diagnosis of OA

Miren

My GP has just diagnosed me as having osteoarthritis. I am 45, with about 8 months history of constant left knee pain, with some flexion restriction and stiffness when not moving, regular back and neck pain (extremely cricky neck with regular loss of mobility) which has got more severe and frequent in the last year, and regular pain and stiffness in other joints such as shoulders and those in the hand. Had blood taken to look for markers of inflammation, and fortunately came back negative. I've not had any other tests, can OA be diagnosed like this, by ruling out inflammatory or RA and the history and brief examination. I have had premenopausal symptoms for a number of years, in fact this was thought to be the reason for problems I experienced to conceive, and finally had a son 6 years ago after assisted insemination. For the past year my periods have practically disappeared. My GP does not seem to think that there is a need to take any special care or look into this, but I am slightly worried that I may be a bit young and also at risk of osteoporosis.
There is history of arthritis and severe scoliosis in my family, and I also have some scoliosis (detected in my teens, but not been followed up since). I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on whether I should be satisfied with the diagnosis and manage the pain with the anti-inflammatory I've been prescribed and (naproxen), or should I seek further advice or a second opinion.

constable

Hi there

When I was diagnosed with OA it was an xray that showed it up. Since then I've had a hip replacement and going good now. It may be that the xray showed that OA at the moment is the most important to deal with. Since I have been back to doctors with thumb, fingers back and neck but she says that once you have OA you must expect it to spread.

Probably someone will come along with lot better ideas and conclusions for you.

Hope to see you around the forum.


Karen xx

dreamdaisy

This sounds exactly how OA is diagnosed. It is managed by the GP and there are no treatments as such, just pain dullers and anti inflammatories. If your blood test did not show any raised inflammation markers or a positive RF factor then it is entirely possible that RA is not the culprit but there are some sero-negative forms of this dross: I have one of those, psoriatic arthritis, when at its worst my inflammation markers were up in the 160s and 170s. Thanks to the damage that has caused I now have OA in my knees.

What type of arthritis runs in your family? Is there any history of other auto-immune conditions such as eczema or asthma? Inflammatory arthritis is an auto-immune condition, OA is not. OA is dismissed as the 'wear and tear' arthritis but it can occur as a result of accidents or over-indulgence in 'hard' exercise such as running. You are not too young for this, I began at 37, others on here are only in their 20s.

O have to go now but if I think of anything else I'll be back! Take care and I wish you well. DD

barbara12

Hi my oa was shown up in xrays, but also my blood teast were positive for RA....had others done since these have been negative....very confusing...
Good Luck with everything.

hileena111

Hi
I've got OA in hips lower spine, ankle and neck.
I've also got kypho scoliosis.
I dont have {at the minute} arthur anywhere else....smaller joints.
All I would say is that if you are not happy go ahead and seek further advice...at least it will put your mind at rest
Good Luck
Love
Hileena

weejean

Hi Miren

I have OA in all my joints and was diagnosed when I was 13, this was done by xrays and blood tests. If you feel at all dis-satisfied with your diagnosis you should discuss this with your GP or seek a second opinion. I hope all goes well for you

rugbygirl

I have got OA in my lumbar spine and I was diagnosed with an MRI scan - this was also required because I had a slipped disc and sciatica. If your GP is very knowledgeable about arthritis then he may be able to diagnose like this. If you arent happy with the diagnosis then ask for a second opinion.

Melrymax

Hi, as dd says there are quite a few young people with OA I am 24 and had the pain/symptoms since I was 14/15 I was diagnosed in the beginning of the year. I have OA in my hips and this was diagnosed by X-ray after numerous visits to the docs complaining of pain and frequent clicking.

keldi

Hi Miren and welcome to the forum.

I was diagnosed with OA just three weeks ago and, like you, I had been going backwards and forwards to my GP with multiple joint pain for 10 months. I have had more tests than I care to remember and most came back negative. Over the months suggested diagnosis have included ME, anaemia, Lupus, RA, heart or kidney disease and even stress.

