Arthritis - when do you try to see a GP?

[WombatNo12]

So I'm fairly stiff and sore in various joints, notably feet, hands and hip. Hands can swell if I try to do too much. Feet really annoy me as walking is awkward.

It's awkward and annoying but not particularly limiting (sore chronically, not acute), so I've not bothered the GP.

I'm expecting the "lifestyle" management talk if I did see a GP, which I want to swerve because I'm busting a gut to "manage" my weight but being hungry affects my sleep. This isn't helped by every time I exercise being stiff and sore for days.

Am I being a bit stupid tho? Is there any other things I can do?

If it is chronically sore it probably is worth seeing the gp. They can test or refer to find out whether it is osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, as the causes and treatment would be different. If it is rheumatoid arthritis, this is an auto immune condition and there are treatments that can help prevent it getting worse, whereas ignoring it until it is really bad can result in more permanent and long term damage and loss of movement in those joints.

I think you should see your GP, yes, to try to determine which type of arthritis it is (inflammatory or osteo) and agree a treatment plan.

There are tests to see whether you have an inflammatory arthritis (though please note: they are far from 100% accurate), which would be a first step. The main one is a blood test for an imflammatory marker common to rheumatoid arthritis.

The treatments vary depending on which type of arthritis you have.

Are you hands worse in the morning than in the evening, may I ask?

X-posted with @Fitzfatsfeist there.

Worse in the morning and possibly at night. I quite often wear splints at night now. My wrist can give way too, that was new for this winter! My feet bug me.

I think I may have been a bit "boiled frog" about this. Always been a bit stiff and my family are all a bit "rheumatic-y"

Hi, I'm similar with pain and swelling in my hands and increasing misalignment, and stiffness and discomfort when walking. I've seen the GP and had blood tests and x-ray which have ruled out rheumatoid, so it's just osteo. Message from 2 different GPS is the same. Nothing to be done, suck it up! If anyone knows different, I'd be delighted to hear it. He started wearing finger splints at night to try and stop fingers bending further out of shape, but no idea if this will actually work! I'm only mid 50s too 🙁

I have osteoarthritis and was offered pain relief and physio by the gp.

CBD oil is amazing for it my dog had really bad arthritis now I think it's completely gone as he can run walk and move again without hesitation