Arthritis

[smalltowngirl]

Just a bit of advice please girls!!
I woke up about 2 weeks ago, and couldn't walk across my bedroom floor without considerable pain in my feet. The only change to the norm, was that I had applied some different foot softening cream, so don't really think it was that. I took regular anti inflammatories, and it did subside somewhat as the day wore on.
Since then, however, my body has been racked with pain(I hope that sounds as dramatic as i want it to!)
I had surgery to my right knee in March - only an arthroscopy, and have seen my cons for follow up appointments as all is not 100% there.
The worst problem is my hands. They are swollen, red and tight. I only have small hands and little fingers and they look abnormally big.
I am no so vain, that their appearance is bothering me, but the pain is awful. I can hardly bend my fingers and my wrists just aren't functioning.
I have a Tempur pillow, and yet my neck is also stiff and sore.
Seeing GP tomorrow and hopefully it will be a virus, but can't help thinking that it's arthritis!!
Any experience, or wise words??

I don't want you to feel no-one is listening ass you must be feeling pretty pants right now. But honestly, the best thing you can do is wait until you see your doctor and get some blood tests and perhaps referred to a rheumatologist.

You'll probably be advised to carry on with pain killers and anti inflammatories in the interim. If it is arthritis it sound more like rheumatoid than osteo though there are many forms. In this case the best thing you can do is keep moving but take it easy, rest often and stop doing any heavy lifting or activities that put a lot of pressure on your joints, especially your fingers.

If your GP does think it's arthritis, it's not the end these days, there are loads of treatments and the government has ploughed loads of money into health services in that area. It can also just happen the once and then never again. There are also illenesses that mimic it and they can also be treated and cured.

I hope you have a good outcome.

Thanks very much for your reply. You are right I'm sure about not lifting etc, but I have 3 kids, 6, 2, and 1, who just don't 'get' that!! and a DP who works overseas. Will see doc tomorrow

Well have seen the GP, who thinks it 'may' be rheumatoid arthritis, however it 'may' also be a virus. He has taken blood and results back next week. Prescribed some stronger anti-inflammatories. Will start to take those, and wait and see.
In the meantime, will hope its a virus that just disappears.

Hi, I hope it turns out to be a virus. You're right, it's difficult not to lift with little ones but it's amazing what a one yr old can do to help if you get them used to it - I had mine climbing into his own car seat and making sure he stood up so I could lift him, getting his own nappy stuff etc.

Although hoping it doesn't come back as arthritis, if it does these websites are very useful:

www.arc.org.uk/
www.rheumatoid.org.uk
www.dipex.org/arthritis

Hope you feel better soon.