When to see Rheumatologist!!

marie48

Beside having to worry about gall bladder removal next week. My arthritis is playing up, I do need a break, knees playing up, cannot weight bear, can kneel and do some gentle exercises but must not put pressure on the knee caps. Thumb, fingers and wrists have joined in. Rt wrist feel very weak but the pain varies sometimes it is manageable and when it is bad I use brufen gel. Saw GP and she said it is generalised arthritis and now it seems I am getting it in my jaw who is clicky, crunchy and uncomfortable when I eat french bread etc. GP suggests I see a Rheumatologist but I have declined as I told her the pain is manageable without medication at the moment although the arthritis is spreading. I will see him or her when it gets worse and will need medication etc. At the moment, Iwant to know whether I could take steps to stop the arthritis affecting my other joints as well. Just want to know whether I am taking the right approach to wait or go ahead to see a specialist. Have told GP will wait after op and then get the bloods tests she recommended and take it from there. She wants to see my vit d level. If the arthritis is getting more generalised, what's the long term prognosis, is it life in a wheelchair or can it just be manageable? I think it difficult to cope with the neck and jaw ones. Thanks

dreamdaisy

I laud your attitude in not 'giving in' to it as yet, but I think the whole point of the meds is to help inhibit/slow the progression of the disease and thus slow the rate of possible joint damage. I was seen by a rheumatologist after five years of trouble without any treatment, I am now firmly of the opinion that I started the drug therapies too late and oh boy am I paying for that with severe OA in my PA damaged joints.

Everyone's arthritis is different, everyone's progresses differently, affects joints differently but generally it spreads. If you can slow that progression by taking the medications then it has to be worth a shot. I wish you well. DD

valval

you did not say if you have had blood tests and what they showed non of us wanted meds but if you can stop the dammage the inflimation does then that has to be good but everyone is different and you will go when you are ready it depends on what type of arther you have.
dentist can give you exercises to help with jaw i have to do them and they help well. good luck with what ever you decide but think about getting tested to find out which type you have and talk about what availabe to help you val

marie48

Thanks dreamdaisy, GP told me medication cannot slow the arthritis as it is wear and tear, that's why I am trying to resist taking them unless the pain become unbearable. It did when i was first diagnosed with the neck I had to take medcation but it has now settled down. During a flare up, I take medication. I think after the op, I will see a Rheumatologst and see whether he can offer advice how to slow the arthritis.

dreamdaisy

Ah, I see, thank you for the clarification. 'Wear and tear' arthritis (OA) is a different beast as it is not caused by an over-active immune-system. Rheumatologists do not usually deal with OA - that is the remit of GPs. They offer pain dullers and anti-inflammatories, then an orthopaedic surgeon may become involved if replacement joints become an option. My rheumatologist is not the slightest bit interested in my OA, she is only bothered by the PA. There is not, however, a deal to be done about matters: there is little evidence that supplements etc are useful. DD

stickywicket

None of us can tell you the long term prognosis, Marie, partly because we're not docs but also because everyone's different.

I have it in neck and jaw. I get little pain in either these days although I've very little movement in my neck and my mouth doesn't open very wide.

I used to worry about 'ending up in a wheelchair'. It wasn't until I started to see it as a liberating thing - something that would enable me to do, without pain, stuff I hadn't been able to do for ages even with a lot of pain - that I changed my mind. Many of us aren't 'in wheelchairs'. We just use them sometimes for long walks or outings or, in my case, cricket matches, or for travelling. Once you get over feeling embarassed, it can be great.

Try not to worry about the future. Enjoy as much as you can of the present. The future will take care of itself.

traluvie

Hi Marie..

Welcome to the forum..
For me starting treatment early for my inflammatory arthritis has helped me alot in regards to pain, and they do say inflammatory arthritis is best causght early to slow the disease process down..
I see you have OA, maybe your GP is considering referring you as your symptoms have increased..the bloods she will do are to test for inflammation and RF factor(rheumatoid factor) and some others i am not sure of..
Be worth asking Your GP what they are looking for in your bloods and why they want to refer you as DD said OA is normally dealt with GP..
It's hard to predict how anyone will be from arther,how it affects each and everyone of us is different..Some people can lead normal life with meds some without, others may have to adapt a little or a lot.. no-one can say for sure, so the best advice is to take each day as it comes and if you get the oppurtunity to start treatment i would as i believe it would be beneficial to you, but it has to be your decision and something you want to do,,
Thinking of you..x

woodbon

Hi, I'd take up the offer and go to see the Reumatologist now, as often its hard to get a referral and you sometimes have a wait for the appointment. I have OA in quite a few joints, also, now they think its a neuro problem. The first time I went I discovered I had carpel tunnel syndrome and that was treated, which helped a bit. Also recommended different pain relief which is much better.
I know these things are not 'state of the art' cures, but I'd never have found out if I hadn't seen a rhummy.
The most important thing is that you have your foot in the door and sometimes its hard to get a referral, of course, you don't have to take his advice if you don't like it . I know you will of course, be different than me and do not want to give in and thats a good thing and shows fighting spirit.
Sorry, I know I sound bossy. I hope you do whats right for you!
Love Suexx

marie48

Thanks, the bloods tests are to rule out rheumatoid, I had one done in 2005, and to check levels of vit D. I will take her offer of a referral after gallbladder op and take it from there. I am very interested to have some advice on exercise, I do some but not sure whether I am doing them correctly. I did see a Rheumatologist years ago when it started with my back up till now it has been diagnosed, it is wear and tear I was told and my back pain was mechanical. He said it will get better in time. I was offered injection in my spine which I declined. Now since all the other joints are being affected I now it is osteo arthritis I am suffering from. It is very strange when I reported cracking knees to physio and Occupational Health Docotr, nobody told me it is the start of arthritis. Mostly worried about the jaw although I can open it and eat french bread (which makes it worse), it is the clicky which worries me, every time I open my mouth wide, it clicks ad crunches but is not painful but just uncomfortable. I do not know whether by continuing to eat french bread or apples, I am making it worse by making the jaw works harder. I am also doing some jaw exercises and will ask my dentist. At the moment I can eat normal food, my jaw will tell me when it has had enough. Thanks for reading.