Hi, I'm new and confused...

Debs42

For the past 3-4 months i have had a very painfull left hip/leg, saw my GP who ordered blood tests. ESR came back abnormal, so was given anti inflammatories and pain killers and told to return in a couple of weeks time. This i did, as my hip/leg felt no better,GP then arranged a hip and pelvis xray. The results of this were strange to me, they showed nothing wrong with my left hip, but showed early stages of arthritis in my sacroilliac joint in my pelvis, but on the right side. But my GP just said nothing to worry about and that i would not feel the effects of this untill i reach my 80's (I'm 42 this year) and that it would be with me for life and does not go away.There was no mention of what (if anything) should happen next,like when it will start to get worse, or spread, or will i need to see a specialist, should i be taking any meds, will i need to be seen for further tests to find out what type of arthritis I have! What i would like to know is should i see another GP or am i worrying about nothing... I feel like i know nothing about this condition or even if i should be concerned. Please help....

Yours gratefully
Debs42

Poppyg1rl

Hi Debs,
Welcome to the forum, although sad you had to join us in our Arthtitic battle! It is very difficult to get a diagnosis sometimes, some people wait months having test after test and others like myself were diagnosed fairly quickly, because I presented with classic Psoriatic Arthritis symptoms and I had a good GP who referred me to a Rheumatology Consultant my diagnosis was quick and i started medication early. Perhaps you could go back and see your GAp and ask for a referral? if no joy there, could you see a different GP for a 2nd opinion? Another tip is to give the helplines here a call, their number is at the top of the page, they are lovely and extremeley knowledgable. I hope that I've made sense (I do tend to ramble!) thinking of you, hugs x

dreamdaisy

Hello, welcome to the forums tho it's a shame you have had to find us. I offer you my thoughts but please remember I am not a doc, just someone who has been affected by a form of arthritis for 14 years.

I guess the opposite hip is hurting to the affected one as you have probably (and unknowingly) altered the way you walk, easing the strain on the right side and putting it on the left. Perhaps using a stick in the interim will help: use the stick on the left side but as it should support you better that could well help to ease the discomfort on that side - but if your walking has not been too badly affected that may not be necessary.

Your GP has given you anti-inflammatories which should help the ESR to reduce but that won't happen overnight. A raised ESR would suggest some form of inflammatory arthritis, rather than OA but I AM NOT A DOC and I am not sure whether you can have a raised ESR with OA - that might be a question for the helpline. Hopefully those markers will come down. If it is OA then he cannot do much more. OA is often described as the 'wear and tear' arthritis but that sounds so dismissive: it is just as painful and just as debilitating as all the other forms. It is also very common and can affect someone at any age: you are not too young for this, I began my version of this dross when I was 37. There are many on here in their twenties too - a mis-conception about arthritis is that it only affects the elderly. It doesn't.

As to how things will develop, well, who knows? We are all different in the way we are affected, what joints are affected, in how the symptoms present themselves and in how we are treated. My PA (an auto-immune version of arthritis, it is similar to rheumatoid but comes with the added bonus of horrid skin) has a very different treatment to OA. I don't think you need to see another doctor, yours has spotted that something is not right and has taken steps to find out more. He could, perhaps, have been a little more tactful in what he has told you but hell, we all wish for more tactful doctors from time to time. Wait and see if the anti-inflammatories help, try to manage the pain/discomfort with the pain dullers (killers is such an innacurate term) and I hope that things do improve for you. It sounds as tho you are in the early stages of (perhaps) OA so hopefully the meds will help you quite soon.

Please feel free to ask any questions: we are a knowledgeable bunch on here and know our stuff! DD

julie47

Hi debs

I just wanted to pop in and say welcome.

I think, if you are uncertain about your condition, now that you have had time to think about it and come up with some questions, I would make another appointment with your gp.
Write a list so you don't forget.

I hope in the meantime the meds you have been given help releave your pain.

Take care
Juliepf x

traluvie

Hi Debs..

Welcome to the forum..
Your Gp sounds a bit ignorant just to brush it aside as if you should just get on with it..Like to see them in the same situation??
I think you should see a different GP and raise your concerns with them..
Hopefully they will be more understanding and more willing to investigate.
Don't give up, if your not happy then keep on till you are..
Anything you want to ask, just fire away..
Let us know how you get on..

barbara12

Hi Debs
And welcome to the forum, like the others have said go back to your GP, and ask questions, this is the way they leave you sometimes just wondering what next.
I do wish you well and let us know how you get on
Love
Barbara x

tillytop

Hello Debs and welcome from me too.

I can't add anything to what the other peeps have already said but just wanted to say "hi" and good luck with moving this forward.

Love Tillyxxx

Debs42

Thank you all so much for your kind words and advice...I will definitely be making another appointment at my surgery, but with another doctor.. I will let you all know how i get on in due course.

Once again, thanks...

Debs

skezier

Hi Debs,

A later welcome from me and really glad that you are getting an appointment with a different doc as oa doesn't change your bloods at all so the normal esr isn't oa.....

Think i might be inclined to ask for a referral to a rumo depending on how abnormal the esr is? If its saying there is inflammation and oa doesn't show up then they have to look further than that.

I really hope you get a good gp and a decent explanation for this one. Nice to meet you. Cris x