Rapid onset of arthritis

DrLarry

Good Morning

First time to use this site so apologies if I get anything wrong....if that's possible.

I am 47 active, gym (or did) with past diagnosis of arthritis in the knees had a kidney infection a few weeks ago and suddenly within a week or so I had sever pain and weakness in my elbows; hands; lower back and neck. X rays show compression in the neck of nerves. Is it typical to get suddenly onset of arthritis in a matter of weeks? please tell me if this is normal not that many things in my life are...LOL

Many thanks and hope to have some of your experiences to make me feel human again

dreamdaisy

Hello again, I replied on your other thread without realising this one was here.

Who has made the arthritis diagnosis? Your GP or a rheumatologist? Everyone's rate of onset varies (as does their experience of their arthritis) but it is not that unusual for an auto-immune one to come on a-pace. (I remember reading about someone on here who within a few months of the first symptoms was riddled with severe rheumatoid arthritis.) I began with an auto-immune, at first my left knee was affected, then six years later the right knee joined in, then over the years another 37 have added to life's fun. The joint damage from that has led to osteo arthritis (the much more common one) so I have a creaking foot in both camps. My OA is in both ankles, both knees, my neck and now my right hip. Everyone is different and we cannot predict what will happen with you. Neither can you, or your doctor. Arthritis is one of life's little variables which makes things more uncertain and complicated than necessary. DD

frogmella

I just wondered if it could be reactive arthritis with it having come on after a waterworks infection? Again, I am not a Dr either though.

DrLarry

Hi thanks for those two replies . I have had a funny few years of not such well health (new speak for being pretty ill!!!) chemo last year left i think with a lot of funny after effects. I think the reactive thing may be the case but it is not RA I have OA In truth thinking about it somewhat detached from myself and its pain.... I think what has happened is that I have been a very active person and becoming unwell is hard to cope with emotionally and I think what has happened is that for years I have managed ( in my head) the pain and now all of a sudden my mental defense is down and I have given up to the pain......the numerous effects of the squeezed nerves are varied i am sure I just often get the most unusual aspects of most diseases LOL eternally lucky in learning the empathetic nature of the human body and its potential defects !!! (smiles)

dreamdaisy

Like all arthritis OA is progressive and degenerative - it could have been establishing itself quietly in the background whilst all the other stuff was going on but I don't know. GPs are the one who deal with it and in truth there is not much out there treatment-wise apart from pain relief, exercise and maybe an anti-inflammatory treatment.

Thinking of your other thread could it be the time to think of investing in a new pillow? I've tried a fair few over the years, my current one isn't that wonderful now so the hunt may be on again soon. DD

DrLarry

Yes I try to change them each year and try new ones each time memory foam and feather and goose down in the end i always go back to the old flat ones LOL

I will see the musculo skeletal people in a week or so and seeing the pain Physio next week so i am sure i will get to the bottom of it. As you say it may well have been bubbling away in the background ironically i may have been keeping the impact of it at bay going to the gym most days and swimming.

So do you think the squeezed nerve in the neck is likely to last forever?

dreamdaisy

I have no idea - the fuse on my crystal ball has blown. I have neck trouble thanks to a deal of pain-and-life-related stress plus the onset of OA. I am reliant on crutches or a rollator to get about, I am very concious of not hunching my shoulders when using the aids because they are there for balance and stability, not support, but even so hunching happens. I have regular neck and shoulder massages from a sports therapy-trained masseur - she knows how to work and ease things and the relief is immediate, not long-lasting but helpful. This may be an option for you. DD

DrLarry

hi

I actually rested better last night with my memory foam pillow it seemed to allow my shoulders and head to be in a better place. I did snore so i am told (from the next room and the mouth thing still made me drink a 2 litre of water) but did feel a little better. I was thinking too that the neck arthritis may have been caused by the lipodystrophy i have at the back of my neck which is a fatty hump the plastics people are going to do surgery on that in the next few weeks it my have been that this has made my posture very bad i am 6.2 so my height group i suppose tend to stoop a lot ( or else we hit our heads LOL)

Larry

Cymraes1

Hi. I have developed athritis in the last few months rather quickly in both hips. One of the worst things was the pain at night which could wake me up and keep me awake and also not being able to turn over without using the headpost as a lever.

An older friend of mine who has had athritis for years told me that she leaves her electric blanket on all night and she has no touble sleeping.

So I tried it with a safe-to-sleep on underblanket and it has been wonderful to have a full-ish night's sleep without pain.
Another friend advised me to stand still for a minute after getting up from a chair, rather than set off immediately. This is also a tip I have found useful.

I would welcome any other tips like these to make life easier!

dreamdaisy

Hi Cymraes1, it's nice to meet you and I hope you find the forum helpful and informative. I've always paused before setting off mainy to ensure I have my balance (and time to draw in a deep breath to help me cope with the inevitable 'twang!' of protesting joints)

At the top of the LWA forum board there is a permanent thread about tips and hints (I can't remember what it's called, I'm in a brain fog at the moment thanks to illness) but you may well find some useful thoughts there. I wish you well and look forward to seeing your name here and there. DD

Cymraes1

Thanks Dreamdaisy.
In fact I had just finished reading all 28 pages of the tips formum and found it most interesting, also entertaining despite our shared aches and pains,when I was notified of your reply!
I never thought there would be so much uses for wire coat hangers before. I also loved the tip of using a radiator paint brush to put . moisturiser on our legs: will be buying one tomorrow.
Thanks again for the welcome.

barbara12

Hello Larry and Cymraes1
Its good to meet you both...Larry I also went to the gym for many years, it was there that I started with hip pain....and now it has shown its head in a few other places...I do think things have got a lot worse since stopping going to the gym....
Larry I am so sorry you have not been well on top of everything else, at least you now have us to talk to,,and that goes for you Cymraes1..I have recently bought an electric blanket....I always said I wouldn't have one because I dont like my bed to warm...but on low its a godsend...my joint feel much less painful...till I get up that is...
Hope to see you both posting more very soon xx

DrLarry

hi there nice t hear from you too

it's nice to have some people to talk with about this its a terribly distracting kind of pain found out today i have spondylosis which is compressing the neck so at least knowing is something. I should think now they have a plan I hope the headaches it causes seem to start at the back and move forward but its like having a toothache in the neck. I had the happy new (funny old world) that the plastic surgeons are going in on the 17th May and will take away the buffalo hump behind my neck which is stopping a lot of the movement and I think they may start acupuncture tomorrow seeing the pain clinic people. Anyone ever used one of those machines tens machines on their neck? thanks everyone for all your support

Cymraes1

All the best on the 17th of May, Larry

DrLarry

thanks ....funny old thing this pain is not so bad today..... since the age of 3 years I have had to search for silver linings and it irritates the hell out of me at times LOL nice thing about arthritis is that there are some friendly people to chat to ...i suppose we cannot run away so fast so being in a virtual world at the computer helps

DrLarry

Tell me why does the pain vary so much?

lizzy100

depends what type of arthritis you have. mine pretty much developed within a week. one day i was fine, the next i was getting pain in my hands, then a week later couldnt walk.