Does anyone have arthritis?

[Hulababy]

Just looking for information really at this point.

I am 38y and that's what may have and what has been causing me pain over the last few weeks.

About 6-7 weeks I started with a very sore neck with restricted movement in my neck. The pain then was radiating down into my shoulders and back, and up into my head; the latter being very painful at times.

Saw drop in GP after a couple of weeks who just said it was probably muscular and to take ibuprofen. Which I did.

Then a couple of weeks or so after that, and still in pain, I saw an osteopath who clicked and cracked my head and neck about. Got some movement back after that but pain remains. And my hands are now sore too. Not gripping or anything but more on the knuckles and down the sides of my hands - notice it when the children at school hold my hand for example.

And then yesterday morning my knee was sore and a bit stiff, no pain as such though. But mid afternoon my knee had swollen loads to more than double its size! It's still like it now. Still not painful, more of an ache and an odd sensation trying to walk - but can't straighten my leg, nor bend t too much, making walking fun. Have had to borrow Dh's car as that is automatic so at least I can drive!

Saw GP last night and he sent me (today) for 5 different blood tests and is investigating arthitis. I have scalp psoraisis and there is a form of arthritis than can occur as a result of psoraisis.

I also have antibiotics and better anti inflammatory meds.

For the psoraisis I have been taking aloe vera juice (yuck!) twice a day since last Thursday, and I am now a week or so into trying dairy free - to see if it makes a difference.

Go back to GPs on Tuesday afternoon for my results and to see what happens next, depending on what results say.

Hello OP
Just to say, I was diagnosed with PA last year at 38. Mainly hands, feet, wrists and one knee.
I'm actually acting as a guinea pig as part of a massive study into the illness at Leeds Uni (biggest of its kind so far). I have got to know a few of the researchers there and the good news is that, while it's not a v pleasant illness they have made massive advances in its treatment in the past few years and new and better drugs are expected in the coming years (in addition to what is already out there). So prognosis is getting significantly better all the time.
Anyway, best of luck.

Thanks for your positive comments :) Hope all is goign well with your trials.

Hi Hula,
I have PA, have had it for 16 yrs.
Just posting to say it sounds like you are being well looked after and just to re-iterate that you must be persistent if you have pain - the steroids are amazing and will knock the symptoms and inflammation right out, but make sure you keep asking for help if you have pain when they take you off them and put you on other meds. I put up with pain for too long and now have joint damage that affects my mobility.
good luck with it all.

I did the theme parks either walking very slowly or in a wheelchair while awaiting surgery for arthritis, specifically surgery to fuse bones in foot. You need to get GP letter and go to...ahh think Reception has a theme type name but you will find it. A pass will mean your whole party does not queue etc. My lads had the best holiday ever - one and only trip to Disney and no queuing... can you imagine!!! And, that was even if I could not cope with ride.

I wondered if I would feel guilty but I didn't. My lads have had enough to put up with over past few years.

Shakti - was your surgery on your toes? My consultant has offered me surgery because I have hammer toes on both feet and walking is painful even when the PA is in remission. Is that what you had? And can you tell me any more about it if it was?

No, I had the bones between my toes and ankles pinned (those joints were for some strange reason very badly affected by arthritis!).

Sorry not to be of more help

No, I had the bones between my toes and ankles pinned (those joints were for some strange reason very badly affected by arthritis!).

Sorry not to be of more help

Dropped steroids down to pre holiday level and noticed twinges in my knee and neck and the crackling noises from my neck are far more noticeable to me again.

Not too long until your appointment and hopefully your consulatant can talk to you about some dedent long term meds.

Thanks. Ypou're right. Consultant app is on 19th :)

I also have my MRI scan tomorrow at 7:35am!!!

MRI scan done. Took about half an hour, got in early and I was back home not long after 8!

Yay , noisy isn't it
Hope that this now gives them some useful info to formulate a treatment plan (but also shows nothing really nasty ... Fingers would be crossed for you if they still did that)
Hope all goes well with Rheumy x

Thank you.

At GPs on Thursday to get new prescription of steroids as only have 4 days worth left - oops! Then wait til 19th to see consultant for proper treatment plan.

Thy did th eRI on upper spine.neck as appartently PA doesn't normally affect there, normally lower down, but can do. So they just wanted to have a look and a check.

Latest update.

I had an appointment with the rhuematology consultant yesterday. The MRI, xrays and bloods are all fine. All signs suggest psoriatic arthirtis so that is what they are now treating.

Although the steroids have been doing their job they were only ever a short term soloution. I have been on a reduced dose anyway but now have a gradual withdrawl process. It takes about 3 months as has to be done very gradual. Not looking forward to that in some ways as on the reduced dose I get a fair bit of pain in my knee and neck, so this may increase again.

But i am also starting a long term course of DMARDs drugs which as designed to try and tackle the actual arthritis itself so hoepfully they will kick in. I start on a half dose for the first two weeks and then full dose after that.

I am also being referred to a physio for the neck pain, and all being well a dietician to have a look at the dairy thing.

So, fingers crossed the collection of meds all start working well together and I become pain free again for a while at least.

Just thought I'd see if anyone was around.

It's now 9 months on from all this kicking off. I am now on a course of Sulfasalazine which will be longer term and I am on a very slow decrease to come off the steroids - now only on 2mg a day, so almost off them.

I had a small relapse in October following a car accident. Settled down very very quickly though.

Most of the time it's fine. My knee twinges every so often but seems to settle again quickly and without too much pain. My neck seemed a lot better after physio exercises. I do get pain in my right hand fingers, esp my thumb. But I;ve been experiementing with a special pen which seems to make writing easier when at school.

BUT I seem to have had a bigger relapse again, and it hurts :( I went to a ball on Saturday and was dancing. It hurt at the time - my knee that is - but you know what it is like, esp after a drink or two Next day my knee was sore and swollen. It's now Friday and my knee is less swollen but still painfl and stiff, and my neck really really hurts and is so stiff. I managed to get to the GPs today and she prescribed me codeine for the pain - and Rheumatology are seeing me on Monday afternoon. The codeine is helping, it has reduced the pain but everything is still stiff, and the tablets knock me out for a while.

Feeling a bit fed up - have had a week of pain and I am just hoping the flare up is a one off and not something I have to put it up with too often.

Hulababy try to see it as you just have to get through the weekend and to the rhuem apt. My docs advise take the painkillers regularly during a flare up i.e. space the dose out over 24 hrs taking the max dose at regular periods being careful to not take too much rather than waiting for them to wear off. i.e. try not to let the pain build.

Thanks. Will do just that. Currently on long car journey visiting relatives, another couples hours to go. Then 3.5 hr back Sunday but at least dh is doing all the driving. Am dosed up and have pinched dd's neck pillow.

Knee is now VERY swollen - it's 2-3 times it's proper size!

Hi Hulababy, just to say I have Rheumatoid Arthritis but I was on Sulphasalazine for 16 years and I found it really effective, but it did take several weeks to take effect fully (8-12 weeks?). Sometimes I had to take anti-inflammatories as well. After a break during pregnancy I found it less effective so am now on a different dmard. I know how debilitating it is, but I now lead a normal life again. Hope your symptoms die down soon.

Have been on sulfasalazine since September, this is first flare up since the summer.

Had a steroid inj under knee cap today. Now in an awful lot of pain but hopefully t will settle soon.

Hi Hulababy and everyone else, can I join in here? I'm in Australia by the way and I'm newish to MN and just found your thread. I've also got PA, diagnosed when I was 40 but had been having symptoms for 2 years prior, finally realised something was actually wrong and it wasn't just a series of aches and pains. My hands were bad, flicking the indicators or windscreen wipers on was agony.

Anyway, I've been through 7 years of various treatments from salazapyrine, methotrexate, lefluonomide and steroids with many many injections which help temporarily and I have just this year been accepted for a new drug called Simponi and it seems to be having a positive effect. It's in a self-injecting form so I really had to get my big girl pants on to overcome my fear of needles and have managed to do two injections on my own now. This medication costs the government a fortune but I only have to pay the regular prescription price, $34.60 per month.

For any of you who have RA or PA and been on long term treatment that isn't giving results you would like, consider asking your rheumatologist about these new biological drugs to see if they are worthwhile trying. Apart from reducing my joint pain, the fatigue has lessened and I'm getting to watch tv after dinner and not falling asleep the minute I sit down!

Hi Hulababy

I've got AS and have been on sulfasalazine since 2006. I'm also taking hydroxychloroquine and steroids.

Toomanycuppas, I'm interested to hear about your experience of simponi. Is it an anti-TNF drug? I'll ask about it next time I visit the rheumatologist.

I've just acquired a mobility scooter to help with getting around and it's fantastic! I'm much less tired than before.

It's good to hear that I am not alone with fatigue iyswim. I'd not really linked the two before but read of it recently.

My knee still remains swollen. Not as painful but still hurts when walking or standing too long, and still not walking properly. Been using DH's car as it is automatic, which helps - it;s my left knee affected.

Hi
I also have Pa and am having a bad flare up in my back. I had a baby 6 months ago and apparantly its quite common to get worse after the birth. I've also had a sore swollen foot following the birth which seemed to occur after a mosquito bite. Am gonna go to my gp next week as have been getting progressively worse over the last 3 weeks. It's a real bugger isn't it? I find it emotionally challenging as am 38 but feel about 68 and I have a baby and a 4 year old to look after. Am thinking of trying to see if we can afford a cleaner as am struggling to keep the house together! Ugh. Anyway, just a message of solidarity and if anyone has any tips on relieving lower back pain. Cheers to you all.