Awaiting Confirmation from Xray

alwaysinpain

Hi I've been suffering from joint pains for thirteen years and after numerous tests my physio thinks I might have Osteoarthritis and it is affecting my knees, hips, neck and shoulders. Recently I have been waking up with cramp and stiffness in my fingers. Originally my GP diagnosis was that I was suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis because my white blood cells count so low, he claimed that they were attacking healthy tissue (forgive me if this is wrong but I've seen that many Dr that I forget what they've said) :shock: Anyway, I just want to know what the difference between the two conditions, cause all I know is I suffer from pain all the time and have difficulty in walking.

I work full-time and I am 52, my physio also stated that I may need to have knee replacement at some stage and I am terrified :?

dreamdaisy

Hello, it's nice to meet you and I hope we can help with information and support. I am a 'lucky' arthritic in that I have both sorts so I hope I can adequately explain the difference.

Osteo-arthritis has been termed the 'wear and tear' arthritis as that offered some sort of explanation regarding its occurrence. That 'definition' is now under review because it happens to people who are (on the face of it) far too young for a 'wear and tear' cause. It can also result after a trauma to a joint (such as a break or accident).

The other forms (such as rheumatoid or psoriatic) are caused by an over-active immune system. I was born with one of those which led to childhood eczema and severe asthma but in my later years has led to psoriatic arthritis. That went un-diagnosed and therefore untreated for five years thus causing joint damage which has led to my OA. That is just my bad luck. The MRIs I had proved my inflammation was severe but the later Xrays showed my extra bone growths on my knees - apparently that is my body trying to help itself. All I can say is ye gods.

Diagnosing an auto-immune form is not that straightforward and certainly not the call of a GP. I think he should have referred you to a rheumatologist who better understands these things. (GPs know a little about a lot but rheumatologists know a lot about a little.) My rheumatologist leaves the OA side of things to my GP ( because that is their remit) and vice-versa applies.

My situation will of course be different to yours but I have always held the view that surgery is designed to help (and, if the patient plays their part it usually does). I am on meds to help my psoriatic arthritis but of course they don't touch the OA - and why would they? I am 54, reliant on walking aids as I am shot to bits from thre rib cage down but that's nothing special. Please come and talk to us, we know how hard this can be. I wish you well. DD

barbara12

Hello alwaysinpain
I don't think we have met so welcome to the forum
DD has given you lots of info there..I think you should ask to see a rheumy..the one thing I have learned for this forum is you have to ask for things and make yourself heard ...Arthritis is so complex..after nearly 4 years I still have blood test to see if there are any changes..at the min I have OA in quite a few joints..so I understand some of the pain you are in...I do hope you get some answers very soon and more to the point I hope the physio can help...it is important to keep the joints moving Good Luck x

stickywicket

I would just add two things to DD’s very comprehensive explanation of the differences between OA and the auto-immune forms for arthritis such as RA, PsA etc.

Firstly, when you say ‘Originally my GP diagnosis was that I was suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis because my white blood cells count so low, he claimed that they were attacking healthy tissue’ – that is what happens with an auto-immune kind of arthritis. The immune system is overactive so, instead of just attacking the ‘bad’ cells, it also attacks the ‘good’ ones. The meds we take are designed to calm it down a bit.

Secondly, don’t be afraid of surgery. I had both knees replaced in 1981 and it was a massive turning point for me as regards pain. I still have one of them. The other was ‘re-replaced’ about 3 years ago. I also have two THRs. As and when any of them need replacing I won’t hesitate.