Diagnosis unsure, symptoms change daily

Saraho

Hi, just signed up, looking for so.e friendly advice. Over the last 4-6 weeks both knees have become increasingly swollen, stiff and difficult to move. My eye lids have swollen & are gritty. I feel slow & stiff in the mornings, getting up from sitting is hard & to get moving, the first steps are painful. But the other usual symptoms seem to be fleeting. Sometimes my hands are puffy & feel stiff. Other joints ache at times but are ok most of the time. Energy levels are low but not terrible. Blood tests are all normal & I'm waiting for xray results on hands & knees. The gp says I don't fit enough symptoms for referral to rheumatology. I feel like I'm in limbo. Any advice would be great. Thank you.

Ellen

Hi @Saraho

Welcome to the versus Arthritis online Community. I see from your post that you are suffering from swollen painful joints, but lots of other symptoms too and your bloods all come back 'normal'. You must be feeling very frustrated at the moment.

While you are waiting for our members to come along and share their own experience it might be worth you taking a look at this article about investigations:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/healthcare-professionals/training-and-education-resources/clinical-assessment-of-patients-with-musculoskeletal-conditions/investigations/

It does at least sound as though your GP is doing his or her best to help. What is worth noting is that not all forms of Arthritis show up in bloods:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/arthritis/

There are so many different types that often GPs don't know about them all.

I hope you will take a look around and join in the forum you can be guaranteed friendly and supportive replies here.

Best wishes

Ellen.

Saraho

Thank you for the info, I'll have a read. Just so exhausted. Hopefully I will have some answers soon.