Arthritis type symptoms, no diagnosis, how can I help myself?

[mmmcabbagesoup]

A year ago i saw my GP with joint/muscle pains. I have since seen a couple of rheumatology consultants and had various tests. Other than 2 strong positive ANA tests, which I understand mean little alone, nothing has been found.

I will have an appt to follow up an MRI scan but I'm not expecting any progress as I didn't have bad pain at the time of the scan. I think that will be the medical route exhausted.

I have low Vit D and ferritin (8) which I am tackling. I'm trying to lose weight as my knees have been particularly problematic.

I wondered if there Is there anything else I could be doing to help myself? Vitamins, diet etc?

If you have low vitamin D and ferritin, you may well find that when you reach normal levels, the joint pain alleviates.

Are you having injections?

Not injections - supplements. I hadnt taken either seriously initially tbh. But now taking supplements regularly, have read the vit D thread.

Will keep it up. Would be good if that helped.

cabbage Hi there,

  have a good look at this  thread,   concerning lack of vitamin d , and the symptoms. 

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2421492-Vitimin-D-can-it-have-this-effect

  many have similar problems to you.    The vitamin d supplement amount that you require  may not be  what you think ! 

BTBH

Both those things could definitely affect you as I've have experienced this year. It will take a while to get both up and then a while to really build your strength up again - I'd recommend looking into Pilates and/ or a good sports physio to help. I've found the pain means my muscles have wasted/ not as strong so need to target them. I've also had thyroid issues too but I do think the ferritin and vit d have been a big factor

Gosh that's very low. My vitamin d was very low but not consider deficient. When I increased supplementation it eased a lot of my joint pain and aching limbs. Work on trying to increase your levels and hopefully it will alleviate your symptoms.

Really interesting thread on the effects of Vit D. I haven't quite got to the end! I guess I skimmed over it before as the consultant I mentioned vit D to said it wouldn't account for the pains. I will head over there finish reading, rather than duplicate here.

Thanks. Its encouraging to hear people feel better after getting vit D and ferritin up.

Are you being monitored by rheumatology? What are their thoughts?

One consultant thought an early, as yet unidentifiable, autoimmune disease - second consultant disagreed. She had no suggestions but really didn't think it was RA or similar. She'll follow up the MRI scan, but I expect won't need to see me further.

I feel they have been very thorough in their investigations, so I'll just need to get on with it. Getting healthier generally seemed a good idea. Will look into pilates class.

It's so hard when you don't fit into a neat little box. Have you had any suggestions for treatment e.g. steroid injections?

I have a couple of autoimmune diseases and whilst vitamin d deficiency symptoms can account for some of what you are suffering from, I don't believe it affects your ANA. Is it over 1:80? If so, a rheumatologist or immunologist should be doing a full investigation into what the cause is.

If you don't mind sharing, what other symptoms do you have? And have you have full blood tests for anything else or have other health conditions (because lots of them link in with autoimmune conditions). I have heart problems and thyroid issues and these are caused by SLE and Sjogren's. I also have Fibromyalgia and CFS as a result.

I think it probably has been well investigated. Lots of blood tests after being referred to rheumatology, nothing found. Don't know ANA, just referred to in a letter as "strong positive ANA with a nucleolar component' (or similar).

No other symptoms particularly. Thyroid fine. Some hair loss on and off, night sweats. But I've had 4 pregnancies in last 4 years and hormones could account for these.

I had the muscle/joint pains 4-5 years before being unable to walk for a day or two prompted me to see the GP. (I always assumed lots of RSIs). The consultant made the good point that the length of time means RA would have got much worse than it has. My xrays didn't show damage.

First consultant recommended hydroxychloroquine. Felt odd to start long term medication with no diagnosis. Second consultant didn't think necessary.

Im really tired but my youngest isn't a great sleeper so seems proportionate!

Sorry for your health issues GallivantingCat.