your life, not defined by an illness.

There, just crossed out another half page!

Good luck.

8) It's a grin, honest!

jhjm

Hi There,

Just to let let you know that I had an x-ray on my ankle today. I visited the surgery yesterday and saw a different gp who sort of said the same thing as the other one I saw, but there was'nt really any hesitation to refering me for an x-ray. It was a drop in clinic I went to, you just go along and wait, though I did'nt wait very long. I do really hope if not OA, something will show up. I get the results in about 10 days from gp. I am also hoping to go to physiotherapy soon and hope that will also help. Although not relevant, just thought I would mention, it is snowing cats and dogs here in the middle of March!!! :???:

Janice

dreamdaisy

I am glad to hear that you have had that done - let us know what the results are, please, and what the next step for you will be. Snow? Please don't go out in it, the last thing you need is a fall! DD

rugbygirl

Hello Janice

I am just catching up with the forum and have read your post with interest.

I have recently been diagnosed with OA of the spine. I originally had an x-ray which showed nothing but because I had significant pain I was sent to an Ortho Specialist to refer me for an MRI scan (for some reason I couldnt be referred by my GP). I had an appointment with the Pain Specialist who told me three weeks ago that I had OA of the spine but I had to wait for my official diagnosis from Ortho.

Needless to say I think it depends on how good the x-ray is before OA can be seen.

I totally agree DD - I dont think the forum can take someone else with a broken bone

I have been walking about in a sun dress and sandles today with a shrug on. Its so hot here its like a summers day

Keep us up to date with the results.

jhjm

Thanks DD and Jaki, I will keep you posted. No broken bones! We now have freezing fog while you are basking in the sunshine, the joys!! :???: