Just found out I have arthritis..

[AnonymousBird]

.. . I know it's not the end of the world, but I'm only just into my 40's and if I'm struggling now, what will I be like when I'm 60 etc? It's mostly in my hands which is really debilitating. Sometimes I can barely hold my cup of tea, brush my hair, cut my food. Some days it is ok, some days it is not so ok. I already have a completely knackered back/neck/shoulder from a separate injury so my body really feels like it is starting to fall apart now that my hands are going too.

It's very early days - not had formal diagnosis (but it is 99.99% certain) so not yet undergoing treatment or remedies etc, but I just need a little moral support please!

Thank you.

Me too, same as you I'm yet to have tests done etc but mine is related to my psoriasis. I'm 26 :(
Doctor gave me naproxen yesterday (I cant take ibuprofen) and its so much better today. So might be worth taking a NSAID just for now to see if it helps.
I've got two under two and have been really struggling to look after them. Obviously everything gets done, but I'm in a lot of pain.

Re falling apart, it could be worse. The doctor already told me my psoriasis could cause me to lose my hair, I already have long term depression, and two quick labours have left my nether regions in the sort of condition expected for a 70 year old.
Oh and I still have piles following birth.

If I don't laugh about it, I may jump off a bridge!

A few years ago I started to have severe pain in the base of my thumbs and in my feet. GP told me I had osteo arthritis and just take pain killers and live with it!!

Bollocks to that.

Did some research on the internet and found out that certain foods trigger attacks. Tomatoes, Oranges, Strawberries and Dairy produce all contribute to the majority of arthritis pain!

I had been drinking tomato juice to ward off prostate cancer and when I stopped drinking it the arthritis almost completely stopped! I have since become vegan (was veggie before) so cut out dairy (quite easy once you get used to it) and have hardly suffered a single episode since. My DM couldnt drink orange juice without her back being in agony.

Give it atry, What have you go to lose?

Know how you feel. Although my uncomfortableness (is that a word?!) is due to hypermobility. I'm 26 and worry what it'll be like in 10 years time.

Have you got any medication? Have you been to see any specialists?

Ballotti - I didn't know that. I eat tomatoes every day!

Oh OP sorry just seen your last paragraph. I've got a delayed release ibuprofen - 800mg but take it once in the morning. It helps short term but I think it's masking the pain and making me not take care with how I'm standing which means I'm really sore by about 1 o'clock.

shitmagnet - it's Psoriatic. Really don't know yet what the treatment/remedy options are. He explained that it's managed a bit differently from Osteo and Rheumatoid, but like I say it's early days so my information level is low right now. Xrays and blood done yesterday. Once all that is back and diagnosis is confirmed (and he is confident it will be, by process of elimination if nothing else) then he call me to discuss what we do next. Might also have MRI just to tick all boxes, make sure nothing missed.

Have had a hellish week, but quiet day tomorrow so can gather my thoughts and hopefully do some reading and thinking. DH then goes away for 3 of the next 4 weeks (including half term ) so I've got a lot of "me time" coming up.

Ballotti - thank you. I will explore the tomato/dairy thing. Both, though are such an integral part of my diet, it is hard to imagine cutting down let alone going with out, but thank you very much for that info. My main pain is in my wrists and thumbs at present. Base of my neck also gets heavy and sore (but I do have an old neck injury so hard to separate what is old and what is "new"!)

A friend of mine has PA and has written a blog post about it, you might find the info useful. themadhouseofcatsandbabies.com/2012/09/22/life-with-psoriatic-arthritis/

Oh My God Fuzzy mum. I could almost have written that, her history and mine are so similar. I've got some time tomorrow, so I will take a more detailed look and probably sign up to get updates... Can't thank you enough for that link. doesn't cover it!

I'm fine with tomatoes & dairy but awful if I eat gluten. You may need to experiment to see what if anything helps. Good luck it's horrible at first but you will learn 'coping mechanisms'.