Diagnosis
dizzylizzy13
Member Posts: 16
Should I accept a diagnosis from a rheumy without him even examining me? I saw a consultant several months ago about my legs. He agreed to do an MRI on my knees and ankles, but I mentioned that I also had recently developed a stiff neck and lower back pain. He didn't even examine me but said that I had cervical spondylosis. He confirmed the diagnosis in a letter to me. The neck pain has since ceased but I do still get lower back stiffness and pain which gets worse the more I do, so at the end of the day causes me the most problems and not first thing in the morning. The rheumy couldn't find much wrong with my knees either other than a little crepitus. The MRI showed severe osteoarthritis of the knee cap and cartilage loss on both knees. I have been referred to a neurologist because of a genetic disease my brother had as I have stiffness of the legs. I had an EMG test and I was told that I have a mild myopathy. There is so much waiting because I had the test last September and I don't get an appointment until this May! I don't think they think it is anything to worry about but I have been left in limbo as to what is going on. Personally I think it has to do with inflammation because I was put on pain killers tramadol which didn't work so they put me on dihydrocodeine which also did no good whatsoever. As I had the diagnosis of osteoarthritis I asked for anti inflammatories and this helped me almost instantly. Before I took this when I went abroad I could hardly walk from what felt like inflammation. I am a lot better on these but not perfect. I was told that all my inflammatory markers have come back normal. The rheumy referred me to a surgeon who is not doing anything because I ultimately need knee replacements but am too young and he wants to try other avenues such a exercise and physio and see me 6 months later. Even though my knees are classed as 'severe' it is the back and stiffness that causes me the most problem.
0
Comments
-
Hi
Sometimes rheumy consultants go on your history and the answers you give them
You seem to have had quite a few investigations done which help them with diagnosing your condition
I have OA and now Inflammatory Arthritis even though my inflammatory markers are normal! So my rheumy goes on how I'm feeling at the time I see him he also asks millions of questions and always seems to get it right
I have severe OA in both feet and require many operations to correct this
On X-ray my right foot is worse but the pain is worse in my left foot as my Orthopaedic consultant says he treats the one that's more painful than the one that's worse on X-ray
I hope I've made some sense
Maria0
Categories
- All Categories
- 21 Welcome
- 18 How to use your online community
- 3 Help, Guidelines and Get in Touch
- 11.9K Our Community
- 9.5K Living with arthritis
- 156 Hints and Tips
- 221 Work and financial support
- 762 Chat to our Helpline Team
- 6 Want to Get Involved?
- 396 Young people's community
- 11 Parents of Children with Arthritis
- 38 My Triumphs
- 125 Let's Move
- 33 Sports and Hobbies
- 20 Food and Diet
- 373 Chit chat
- 244 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 32 Community Feedback and ideas