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mummytofour

Hi all im knew to the forum and have been searching the net for advice (dont particularly like going to the doctors if I can help it but im wondering if maybe it is time to see someone)

Im 35 and mum to four (only been pregnant twice though lol), I started suffering with my hips as a teenager about 15, I did go back and forth to the docs at that point and after xrays nothing was found so i left it, it was mainly my right hip and it could get very painful.

After the birth of my twins when i was 19 I had an emergency c-section and a spinal block after their birth I suffered terribly with my back and by the time they were around two i would cry getting up in a morning with the pain and stiffness in my back, it would take me a good half hour or so to get going and moving properly. I visited the doctors who sent me for an xray which didnt show anything so again i just left it.

Over the years my back has never been right, on a couple of occassions ive been in so much pain ive been unable to straighten up or move, on those occassions i couldnt even get out of the house, but most of the time i am able to do normal every day things.

Over the last few months my back is ok through the day with the exception of the odd twinge or pain doing certain movements but its nighttime thats causing me the biggest problem and is now affecting my partner who is going to work tired because im disturbing him. If I lie downstairs on the settee though the pain is really bad in my hips as well so try to stay in bed. I get off to sleep ok but later in the night from about 2ish onwards i wake up in pain and try to swap on to my other side but i just dont get comfy and the pain keeps me awake, when i do dose off its usually disturbed not long after again because my back is hurting.

Just recently over the last few months ive also been suffering with pains in my chest bones, again this can be made worse when im in bed but also hurts to sneeze.

When I get up in the morning i find it takes me a while to get my back and neck in gear to move properly, they feel stiff and sore but as time were on i manage to move around fine with no pain.

I just dont know whether its worth seeing the doctor given how it was when i went at a younger age, i wonder if there would be anything they could do anyway. I tried taking ibruprofen and paracetomol before getting in bed a couple of nights ago but it still woke me up.

I just feel because im ok through the day most days that it may not be anything. I know a lot of you on here will suffer greatly day in day out and i dont want to come across as a moaner just need advise really on whether it does sound like somethings wrong and perhaps whether i should be thinking about letting someone see me again. I worry for when im old that if my back feels so painful and knackered now how will it be in another 35 yrs! It actually scares me :shock: Does anyone have any ideas what this pain could be or sounds like?

dreamdaisy

Hello, welcome to the forum. We are not doctors and so cannot advise on what it may or may not be but it's very apparent that something is not right with you and yes, I think you should go to your GP - print your post off to show him as that is very detailed and will give him the background and information he will need. Hips and back is classic osteo-arthritis territory and that can strike at any age so don't let him fob you off with 'You're too young' comments - unfortunately no-one is too young for arthritis in any of its guises. As for waking with pain through the night, yup, well, I know what that's like! I think you need to see your doctor as soon as you can as you obviously cannot carry on like this. Let us know how you get on and I wish you well. DD

mummytofour

Thanks hun sorry yes I didnt mean for someone to diagnose i understand its just advise, just wonder whether it sounded like something in particular x

I was looking on the net before and came across ankylosing spondylitis sorry however its spelt lol and it sounded double of my pain!

I think if it was just me it was affecting i would probably get on with it for a while yet but feel so mean as my partner is shattered with me keeping him up in the night.

tillytop

Hello again

I must admit I wondered about AS (not even going to TRY to spell it ) when I saw your post and I really do think it is important to go to your GP sooner rather than later and to ask about the possibility of referral to a rheumatologist. There are some peeps here with AS and I hope one of them will see your message and reply.

As for the guilt for disturbing your partner - I can identify with that all too well. My poor, longsuffering husband has moved out onto the sofabed in the spare room recently because I am out of bed like a yo-yo so neither of us was getting any sleep.

I know you have been looking on the internet for information but if you haven't already done so, you might want to try looking at the information leaflets here on the AC website or those produced by Arthritis Research UK. I know from experience that GPs are not always aware of the symptoms of arthritis-y things so, if you find an information leaflet which seems to reflect your symptoms well, you might find it useful to print and take to the GP as a basis for discussion.

Please do keep posting and let us know how you get on.

Tillyxxx

deedeeitsme

I was thinking about AS too...this can start very young but is sometimes not pick up until later life. Go and see your gp hun. Explain your situation and how it affects you and what makes it worse/better for you. Let us know x Dee x

Oooh and welcome to the forum x

barbara12

Hi mummytofour....
And a warm welcome to the forum, I do know what you mean about going to your GP, mine didnt see me only every 4 years for smears.... I do hate going...but needs must...you make sure when you go along to take notes of what you want to say....and dont be like me and leave them in your pocket :roll: it must be so hard with 4 children, so you do need to know what is going on.
I do wish you well with everything, and I bet you feel a little better now you have got all that typed...its surprising how it can help just to talk to people that understand some of what you are going through.
Please let us know how you get on x

Heather65

Hi mummytofour,
welcome to the forum sounds like you have your hands full ,it must be very difficult when you are in pain ,the first port of call will be your doctor he will be able to help you (hopefully),there are lots of people on here who can give advice and just listen i know thats helps ,
Heather

mummytofour

Thank you all so much for the lovely welcome and great advice.

Yes four children are quite a handful but the eldest two are almost 16 now and go to college in september, the next 10 and the youngest 6, the youngest is quite a handful lol but love them all so much

I have spoken to my partner tonight about this and he asked why i hadnt already made an appointment today lol think hes desperate for sleep

dreamdaisy

We get used to things and so carry on without realising that, actually, life should not be like this. I suspect that most of us on here become very fed up with going to the doctors but there are times when it is necessary: please talk to your GP soon, I hope he finds that there is something to be done including being referred to a rheumatologist, I feel that is a sensible step. DD

hileena111

Hi
Welcome to the forum.....Oh I do think you should see your GP....or a different GP if you get no satisfaction.A few of us on here have changed GP's
{for the better}
After my hip replacement....I couldnt sleep...well..... got to sleep OK but then kept waking up with pain. I have OA in hips, and lower spine. After trying a few different meds we eventually found a slow release one that gave me a reasonable nights sleep.
i know what you mean about your hubby.....I take it with 4 children you dont have a spare room? I moved into our spare room and am more relaxed now because i can toss and turn and not worry about keeping hubby awake.
If you havent a spare room is there no way you could have a portable bed of some sort in the living room or wherever? Or a bed settee?
Good luck and please go and see your GP.....and yes as someone suggested....have a look at the leaflets that Arthritis Care provide.

Love
Hileena

skezier

Hi Mummytofour,

Welcome to the forum and the advice on the top under arthritis might be worth a look. AC know their stuff.

As t what's going on with you I reacon you know what I am going to say.... You do really need to see a gp and get the ball rolling.

They will do bloods but given your problems I would also ask for a referral to a rumo regardless of them dong the initial bloods..... You can';t sit on this how ever scary it is flower.

I know its frightening cus we all been there but when I found out I had the oa in my spine I was in my 20's and like you saw problems for 30 years on. I promise you what I feared hasn't happened yet and with a bit of treatment you should feel a lot better. The gp can give you anti inflammatory and that could so help you.

You can't leave it flower it needs to be looked at and sorted out and there is only one way and that's go see a gp and get the ball rolling. I know that sounds brutal, especially when running scared but you really must do it.

We do pocket duties where we jump in folk pockets as needed so you don;t have to go through it alone. Sometimes that helps.

Please go and get it checked out and let us know how your dong. Nice to meet you and hope you will have a decent day. Cris x