Out of sheer desperation, my hubby made an appointment with a different doctor for me as he could no longer bear to watch me in almost continuous pain. After 5 minutes of manipulating my joints the doc diagnosed OA - no more tests and not even an x-ray. The click and grind he could feel in my knees, ankles, hips and wrists told him all that he needed to know. I am now on regular pain dullers and waiting for my first physio appointment. So yes, what you have experienced in the way of diagnosis sounds about right, but I sometimes feel that we would not have got to this point if hubby had not have insisted on a second opinion. Never be afraid to go back to your GP and say that you are not happy with your diagnosis or treatment. Many conditions exhibit similar symptoms and the docs don't always get it right first time.

Good luck
Diane

skezier

Hi Miren,

Welcome to the forum, they are a good lot here.

Its quite a shock and hard to get your head round the diagnosis. A whole mix of emotions hit you in waves for a min but flower you will be alright.

A good gp could make the diagnosis like that but its not unreasonable to ask for some xrays and then possibly a referral to the orthos....

That's what i would do.

Mine was diagnosed by xray originally, the back he found when he did the decompression... bit drastic to look and see

The rest they just lump it all on the pa or oa and a third one they are still unsure about.

Hang in there flower and I would definitely ask for some xrays. Nice to meet you. Cris x

Hi Diane nice to see you as well x

Oh forgot to say about referrals to physio's etc as well x

Miren

Many many thanks to all of you who have replied sharing your experiences and and offering kind advice and support.
When I come back from a week, of what I think are, well deserved holidays I plan to make an appointment to see a physiotherapist and take it from there. Will continue to visit these pages
M.

weejean

Have a wonderful holiday and good luck with everything when you get back

frogmorton

Hi Miren

good to meet you.

Please don't sisappear will you? Sounds as though we can help support you through this diagnosis.

Very often l have seen GPs diagnosing people with OA with no more than you have had, but Xryas are fairly cheap and at least you could ask for one of those???

If you still feel pain and did you say only have naproxen there are painkillers they can prescribe for you as well.

Love

toni xx

scozzie

Hi Miren
Sorry you've had to join the forum. My diagnosis of OA was only confirmed five weeks ago by a Rheumy, based on my doc's referral letter and my symptoms ... sore feet, one knee that aches slightly going up and down stairs with the other making grinding noises without pain on the same stairs, and hands that seem to ache all the time. So far all my tests, bar one x-ray showing slight wear and tear in a finger joint, have come back negative. Definitely ask your doctor to prescribe your pain dullers, and them added to the repeat section, that way they'll be able to monitor how many tablets you're taking.
I'm 51 and was always active til I moved to the UK, lots of running and cycling, and I still prefer to walk to places less than two miles away unless I'm in a hurry, so with all that activity I'm not surprised about my feet an knees having OA. My hands, however are another matter and they're the joints which hurt most ... Lol.
Good luck.
Laurie

dotty123

Hi , like you I thought I was too young for OA , I am 43 this week and really finding it hard to come to terms with. Its like being told you got OA and go home and get on with it doesn't it, like the others say there isn't anything that can be done other than pain killers. I seem to have gone down hill in the last year .. I got an appointment this Thursday at the hospital and boy have I got a list of aches and pains for him.. From my fingers to my hands and now to my knees and left hip and today I got a stiff neck !! I feel about 90 years old. It has started to affect my daily chores and this I find really frustrating..

Welcome aboard , everyone here is wonderful and its really nice to share ya moans and groans and your ouch ouch ouches

xx

hileena111

Have you read any of the arthritis leaflets......there is Juvenile arthritis. If you go on to the forum for young people it makes you {or me anyway} really
greateful that I didnt have it at that age.
Love
Hileena

speedalong

Hi and welcome,

if the pain meds and anti inflammatories aren't controlling the pain then I would ask for a referral to an orthopaedic consultant who can order x rays and monitor the deterioration (and suggest surgery.) Physio/hydro is also helpful for maintaining movement and stamina - in my area you can self refer/or be referred by GP or consultant.

Sometimes you have to keep going back to the GP before they appreciate how much the OA is interferring with your life. Also, different GPs have different areas of expertise/interest so if one doesn't seem to be listening then try another in the practice.

SPeedy

sbolam

Hi, I had been going back and forth to the gp for a good couple of months with constant knee pain and was getting nowhere..so I changed my gp and was told at the first appointment that I had OA in both knees. he gave me some meds and said thats all he can do at the moment..i was shocked concidering I am only 39..so after a couple of days of OMG what now, I went and refered myself to the physio which to be honest did not do much..but at least now someone is listening..and I have meds that most of the time are controlling my pain..