Anyone knowledgable of musculoskeletal problems?

[Ilmb]

Iv been to the gp and had blood tests done last week but wondered if anyone can shed any lights?

For quite a few years Iv had problems with myscles, joints, tendons etc. I have a bad back and see a chiropractor every 6 weeks and that helps. I get random muscle aches for no reason. For example I will wake up with my arm muscles hurting like when you go to the gym for the first time. Iv got tenndonitus in the joints in my palm of my hand (the finger joint bit) and it just flares up randomly. I have a type of tendonitis in one of my ankles that flares up. My back will hurt/ache if I lean over for example, then lean back up. I have arthritus in my little finger. Right now there is a awful pain in my right arm, the muscle that runs up from the inside of the wrist.... Nothing has any pattern and it is random. Sometimes muscles sometimes joints. Had rheumatoid looked at one bloods and gp said all were fine. Not deficient. Take vitamin d and magnesium plus multi vitamins.

She said it doesbt sound like arthritis at all. Some days I wake up fine, some days I wake up hurting. No pattern and no reason for it all. Gp said ask my chiro when I see her next of opinion and then go back and book double appointment and she will refer me to the ‘musculoskeletal department’. She has no idea. I’m 36, done dribk or smoke. Healthy diet, I do Pilates/yoga or swim. I can’t run as I get pains in my shins. Drink plenty of water....
Has anyone had similar or could shed any light? I feel much older than my years and I do worry about what will happen to my body when I’m old../

Could possibly be Fibromyalgia, usually accompanied by fatigue
Symptoms can be widespread and involve Muscles, joints and Nerves
Along with seemingly random symptoms which in time form a pattern. Unfortunately there is no diagnostic test for it, but your Gp may refer you to a Rheumatologist
I have it, along with mild Cerebral Palsy

Some of it sounds like psoratic arthritis which not all GPs have heard of.

Iv not heard of that one tiggles although gp says it doesn’t sound like arthritis. uncomfortably how do they diagnose fybromalagia?

The town is about a 10 minute walk and I always come back with a back ache. Not horrifically but aching. If I go shopping and have to carry bags (I don’t do this often) it really hurts and need pain killers.

I’m worried about when I get older... but it doesn’t tick all the boxes of one thing? Hence why she has no idea which worries me a little!

Have you been assessed for hypermobility?

No I haven’t but I know I’m not hypermobile as my dc is and I can’t do the things he can do with his body etc

Hmmm, were you bendy when you were younger though? Hypermobility has a substantial genetic component so if your son is hypermobile it makes me wonder if you are, albeit not to the same degree. Sometimes as hypermobile people get older their muscles tighten and stiffen to counteract the laxity in the joints, so the joints no longer seem so bendy, but the muscle tightness causes pain.

No I don’t think I was, I was fit as I used to dance but could never do the splits or anything so I don’t think I was?

Try Bowen therapy. I and partner tried it recently with remarkable effects. We are both old-ish and a bit creaky. I wish you success in recovering.

Iv had that before and didn’t feel any different. The chiropractor I have now is the first type of therapy of any sort (have tried everything) that starts to help. Thanks though.

There is a whole group of arthritis diseases that don't actually involve joints, cause pain in or around muscles and of which GPs are not very familiar with. Sjögren's syndrome and mixed connective tissue disease are just two of them. They are autoimmune conditions and their symptoms are very varied. I have MCTD and I am currently having a flare ( stress makes it flare) my neck hurts, the inflammation in my left elbow is giving my signs of tennis and golfers elbow, pain in the muscle around my right thumb and an overwhelming tiredness.

Fibro is a rule out everything else diagnosis from a gp - there is no blood test. Your osteo should be able to help with this though as there are points on your body that will hurt like hell if pressed if you do have fibromyalgia.
I was diagnosed with fibro about 8 years ago, still not convinced it was a correct diagnosis as I have recently cut out all gluten (on a hunch) and nearly all my symptoms have gone. Nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, chilli etc) have a similar effect on me - they can cause an inflammatory response in the body. Artificial sweeteners can also cause problems. Diet is definitely worth looking at.
Keep pushing with your gp - they often need a nudge! Good luck

Thanks. My diet is good, I’m very careful with it, I don’t eat wheat or dairy as it gives me a bad stomach....

I’m worried I’ll be fobbed off again as they have no clue...: who would be the best department/person to get referred to? Gp did say book a double appointment and we’ll go through everything and sort a referral of some sort...

You probably want to get a rheumatology referral if you think it may be something in the fibro direction. My gp is a bit shit tbh, but responds very well to "I want to be referred to X at Y department in Z hospital". It doesn't hurt to research consultants and ask for specific referrals. Once you have been referred, make friends with their secretary. They will be an amazing help at getting you into short notice appointments. I have managed to cut waiting time by 2 months in the past by being available for cancellations.

Ok I’ll have a google. I don’t know anyone that has been referred before but I’ll have a look thanks.

Actually thinking about the hyper mobility, I am quite flexible which Iv put down to yoga but I haven’t done it for a while... may be clutching at straws though.

watching with interest.

Have you had your thyroid checked? The aching was my biggest symptom.

I am apparently “off the scale” hypermobile. I most certainly can’t do the splits and I wouldn’t have guessed without being assessed.

Ankylosing Spondylitis. Ask (demand) an X-ray of your Sacroilliac joints and a referral to rheumatology. This disease can take 8 yrs average to diagnose and GP’s often aren’t familiar with it so you need to keep pushing

As pp said hypermobility- specifically hypermobility Ehlers-danlos syndrome is highly genetic and it is likely that one of your son's parents is affected. Of our family interestingly the less hypermobile members are the ones who get more pain - partly due to old injuries.

Iv literally just had bloods done and absolutely nothing has shown up at all. Had FBC, thyroid, vit d, inflammation markers, I can’t remember what else but there is nothing untoward on them at all which is why I’m worried about being fobbed off as I’m not showing up as anything specific as it’s veey vague. Since I spoke to the gp the other day I’m doing a daily diary with literally anything that hurts and where etc.

I went to bed last night with pain in my first finger left hand on the joint of the first knuckle but on the outside edge closest to my thumb if that makes sense, today nothing. Walked into town, 10 minute walk and my lower back hurts. Now I’m home and settled I’m fine but other days it’s so bad I take pain killers and need to sit with a hot water bottle..... who or how do you get accessed for hypermobilty as an adult? It was an OT who diagnosed my son as she was doing other things. But she said it was only in his fingers and hands but you should see the way he sits, legs bent at odd angles and twisted but he says he’s comfortable!

I also bruise like a peach, have done for a long time and I asked the doctors about this a while ago? I forgot about this?! I was getting small round bruises about the size of a 1pence piece on joints, manly my hands sometimes my feet, had bloods and they looked at my blood clotting and all was fine then aswell. I’m guessing this must be related? Haven’t had that for a while though but do bruise easily and get them without knowing how

I sit twisted up too!
I tried keeping a pain diary for a day. Gave up after an hour and a half. Too much to list.
Funny you say about the stomach. I’m the same and stomach issues can go with fibromyalgia too I think.

Can it really? Have had troubles with my stomach all my adult life, gp blames ibs, had meds for years but made no difference and I don’t have symptoms of ibs, I think it’s food related somehow so I’m careful what I eat

Have a look at NHS symptoms for fibromyalgia.
I thought it was bread or having a glass or wine or fatty food. But there’s no clear pattern to when my stomach plays up.