I'm not diagnosed yet, going to GP on Monday, but I'm having a major flare up of (self diagnosed) osteoarthritis. It runs in my family, and I've been experiencing mild symptoms in my toe and thumb joints for years. My flare up started a couple of weeks ago with a deep pain in my hip. Like toothache in the wrong place. I also developed weakness in this hip, so getting into pants involved me sitting and physically lifting my leg, my hip couldn't do it. Going up stairs was also hard.
Since then, I had some acupuncture, which has helped the hip, but it is now affecting other joints in my knees, ankles, wrists and neck. My toes and hands are also painful.
I'm taking ibuprofen and paracetamol.
Im 41, and have had recurrent miscarriage issues over the past year which have caused me tons of stress. I have wondered if this is partly the cause of this flare up.
Like you, OP, I'd like to hear from others how they were diagnosed and how they cope.