Does anyone know anything about viral arthritis?

[KatyMac]

Please?

I have been diagnosed with it twice; is this likely?

[KatyMac]

bump

[KatyMac]

Yes it was

RA is possible (my Brother has it!!)

But I looked back on my records (MN) & I was diagnosed with Viral arthritis in 2005 & again last week!!

[KatyMac]

No & there is no need to do anti-CCP

I thought it was important to treat early

How they can just decide it's viral I don't know

Not a great day today tbh

[KatyMac]

GP - I won't see a specialist until I am taking the maximum anti-inflammatories & max pain killers

I'm not nearly that bad - but my hands & feet make me cry sometimes and I get odd joint pain that only lasts 2/3 days then moves

I know none of this tbh

[KatyMac]

My brother is(was) a molecular biologist; so knowledgeable but useless (plus he lives abroad)

I don't think it's early intervention any more btw

My diary (which is only when I started a thread to complain rather than when I mentioned a problem in passing)looks like this:
Oct-05 pain in hands & feet - GP said Viral arthritis

Sep-06 Back pain/sciatica

May-08 Prominant & sore veins on hand

Jun-08 Stress, aching mucsles & joints, swollen hands & feet

Sep-08 hand is red & shiny and tight, then a foot the same

Jul-09 painful & swollen hands & feet, They have slowly got worse over the months & now I can't open jars/bottles & I am struggling to use scissors when I cut more than a few sheets of paper,actually swollen, sometimes they feel swollen & sometimes the veins are very sore & prominent

Dec-09 Brother diagnosed with RA

Sep-10 Leg cramps & pain in feet/hands

Oct-10 Bone pain, joint pain, hand & feet

Aug-10 Pain in hands & feet most of the time, kind of achy, they feel swollen even though they aren't. It's the main part of the hand/foot not the finger & toes and it's been for several years now.

Jan-11 Weakness & pain in my hands, pain in my feet

Feb-11 Swollen thumb (then 3 finger) Joints & Sciatica

[KatyMac]

Had an awful day today

[KatyMac]

My reflexologist has asked me to think about the pain & write it down because it has been with me so long I think it is 'normal'

So I am working on that & I see a different GP on Tuesday I will either get a referral or a private referral

[KatyMac]

This is my start:
When I wake up, I feel trapped, fixed in position; my left hip hurts, my feet burn & tingle, and my lower back aches. As I start to move/stretch joints (knee, ankle, shoulder & neck) and my ribs feel like they creak.
Coming to sitting position causes my lower back to hurt and my left hip feels like it doesn?t want to move. As I put my feet on the floor I get stabbing pains going from my toes up my foot.

[KatyMac]

I do wonder if the consultant will bother to plough through it

I am on page 2 already

[Owlingate]

I've had it twice it lasted about 3 months the first time and then just 6 weeks ish the second time. First time was after I had flu not long after I'd had first baby, second time was whilst pg again after a bad cold. Had voltarol and codeine the first time, just cocodamol the second. I still think you should go back and get your ESR and CRP rechecked in a few weeks to make sure it has gone down.

[KatyMac]

Did you continue to have symptoms between attacks?

I think retesting is a good idea - I wonder how long a reasonable gap is - it's been 3.5 weeks

[Owlingate]

Not really. Am more likely to have mild joint pain when have a virus but nothing like the stiffness and swollen joints - I got to the point where I couldn't turn over in bed the first time.

Maybe give it a couple of weeks then retest? I was told viral arthritis is normally gone in 2 weeks!!

[KatyMac]

If you see my post yesterday at bout 15:00 - you can see this has been fairly constant or OFF/ON for some years

[Owlingate]

I think you need to ask your GP whether its possible to get viral arthritis that many times...so its almost constant...unless you're just constantly getting viruses and every time you get a virus you get arthritis. Ask your GP whether that's even possible.

[KatyMac]

Thanks - They are really good questions to ask

I just think it a bit unlikely and your suggested questions will clarify it

[Freezingmyarseoff]

Oh poor you. I have RA & don't know much about viral arthritis I'm afraid, but I am shocked about how cavalier your gp sounds. Definitely sounds like a good idea to try& get a referal from another gp. You really shouldn't be suffering so much without proper investigation. Gp's can't know everything but they should know when to seek other opinions or refer. Hope you have some progress on Tuesday. If not, go back again to another gp. Let us know how it goes.

[KatyMac]

My Brother has RA - his anti-CCP results were very very high

& I can't even get mine tested

I am seeing another GP on Tuesday