Need advice please :)

Jayuk

Hi everyone i posted the other week about being diagnosed with mild oa of the knees. I feel like I have it in other places. Every morning I wake up with numbness in my lower back and right bum cheek, I've had on going back problems for years and have it when my back seizes up and always get told by doctor I've got a bad back. Recently but didn't mention this to my doctor ( I could kick myself for this grrr) my neck is so stiff and crunches also get shooting pains in my right arm that takes me by surprise and brings tears to my eye. Another strange thing is my toes on my right foot I can only slightly bend them, I can do it manually, has anyone had this or any idea what it could be... I have made a double appointment with a different Dr as I last one was abit arsey. I was also given naproxen but had to stop taking it as I was going toilet about 6 times a day and getting anxiety and palpataions. I'm hoping this doctor will really listen to me as I need answers.

Spiderman

Hi Jayak. .. sounds like you're having a bad time ! Don't know what stage diagnosis at but need to remember a GP is the gate keeper. You will get (ineffective )pills for while until sure you're not making it up! Keep complaining till they sent you to specialist. After xrays etc you should get better diagnosis. I had similar path. Proper drugs can make huge difference. I was very cynical but now feel as good as before condition started. Good luck!

stickywicket

I am not a doc nor do I have any medical qualifications at all but, after years of RA and OA myself, and after some years on these forums, I see nothing in your symptoms which is not consistent with OA.

OA starts in one joint but can progress. Your neck is simply the top of your spine so, if you have OA elsewhere in your spine, it's quite likely it has moved upwards.

I've never had the numbness or shooting pains which you describe but, from what I've read on here, others do seem to get such things when their spinal OA is impinging on nerves.

As for the toe - I can't remember what normal toes do but I do remember a time when I could move several joints manually but not in the normal way. To me, that would mean a need to exercise that joint to keep the muscles working. I'm not sure how. Maybe by squeezing it over a soft ball or some Playdough you'll get some movement back.

I think you're doing the right thing by seeing a different doc and ensuring you have time for a talk about it all. Some physio might help a lot. And swimming. Why not ask while you're there?

Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

Spiderman

Keep complaining till you get to see specialist. Had xrays? Good start. Get past GP should start to get better treatment .good luck!

Jayuk

Thankyou for your replies. I will ask about physio, I'm already doing physio for a achillies injury and been off work for nearly 6 months and will be returning to work next week. I wish I could say I done my achillies from doing sports but I didn't . I was being stupid and making my grandson who is 18mths laugh doing a galloping movement down the hallway and then all of a sudden got pain and thought I pulled a muscle, next day ended up in a&e and I was told I had injured my achillies ended up with a moon boot and crutches:(... The only x-ray I had was 2 weeks ago and that shown the mild oa to the knees. I have other health conditions hypothyroidism which is auto immune disease, fibromyalgia, b12 and folate deficiency. I seem to be falling apart. Hopefully I will get some answers and will let you know the out come of my appointment. Is there anything else I could ask the doctor.

stickywicket

Only you know the questions that you'd like answers too.

I think you're still concerned that you might have RA or some other autoimmune form of arthritis. Given your family history of autoimmune problems and your own other autoimmune problems this seems a reasonable concern. Not all GPs are aware that some autoimmune forms of arthritis can be sero-negative. I suggest you read up here before going. https://www.nras.org.uk/seropositive-seronegative .

If it were me, I'd also want to ask about the shooting pains and numbness. Do they mean that the arthritic damage is causing nerve problems. If so, what can be done.

I still see exercise as your best bet for improving matters so I'd be asking about physio. Many of us on here are reliant on doing our regular physio exercises to stop things getting worse quickly.

Spiderman

Ah..B12 deficient? Maybe its affecting the nerves (hence pain?) I have crunchy neck/shoulder muscles...think thats because of work posture ( contracted?)

dreamdaisy

I have a creaky foot in both arthritis camps. I began PsA in 1997, was accurately diagnosed in 2006 which changed nothing then OA was diagnosed in 2011. My neck crunches and my shoulders are tight which is not surprising as my body is continually tensed against pain. I also have a tendency towards Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis which I keep at bay by doing my physio exercises on a daily basis. The only time I had off work was post-operative but I was lucky to be self-employed so could tailor things to suit myself. No SSP tho!

Jayuk

Thankyou for all the information, I did have rheumatoid arthritis antibodies test and that came back normal, had this done last year. My inflammation makers for a good few years have always been abnormal, they not high theses are last year results...........Serum c reactive protein level 8 mg/l normal range 4mg/l....esr 15mm 1st hour normal range 7mm 1st hour....plasma c reactive protein 7mg/l normal range 0.3 -5.0 mg/l.... Just hope I get a sympathetic doctor .

dreamdaisy

Rheumatoid arthritis can also be sero-negative or it could be another kind of sero-negative auto-immune arthritis: I have one of those, psoriatic, but without much of the skin trouble. DD

Spiderman

Keep hassling gp...suppose anything spine could...say COULD...be something like ankylosing spondylitis. ..worse case.
Push for back xrays ? Ask doc.
Crp can be abnormal for lots of reasons. My experience anything over 5 can be uncomfortable.
..
Good luck

Airwave!

You may get an opportunity of visiting your musculoskeletal team, specialists in dealing with problems such as yours, it's not a sure fire way to a diagnosis but it may help.

They are a very busy team so will be much in demand.