Hi, newbie here, 18years old

heav_18

Hi, im just on here for advise really (at the minute)

I have suffered with back problems and severe pain for at least a year. I have now developed problems with my hips. I have had physio and have had the idea that I could have arthritis totally dismissed by both my GP and the physio who said, at 18years old, I was "too young."

I have finished my physio sessions now, and they have not helped in the slightest, if anything i feel my pain has worsend!!! My GP is now looking at refering me to Rheumatology for scans and blood tests.

There is OA on both sides on my family, my mum has it severely in her wrist at just 42years old. She has been tested for HLA-B27 (the genetic side of Ankilosing Spondilytis, which was negative)

Does anyone have any ideas/advise about what I my have and what I can do to hurry the process of referal etc along?

Many Thanks

katelyn13

Hey,

Sorry to here your having such a hard time with the doc's and stuff. I hate doc's who are so clueless about arthritis in young people i've had it most of my life and still see locum GP's who think that i'm too young to have arthritis :shock:

Stick with it. Sometimes you need to push them a bit to get the help you need. You should need to see a rheumy to have test and that done. Your GP should be able to order the blood tests and x-rays sometimes GP won't refer for scans and things due to cost, but while your waiting to see a rheumy ask if they can order any of them for you.

I'd definatly asked you GP for some x-rays though, because there might be something else wrong other than arthritis. Just to confuse you more you can also get refered pain so the pain in your hips could be coming from you back or vise versa, or the pain in your hips could be from you uncontisouly protecting you back and putting strain on your hips. Sorry a bit to much info but something worth looking into.

It might also be worth gettting in touch with the hospital you are being refered to as they may have a cancelations system in place and you might get seen sooner.

I hope you are getting some good pain releif in the mean time.

Good luck with it all let us know how you get on

Katelyn

shay18

Hi heav_18,

Im also new here so i hope this all goes right, and please excuse me if it doesnt make sense lol.

Firstly i would like to say, im so sorry to hear about the problems you have been having, I no what its like and how awful it can be. I would defintely reccomend pushing for referral to a specialist rheumatollogist.

I am also 18, and have recently been diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis, (especially in my hips and legs, and various other joints) after nearly three years of seeking medical help. I too was told by various doctors at my GP surgery that i was 'to young'. I eventually gave up going to the doctors and started going to a chiroractor, which i found no help at all. In the end i had enough and went back to my GP, and saw a locum doctor. She saw the pain i was in straight away and didnt question my age with arthritis. She reffered me to the rheumatology department at my local hospital. At the hospital i under went various test as was told i did indeed have arthritis.

I agree with katelyn13, Stick with it! it may not be arthritis, and coul be something else, but you need to know what it is so that you can start getting it treated, and get the pain sorted out. the doctors do need a very good push.

I would suggest continue going to your doctor, and keep going regularly untill they referre you. This has worked for many people.

Many hospitals have the 'cancellation system' thing, which would be very helpful as for example you could be seen 3 weeks earlier than you would just waiting, its worth giving a go.

I wish you lots of luck, and i hope you find out wats wrong. keep your chin up and think positive.

all the best x

heav_18

shay18 wrote:

Hi heav_18,

Im also new here so i hope this all goes right, and please excuse me if it doesnt make sense lol.

Firstly i would like to say, im so sorry to hear about the problems you have been having, I no what its like and how awful it can be. I would defintely reccomend pushing for referral to a specialist rheumatollogist.

I am also 18, and have recently been diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis, (especially in my hips and legs, and various other joints) after nearly three years of seeking medical help. I too was told by various doctors at my GP surgery that i was 'to young'. I eventually gave up going to the doctors and started going to a chiroractor, which i found no help at all. In the end i had enough and went back to my GP, and saw a locum doctor. She saw the pain i was in straight away and didnt question my age with arthritis. She reffered me to the rheumatology department at my local hospital. At the hospital i under went various test as was told i did indeed have arthritis.

I agree with katelyn13, Stick with it! it may not be arthritis, and coul be something else, but you need to know what it is so that you can start getting it treated, and get the pain sorted out. the doctors do need a very good push.

I would suggest continue going to your doctor, and keep going regularly untill they referre you. This has worked for many people.

Many hospitals have the 'cancellation system' thing, which would be very helpful as for example you could be seen 3 weeks earlier than you would just waiting, its worth giving a go.

I wish you lots of luck, and i hope you find out wats wrong. keep your chin up and think positive.

all the best x

Thank you for your message, and sorry it has taken me so long to reply, I have not been on here in a long time!

I have now had an appointment with teh rheumy and have been told I have Hypermobility. He is sending me for an MRI scan to check my back and hips, despite the fact he said he is convinced their is nothing "sinister" wrong with my back.

I have had various blood tests and all have come back normal. I have not yet been tested for HLA-B27 but i thought maybe I should havve been as my mum has been diganosed with Spondiloarthritis?

Thanks again for your reply

Heav

auntie

hello

I am new here too, I haven't had joint problems for that long either, just since last year, but I just wanted to say I'm sympathising with you because for me the hardest time was when my GP and the hospital were actually trying to figure out what was wrong! It can seem like you're in limbo and it's really frustrating but try and stay positive because once they know for sure what's wrong they can start treating it and hopefully things will go from there

funkym

hello and welcome to forum
lots support and latest information available on here,just started on here,just to say my inflammatory arthritis started 18.
not right they doubting you

guessing not all gp may know alot re rheumatology .
do u take your mum with i did .
im now 38 wishing u all best

maxi90

heav_18 wrote:

Hi, im just on here for advise really (at the minute)

I have suffered with back problems and severe pain for at least a year. I have now developed problems with my hips. I have had physio and have had the idea that I could have arthritis totally dismissed by both my GP and the physio who said, at 18years old, I was "too young."

I have finished my physio sessions now, and they have not helped in the slightest, if anything i feel my pain has worsend!!! My GP is now looking at refering me to Rheumatology for scans and blood tests.

There is OA on both sides on my family, my mum has it severely in her wrist at just 42years old. She has been tested for HLA-B27 (the genetic side of Ankilosing Spondilytis, which was negative)

Does anyone have any ideas/advise about what I my have and what I can do to hurry the process of referal etc along?

Many Thanks

it sounds llike you may have a type of arthritis called JIA which is one that mostly children get but not so common in teenagers but at the age of 13 i was diagnosed with it and i have just turned 19 this week to help move thinks along is to use the internet to look up your symptoms and find out what type you could have and print relative pages off and when you vist your GP next time show them the pages and suggest going for blood test for immflamtion which if come back clear will rule out arthritis but if not then they can refer you to specilistsyou will do more test to find out excatly what type of arthritis you do have maxine

kittykat89

I have been a sufferer for a considerable amount of time. The best way of getting taken seriously is to persist and be like a dog with a bone .... When i first started getting symptoms they tried to fob me off with every possible excuse but after persaverence i was eventually admitted to GO street hosp.

From experience you could be suffering with RA...(Reactive Arthritis) if it has come about suddenly. Especially if you have recently had some form of infection.....throat,chest etc.

Hope i have been of some help

kat x