Why are my knees hurting so much?!

[OneBreathAfterAnother]

The last few evenings, my knees have started to really hurt, to the extent that when I go to bed I can't get to sleep.

I've been trying to use pillows to get myself comfortable, but there isn't a position that they don't hurt in. Paracetamol, codeine, co-codamol isn't touching it. Tramadol took the edge off but keeps me awake anyway, which isn't ideal.

Finally got to sleep last night but have woken up with sore shoulders. Knees are okay, but they tend to be, until the evening.

I'm 24, I get about an hours' exercise a day, I'm not overweight, I have some health conditions but nothing relevant. Lots of rheumatoid arthritis in my family but although I have blood markers, nothing shows on scans, so not treatment for that yet.

I'm so tired and I've no confidence it'll get any better, but I can't see a GP at the moment because there is a four week wait for an appt outside of working hours and it's a really critical time.

Hmm, my first thought was RA. The I saw the bit about markers and family history.. I think you need to get some blood tests.

It does sound like RA. In your place, I would notre exercising for an hour every day, at least not until I see the specialist doctor, have the blood tests & scans, and know exactly what is going on in your knees.

I would notre not be...

There are classic symptoms for RA;
Morning stiffness, usually longer than 30-60 mins.
Joint swelling, warm to touch and redness

Knees and shoulders tend not to be classic/first symptoms but you have a family history, so you do need to be referred to a rheumatologist. Early treatment is best. :)

If it's only been a few days, don't panic but do get seen.

Thank you all. I was hoping you'd tell me not to be so silly!

They were really painful again last night. It's been going on for a while now. They are stiff again this morning, as are both shoulders.

No visible swellings or redness though. Just the horrible pain that doesn't go at night and the stiffness in the morning. Night pain is a bit alleviated by a hot bath before bed.

I'll call the doctor tomorrow and see what they think. I just hope they take me seriously, I may have to hack my legs off otherwise.

The family history is quite bad. My dad's brother has deformed fingers and has had his knees replaced and surgery in his ankles. I don't know what his feet look like. His hands look so painful.

I've been NC with my parents for 8 years but my dad had been diagnosed when I last spoke to him, and he was suffering with carpal tunnel (I get that chronically so leant him some supports.