newbie, hi, advice please

bailey27

Hi
I would like to introduce myself and say hi. I am new to this forum and the same as most have just been told by my doctor I have arthritis.
I have always had back problems, probably for the last 12-13 years and have felt the urge to click my joints, mainly fingers, back shoulders and knees.
Last year I started getting terrible trouble with my back int he mornings, the bottom of my back felt like it just did not want to bend at all. I went to my GP and was told to monitor it. I went back to the doctor before xmas with errible pain in lower back and in hips, mainly on the left side. She sent me for an appointment at the local hospital who told me there was nothing wrong I insisted and she sent me for an MRI scan. I hadnt heard anything from them so thought all was ok.
The last 6 months I have been getting purple lumps, often painful on my fingers and toes. My toes particularly itchey and painful. Myfingers and toes often go numb. I went to my GP this week and he told me it was Raynauds and sent me for a blood test. On the way out I asked him about the MRI I had and he told me that 1/ I had a transitional vertebrae 2/ an extra small vertebrae and that I had signs of seronegative arthritis.
He said the problems with my toes and fingers is more than likely to be from this. He sent me for the blood test which I am waiting for the results of.
Arthritis runs in my family, my aunty has RA she is now in a wheelchair and was diagnosed at aroung 35-40years old and my great gran had Osteoarthritis.
I continue to have probems with my back and my knees also are very painful especially in the mornings and cold. I am currently waiting for an appointment for surgery on my left knee which I was old would need keyhole. I am having this in approximately 2 months time.
Basically, I am in a state of panic. When I had the MRI on my back I was expecting them to tell me that it may have been muscular and because I hadnt heard back from the hospital everything was fine. I wasnt expecting this.
I particiapte in a lot of sport, problably around 6 days a week (running and kickboxing) and pride myself on keeping fit and healthy. How can I have arthritis??
Sorry fo rthe long message, any advice would be fantastic.

lindalegs

Hi Bailey and welcome to the forum.

I'm so sorry you've had this diagnosis and you're bound to panic :shock: Everyone on this site must have asked the same question 'How can I have arthritis?' just like anyone who has a chronic condition sits and asks 'Why me?' It's just life and the cards you've been dealt :roll:

Knowing the results of your scan hasn't changed anything - it can't hurt anymore than it did before you knew and at least you know what you have to deal with now.

.........and it doesn't necessarily mean your sporting days are over, arthritis comes in levels of severity and aggression and you may be lucky and only have it mildly. If it does turn out that you have an aggressive strain, cross that bridge when you come to it.........even then you'll have good spells and bad and you'll have to temper your life to fit in with your disease. The correct medication will help and also getting to know your condition - only time will do that.

Keep moving and doing the sport but learn to listen to your body - it'll let you know when you're doing too much .

Luv Legs

bailey27

Legs - thanks for the advice, very much appreciated!

I was wondering if anyone knew what seronegative arthritis was and what it means to have it. My doc said 'lets get the blood test done first and take it one step at a time'. I hate it when they say that, I want to know now! :?

So what is seronegative and how will it effect my day to day life. I am guessing it is different for everyone but is it curable / how is it treated?

lindalegs

Hi again Bailey,

Magenta, Suziev and Joanneprice to name but a few all have seronegative arthritis and they will be able to tell you far more than I because I'm a Rheumatoid.

I think it's when you have all the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis but your blood tests don't show you as having it.

There is a posting further down the page headed Seronegative Arthritis - you coud have a look out of interest.........but remember what I said about levels of severity

...........and sorry to be blunt but it's not curable but hopefully it is controllable.

Luv Legs

PS If you don't get any satisfactory response from anyone with Seronegative it may because they haven't seen this post so you could start another one entitling it something like 'New to Seronegative and NEED HELP' and that will draw their attention.

greyheron

bailey27 wrote:

Hi
I would like to introduce myself and say hi. I am new to this forum and the same as most have just been told by my doctor I have arthritis.
I have always had back problems, probably for the last 12-13 years and have felt the urge to click my joints, mainly fingers, back shoulders and knees.
Last year I started getting terrible trouble with my back int he mornings, the bottom of my back felt like it just did not want to bend at all. I went to my GP and was told to monitor it. I went back to the doctor before xmas with errible pain in lower back and in hips, mainly on the left side. She sent me for an appointment at the local hospital who told me there was nothing wrong I insisted and she sent me for an MRI scan. I hadnt heard anything from them so thought all was ok.
The last 6 months I have been getting purple lumps, often painful on my fingers and toes. My toes particularly itchey and painful. Myfingers and toes often go numb. I went to my GP this week and he told me it was Raynauds and sent me for a blood test. On the way out I asked him about the MRI I had and he told me that 1/ I had a transitional vertebrae 2/ an extra small vertebrae and that I had signs of seronegative arthritis.
He said the problems with my toes and fingers is more than likely to be from this. He sent me for the blood test which I am waiting for the results of.
Arthritis runs in my family, my aunty has RA she is now in a wheelchair and was diagnosed at aroung 35-40years old and my great gran had Osteoarthritis.
I continue to have probems with my back and my knees also are very painful especially in the mornings and cold. I am currently waiting for an appointment for surgery on my left knee which I was old would need keyhole. I am having this in approximately 2 months time.
Basically, I am in a state of panic. When I had the MRI on my back I was expecting them to tell me that it may have been muscular and because I hadnt heard back from the hospital everything was fine. I wasnt expecting this.
I particiapte in a lot of sport, problably around 6 days a week (running and kickboxing) and pride myself on keeping fit and healthy. How can I have arthritis??
Sorry fo rthe long message, any advice would be fantastic.

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I discovered the forum last year just before I had a knee replacement op for OA, I've found it wonderful for sharing the good times and the bad, and getting advice and support from people who know what's life with arthritis is like because they're 'in it' themselves.

I can't give you any specific advice re arthritis because my own situation is different, but it sounds as if you're still at an early stage of diagnosis, so hang on in there - it's easy to say 'Don't panic' but it isn't the end of the world, hopefully you will find good professionals (e.g. physios) to advise you - and as I say this forum is a treasure house!

Take care and all the best

Wendy