Osteoarthritis taking hold

redrooster

Hi all, i have been told i have Oteoarthritis in several joints by the hospital. I had a touch of Arthritis in my neck for 12 years between c5 and c6. Now 53.
It has got much worse. Next time i go back the docs he may send me for a mri. The thing is, about three years ago i got pain in my thumbs, followed soon after by my big toes. Sice being diagnosed earlier this year things have spiralled. I recon i have it between t1 and t2. Both shoulders, sometimes in my knee. Pain in my hands when opening things. So basically i am getting it everywhere. Do you think it is all osteo? It is so frustrating the speed it is racing through my body. What is the best thing to do next?
kind regards Mike

[Deleted User]

Hello

Welcome to the forum. I am sure you will find help advice, support and friendship here.

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stickywicket

Hello redrooster. I'm not a member of the Helpline team just an ordinary forum member who has has RA for over 50 years and OA for a bit less.

I wonder who, at the hospital, diagnosed your OA. Did you see a rheumatologist? An orthopaedic surgeon? It's, unfortunately, not unusual for osteo to spread but, if you've not had any tests for an autoimmune arthritis, or if they were some time ago, it would be worth asking for them.

Is there any family history of autoimmune disorders?

It would certainly be worth going to your GP and asking.

helpline_team

Dear Redrooster

Thank you for your posting on the forum. I am sorry to hear that you have been in so much pain. You would need to check out your symptoms with your GP. We are not medically trained so could not say whether your symptoms were arthritis or what type. You have said you do have osteoarthritis and our booklet has information about managing this on the link http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Listedbytype/Booklets/main_content/Living-with-Osteoarthritis-2013.pdf also our booklet ‘Coping with pain’ may be of help with managing the pain of your arthritis. You can access this on the link http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Listedbytype/Booklets/main_content/Copingwithpainbooklet2013.pdf
You can also call us here on our freephone helpline if you would like to talk through your concerns with one of our helpline team. You can call us on 0808 800 4050 (10am – 4pm weekdays).
I hope this is helpful.

Best Wishes
Dawn

redrooster

stickywicket wrote:

Hello redrooster. I'm not a member of the Helpline team just an ordinary forum member who has has RA for over 50 years and OA for a bit less.

I wonder who, at the hospital, diagnosed your OA. Did you see a rheumatologist? An orthopaedic surgeon? It's, unfortunately, not unusual for osteo to spread but, if you've not had any tests for an autoimmune arthritis, or if they were some time ago, it would be worth asking for them.

Is there any family history of autoimmune disorders?

It would certainly be worth going to your GP and asking.

Thanks for the reply, i am not sure who i saw.
Basically he looked at my blood results, then examined me.
Moved me in some stretching.
He said i had early signs of hebdens node with restriction in movement.
His prognosis was
The good news is i don't have RA
the bad news is i have OA
Basically he said, ibroprofen and paracaetamol, with steroid injection if it gets to bad.
Good luck and escorted me to the door.
I was in and out in 10 minutes
:shock:

stickywicket

It sounds as if you probably saw a rheumatologist but that's just a guess. I'd also guess you've had blood tests done. Bloods, x-rays etc are what the docs base their diagnoses on. Rheumatologists treat autoimmune types of arthritis eg RA but GPs treat OA. Heberdens Nodes are common with OA. You can read up on them here http://tinyurl.com/ogn9cl8

I think, if you're not happy with the consultant's report you should go back to your GP and have a chat with him / her about it.

Unfortunately OA can spread to other joints just like RA.

redrooster

stickywicket wrote:

It sounds as if you probably saw a rheumatologist but that's just a guess. I'd also guess you've had blood tests done. Bloods, x-rays etc are what the docs base their diagnoses on. Rheumatologists treat autoimmune types of arthritis eg RA but GPs treat OA. Heberdens Nodes are common with OA. You can read up on them here http://tinyurl.com/ogn9cl8

I think, if you're not happy with the consultant's report you should go back to your GP and have a chat with him / her about it.

Unfortunately OA can spread to other joints just like RA.

X ray on the neck but nothing else

helpline_team

Hi redrooster,

What we spend a lot of time on at Arthritis Care is sharing information and support about self managing arthritis. So I wonder whether that's been mentioned? You can ask your GP if they would refer you to physiotherapy - because getting the right exercises and stretches into your routine can make all the difference. The other part of self management is about healthy eating to keep weight down - and it's the most naturally anti-inflammatory thing you can do.

Here's a link to our information about self managing arthritis http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Selfmanagement
I hope that's helpful

kind regards

Guy

redrooster

Thanks for the replies.
Just a quick update.
Things have got a bit worse. Elbows getting sharp pains, mainly left. Right tom toe quite uncomfortable. Neck is rough.
Stiff in various places. I have been back to the docs. I have had a blood test
The results were, slighly raised thyroxin levels. No markers for ru. He did say if there was a chance of an auto immune issue, I was in the more liable group!!!! Mother has lupus so he is sending me to the specialist for more tests.
What are they likely to be?
Many thanks Mike

helpline_team

Hi Mike

I’m sorry to hear that things have got a bit worse for you, you say that you ‘re going to be having some more tests and what might they be.

I’m not sure if you are referring to tests for Lupus, if you are they may take a number of different blood tests. You will find further information on page 8 within the link below to the Arthritis Research UK publication ‘Lupus (SLE) ‘: http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/lupus.aspx

I hope this is of some help, do call us on our Freephone Helpline: 0808 800 4050 (weekdays 10-4) if you want to talk through any concern.

Best wishes
Lynda