Fed up

Fieldmouse73

So apparently the specialist told the GP I have the beginning of Nodular Osteoarthritis in my hands. I only found out because the GP read the letter for me. BUT he then preceded to ignore my feet and ankle aches and pains!
The balls of my feet are sore everyday. It feels like I'm walking on a very hard surface permently. I can't walk anywhere without shoes these days as any hard surface hurts my feet.
I have bought numerous insoles and some shoes with not much luck. Ive been on my feet at work most of the day and my feet, balls and heels are killing me, me ankles and hands are swollen. And I'm sooooo tired.
There is a big family history of RA and autoimmune diseases. Are the balls of feet symptoms Nodular OA or could they be RA?
Any suggestions for comfy insoles?

dreamdaisy

Is your GP aware of the familial link? It may be worth reminding him, telling him your concerns and then ask for the usual bloods which are done to check for an auto-immune inflammatory arthritis. The results may not be conclusive but it's a start and might trigger a referral to rheumatology. As for the tiredness, that is part-and-parcel of all arthritis, when we're working to the background of constant pain it is tiring but, in the case of an auto-immune, it can also be a sign that the disease is not under proper control.

As for footwear etc. it's a very individual area because what suits one person does not suit another. It must be very hard for you if you are having to spend so much time on your feet, I dimly remember a lump on the ball of my left foot which was rock solid for the first part of the day then softened for the rest. This was back in 1997 when my auto-immune arthritis began in my left knee but it cleared up once that was properly underway. If your GP is 'content' that you have only OA then he will not pay that much attention to the hurty bits because there is little to be done apart from pain relief and maybe an anti-inflammatory medication - do you take either? DD

barbara12

Hello and welcome to the forum
Like DD says have you told your GP about the RA link, you could ask your GP to refer you to a Rheumy..the one thing IU learned form this forum is to shout and be heard..GP are so busy you become just another patient..I do wish you well and please let us know how you get on..

DebraKelly

Oh dear. I know the feeling. I also have RA.

I have your tried going to see a Shiropodist?
My problem is I have very small but wide feet. I have a shiropidy shop near my work and they have shoes for all types of things, so I would perhaps give that a bash.

Agree with DD, GP should be made aware of the family link.

I thought no one else in my family had RA apart from me, until I found out recently that my Dad has it! (I don't see him) so that would explain why I didn't know! lol

Fieldmouse73

Thank you for your support, some days are really shocking and it makes me feel so frustrated. I did remind the GP about it being hereditary and he said "Nodular arthritis is hereditary too"!
Having seen my parents recently I can see they have Nodules on their fingers and my mum on a toe, but I'm much younger than them and already have more nodules and more pain then them. They also don't have problems with the ball of their feet. My aunt has had RA since her 40's (my age) and took one look at my hands, felt the heat in them and was suspicious about me having RA and told me to go back to docs. She had a fight in her hands too.
GP did refer me to early diagnosis clinic but everything came back negative and symptoms have moved on and got worse since then. At this appointment he got xrays wrong forgot a urine sample and seemed to want to go for his lunch so didn't feel I got the best from him. My GP letter from him also states he couldn't see me again under the scheme. Even though he told me if things get worse or bloods come back with anything he would see me again immediately. Haha. I have to get past the GP first!
So I've been to the GP again and got a referral to orthopaedics? There is a long waiting list. And been to the nurse and insisted on repeat bloods. So we shall see.
Thanks again for your support

dreamdaisy

GPs have a vital role to play in medicine but their title says it all: General Practitioner. They know a little about a lot and I reckon one thing they don't know about arthritis is that there are sero-negative forms of the auto-immune kinds, this is why you should be referred to a rheumatologist - they are the ones who know a lot about a little. Was the early diagnosis clinic in rheumatology not?

RA is confirmed by the presence of rheumatoid factor in the bloods, giving a sero-positive reading, so the usual thinking is that if it is not there it's not RA so there's no need to refer. Mind you the first rheumatologist I saw (I was referred by orthopaedics who didn't think I was their problem) told me that I didn't come under his umbrella - he was wrong. As it turned out I did have an auto-immune inflammatory arthritis, in my case psoriatic (but without much psoriasis) and that is a sero-negative kind. DD

dreamdaisy

Hello, we're a few days on now so how are things going? I hope you are feeling better in yourself. DD