Connective tissue disorder and Arthritis

TJDevon

Morning, very new to this site, both my husband and myself have osteoarthritis in our fingers, but suspect other areas have it also. Not having much luck with the doctors, we have both been told the joint pain is just from living a active, working life, now we are both about 50. It's just wear and tear!! Oh and having two children hasn't helped me apparently!!

We were both told to get physio to strengthen the muscles either side of our joints, but exercises aggravate our joints, especially our knees, hips and back, and we can be in even more pain for weeks. Both my children have loose joints that are sometimes painful, my youngest, who also has Scoliosis, is being investigated 'slowly' for connective tissue disorder, like EDS. I've always been extremely flexible and as a child, my knees would shift (pop out slightly) if I sat cross legged on the floor, now my knees are painful, day and night, but definitely get worst in the evening. Really need to try the doctor again but have been ignored twice in the past five years, do I bother?? What can we be doing at home to help? That saying, "If you want something done, do it yourself, " feeling very true at the moment. Xx

anneb82

Hello @TJDevon

Welcome to the online community and thank you for joining us.

So you have osteoarthritis in your fingers and believe that it is also in some of your other joints as well. You have been told by your doctor that it is because you have had two children and have led a active life. You have found that your knees are now painful during the day and night, but definitely get worse in the evening. You really want to get a diagnosis but feel like you have been ignored by the doctor for the last 5 years. You are wondering what you can do at home to help.

I've attached a few things below that I believe could be of interest to you as well as providing you with ideas of how you can help yourself at home. I do think that you should continue trying to get a diagnosis and wondered if you could perhaps ask to see another doctor at your practice? You are entitled to a second opinion, especially if you do not think your health concerns are being taken seriously.

I'm sure the other member of the community will able to offer ideas about how you can help yourself as well as examples of what they do too.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-knee/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/exercises-for-healthy-joints/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/managing-your-pain/

I do hope these are of use to you and please do let us know how you are getting on.

Take care

Anne (Moderator)