Update on my intro post (some weeks ago!)

CornishPiskey

In my intro post I said that I was seeing the doctor for problems with my knees and hands.

Well the outcome was (sorry that this is rather late) that I do have osteoarthritis in my knees, I also get pains in my ankles and feet (makes walking home from work fun sometimes) and these are all weight related.

However, with my hands apparently (according to my Doc) it is because of my job - I am currently a school cleaner which basically means using a sprayer and holding a cloth with some vacuuming with occasional mopping. This I am told accounts for the slight inflamatory factor in my blood. The x-rays apparently showed nothing.

Bearing in mind I used to be a secretary and would be typing, carrying heavy files and all sorts all day - I am not totally convinced as some of the finger joints are red and swollen, and at least two fingers get some stiffness in them. I am debating what to do next. I don't really want to go back as I felt really stupid and humiliated when I came of the surgery, like I was being treated like an idiot - don't think that was docs intent though. Oh, nearly forgot, have to keep taking the anti-inflamatories.

Anyway thanks for listening (sorry if it sounds like a rant) - off to work in about half an hour.

Hope everyone is as ok as they can be.


PS - sorry if sounds a bit pathetic and wimpy - I am currently brewing a beauty of a cold.

barbara12

Hi CornishPiskey
Its good to hear from you, and dont apoligise ...if you need a rant go ahead and have one.
Its leave my blood boiling how hard it is to get GPs to take us seriously, I left my first gp because of this.
I do know that bloods dont always show what is going on, so dont feel a fool going back, if your joints are sore and swollen then there is something going on.
So you bite the bullet and make a list of everything you are telling us, and go back and say you are worried about it.
Good luck with it..and dont forget they get paid very well for looking after us.

frogmorton

Hi Cornispiskey good to see you again

I think Barbara is right too and you might just have to go back...maybe you can see a different doctor next time?? and definitely take someone with you for support. You could try finding a slightly different way of doing your job so you can prove whether it's work or not :? if that is at all possible so any stress is taken by something other than fingers :?

Did they Xray yours hands too l wonder?? signs on Xrays for OA and inflamatorry arthritises can look quite different using photo-imigiary :? Just a thought...might help diagnosis and Xrays aren't that expensive.

I felt an idiot going back after my initial visit to the doc so next time l went when as swollen up as poss, husband was working away so my brother came with me. it worked.

Love

Toni xxx

CornishPiskey

Thank you both for your very kind messages - they did x-ray my hands but it showed nothing (so I am told). When they took my blood test and did the x-rays it was just before Christmas so I hadn't been at work for a week or two, so that's another reason I am not convinced.

I do try to not fill up the mop buckets, and general cleaning buckets too far with water and swap hands if need be (using my left when I would normally use my right).

I think I will wait until they really play up and then go back - it is quite a large practice, so shouldn't be a problem to see someone else.

I will def see a different doctor though - I get the feeling I irritate my current one (again that could just be me being paranoid!!)

frogmorton

Cornishpiskey

that sounds like a plan to me I agree with trying to rest joints where possible too.

l think seeing someone else is a very good idea. You probably dont annoy the doctor, but you feel like you do so best avoided just this next time eh?!

Love

Toni xxx

suzygirl

Hi, I agree with the others. Go back and see a different doc, try to go when your hands are really bad. Or you could take photos of them, to show. I did this with my rheumy and it helped.

At the very least you need the inflammation checked again. I have never heard of it being affected by your job before, but I am not a doc. I think most jobs involve using your hands

Just because the x rays showed no chenges yet, doesnt mean, nothing is wrong.

Are you taking a stomach protector with the nsaids, you need to be if taking them longterm.

CornishPiskey

Hi Suzygirl - will try and get decent photos of my hands - do have puffy bits between the 'base' knuckles on my hands. Doctor didn't say anything about stomach protectors - thankfully I haven't taken any ibuprofen on a regular basis since my last visit - have taken them when necessary though - just not regularly (maybe just as well stomach wise but probably bad inflamatory wise - but at least if I get another blood test it will be on the same basis as the first one - if that makes sense).

Doctor just went into an explanation of how unused muscles will play up when suddenly used - the example he gave was gardening and aching afterwards!!!