GP’s, diagnosis, and age

chloelou2022

hi, so a long family history of osteoarthritis in the females in my family, my great nan, nan, mum and now me all started at a really young age, me and my mum around the exact same age, and at present the gp won’t send me for testing due to my age (early 20’s) and said there was nothing they could do, I’m now left in pain and with a suspected ganglion cyst that’s got a second one forming just above on the palm of my hand, but I’m at wits end, I really just want some sort of advice, as when I was physio at my gps he said I couldn’t possibly have it because arthritis only hurts in the morning where as mines usually when climbing stairs or hills or in the night as a burning painful sensation and it’s starting to really affect my mental health now which isn’t desirable as I’ve already got a lot of issues to deal with, any advice please would be greatly appreciated, how do I go about this? Do I just accept that I’ll have to wait till my 30’s

Anna

Hi @chloelou2022

I see that you’ve posted to Helpline and I’m sure they’ll get back to you tomorrow with some useful information, but I just wanted to give you a warm welcome to the online community. So many of us on here can that testify that arthritis is not limited to elderly people but can strike at any age. How disappointing that in this day and age there are still GPs who don’t recognise this. It would be worth trying to talk to them again, and perhaps the info sheet below might give you some ideas about how to get a better response. Perhaps you could also take someone else in with you to your appointment who can give you moral support?

https://versusarthritis.org/news/2023/june/how-can-i-prepare-for-a-doctor-s-appointment-if-i-have-arthritis/

Do let us know how you get on, Anna ( Moderator)

Trish9556

Hi @chloelou2022

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/62962/gp-s-diagnosis-and-age

If I were you I would speak to somebody else at your surgery. They are not being helpful and the physio who said you can't have it because it only hurts in the morning doesn't know what he's talking about. I would've asked him if he had ever had arthritis!

If another doctor doesn't help, change your surgery if you can. Keep a pain diary noting everything down, how it feels, how it makes you feel, what you do that makes it better and what doesn't work and take it to the doctors with you.. Do you have somebody that can go to the doctors with you? Your Mum? Somebody who knows you and how you're being affected will help you.

I hope you get some help soon

Trish xx

Nurina

That's very annoying. Don't make me start talking about GP's…I'd change the doctor and even surgery if it's necessary like @Trish9556 said. I've had arthritis since I was a little girl and I hurts any time!. You'd need to be referred to a rheumatologist to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Take care X

helpline_team

Hello @chloelou2022

Thank you for posting on the Online Community and asking about help to get a proper diagnosis and manage your condition. It can be a worrying and uncertain time while you are waiting for the right diagnosis and treatment. This is a positive and supportive space and I hope that will be your experience. @Anna , @Trish9556 and @Nurina have given helpful responses to your post.

I am sorry to hear about the pain and other symptoms you are experiencing which is now beginning to affect daily activities including stairs, hills and your sleep. It sounds as if your GP and physio have not been as supportive as you hoped, especially in view of your family history of osteoarthritis (OA). As already suggested, it may help to try a different GP in the practice. Referral to a rheumatology specialist to help with the diagnosis is definitely worth considering. Taking someone with you to medical appointments is a good idea. @Anna has provided a link to help you prepare for a doctor's appointment.

If you are diagnosed with a type of arthritis, you are very welcome to post on our Young people's community — Versus Arthritis or our Living with arthritis — Versus Arthritis forum. You are also welcome to call our Free Helpline on 0800 5200 520 9am - 6pm weekdays if you would like to talk things through informally and in confidence.

Versus Arthritis has a Young People and Families Service for people with arthritis under 25 which includes online support, activity weekends, and an arthritis tracker app. There is more information about this on our website.

In the meantime, I hope you find the information given below of some help.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/hand-and-wrist-pain/

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

Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on.

Best wishes,

Fiona, Helpline Advisor