Does this sound like arthiritis?

gillybean129
gillybean129 Member Posts: 2
edited 19. Dec 2011, 23:08 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi all, new to this forum just wanted a little advice!

I have been suffering with pain for most of this year, and my husband said I think you've got arthritis, just to say I will be going back to the GP but wanted to run this by everyone on here.

The pain is mostly in my back, initially is was a searing pain then is has now reduced somewhat. I have had bloods done as baselines in June and the GP says I am borderline Hypothyroid and I have to go back in 6 months for further tests, so it could be that. Could also be hormonal due to the fact I am almost 50. What makes me think of arthiritis is the way I experience clicking in my back especially when I turn in the driving seat. My index finger has been driving me mad clicking too. I can hardly walk in a morning I am so stiff and have great difficult drying myself after a shower and putting on socks and shoes, I just can't bend. Luckily I have a desk job but when I file low down, I can bend down but have trouble getting back up. Sometimes it spreads into my lower abdomen and when I bend it really feels bad, I had an abdo scan with no real diagnosis.At the end of the day I am in agony and almost crawl upstairs but find relief at resting in bed. Paracetamol and ibuprofen don't help. I have also been taking multivitamins with isoflavines. Mt GP's last stance was take some herbal remedies for the hormonal imbalance too early for HRT. Now both my elbows hurt, I noticed when I laid on my side in bed, they just feel tender and sore on one side.

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone?

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello gillybean, it's nice to meet you. I cannot help with your question as my arthritis does not affect my back (so far!) but I think it's worth your keeping a diary of what is what, what helps and exacerbates, tiredness and pain levels etc so that your GP gets the biggest picture of you he can to help him determine what steps should be taken. Arthritis falls into two camps, the osteo type (generally dealt with by GPs and orthopaedic chappies) and the immune system-based ones such as rheumatoid which is dealt with by rheumatologists. Diagnosis may not necessarily be a straight-forward thing but for the time being it's worth your taking frequent rest periods, trying not to do the stuff too often that sets things off (not easy, I know), find out if heat or cold helps your affected areas and keep in touch with us as I hope we can help. I wish you well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    as dd says it difficult to say there over 200 types of arther and it affects each of us different i went on hrt at 46 because when you start the change early can lead to osteoperosis (sorry if spelt wrong) waiting 6 months not on if you are in so much pain i do feel you should have gone back to gp before now even if they only send you for physio val
    val
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi Gilly,

    welcome to the forum and sorry you have the problem.

    i kinda think please see a different gp...... yes it could be the hyperthyroid,i find it hard to believe a hormone imbalance can cause you this much pain though and it could be a few things so really needs to be investigated with things like xray's and if your really lucky they might do a mri....

    whats important is to get to the bottom of it and it doesn't sound like your gp that you have seen is going to do that.

    make notes of how its impacting and what its dong and then please either ask for a referral or at least an xray but Gilly please see someone else cus this just isn't fair. nice to meet you. Cris x

    oh and i been on the hrt (the synthetic not the horse one) since i was 38 so can't see your too young.... i honestly think see someone else either in the same practice or try and get a new doctor. hang in there flower and just fight your corner but again please see someone else... like an old stuck record eh :wink: