Rheumatoid Arthritis?

[Ladyanonymous]

Hi, I've been posting here for a while but this is my first thread....I hope this isn't too long...bear with me!!

I need some advice/infomation. I have had a pain in my foot for the last year after injuring it (tripped over a brick doh!). It wasn't X-rayed at the time although A&E didn't feel it was broken.

Went back to the GP's 6 months later as it was still very sore who had a look and said it was "Hikers Foot" caused by "excessive walking" (I don't do any exercise at all and do not walk for a hobby except between pubs to the bar/short school run!!).

A few months ago as I kept getting a stabbing pain across my toes in the same place when walking or bending my foot, they sent me for an X-ray which has come back clear, its not and has not been broken.

Locum GP says its "probably" arthritis..."lots of people" get it, but didn't really offer to explore this any further with me. I now have pain in my other foot (across my toes) and my hands (knuckles and thumb joints)
have also begun to be very sore and stiff.

Do I go back and get an official diagnosis (is there such a thing?) or just accept its all downhill from here (I am only 34!!). Does anyone have any experience of this? I am beginning to feel like a bit of a hypochondriac, or am I right to feel dissatisfied with the answers I am being given?!!

If you got this far...thanks

You can have blood tests for RA and related disorders. You cannot be given a diagnosis of RA without positive blood tests.

You are very young for Osteo arthritis - a completely different condition.

Go back and ask for a referral to someone who specialises in foot pain. You only have one pair of feet and this needs to be investigated.

Oh, and also, a blood test would be a good idea given the joint pains at other sites. Do you have any other symptoms?

Being told 'it's probably arthritis' is next to bleeding useless. I'd go back and see your regular GP if possible and ask for a second opinion.

3littlefrogs is right that RA would need blood tests to be taken before you were diagnosed by a rheumatologist.

RA is usually mirrored in joints on both sides of the body, is at its worst when you first wake up and then eases as the day progresses.

I would get back to the docs to find out exactly what's wrong, then you can take informed action. Hopefully it may not all be downhill from here. Take care

I have the same thing - told me exactly the same and refused to investigate.... even though it has associated bruising at times. Now my knee and hip in the same leg are hurting. I have visions of me being on the hip replacement list before I am 45.

Thank you very much, thats really useful, I will defineately ask for a blood test and a referral...I don't go to the GP's much but when I do go I kind of expect to get an explanation as to why I am in pain!!!

Typically there are other symptoms with RA such as weight loss, anaemia and possibly swollen lymph glands- and although I'm not an expert i believe it is more widespread in the body.

You can find out more about RA here www.rheumatoid.org.uk/ an about arthritis in general here www.arc.org.uk/ Hope these help

hello,
I'm in a similar boat to you and going to see my GP on Weds. I've had pain in both wrists and my ankle since a few months after dd was born (10 months ago).
It's worth getting an early diagnosis of RA, if that's what it is, as the earlier you can start treatment, the more you can minimise damage to your joints and therefore slow down progress of the RA. Most hospitals have Early Arthritis clinics for that reason, you shouldn't have to wait long to see a consultant once you get a GP referral.
Apparently it's quite common for RA to come on in women after pregnancy or menopause - something to do with high levels of prolactin - could that be the case for you?
Good luck. If you're interested I'll post about how I get on with my GP. When I went a few months ago he told me I prob had RSI but the ankle pain and morning stiffness has come on since then.. so. back I go.

Just wanted to say I'm only 30 and was diagnosed with RA 6 years ago, its worth oushing for a proper diagnosis because as Spink said if it is RA the sooner you get treatment the better your long term prognosis is for affected joints. once damage has been done it cannot be undone if you see what I mean, and the younger you are the more problematic it would be if joint replacement is required, they don't last forever and would probably need redoing at some point far off in the future, repeat joint replacements are rarely as successful as initial ones my consultant told me.

I just want to tell you about Low Dose Naltrexone. www.ldnnow.co.uk/

It is very effective on all autoimmune diseases and is non toxic. Visit the above website. Dr Chris Steele is backing a petition for the NHS to do proper trials even though it has been used for many many years for drug addicts in much larger doses. Vitamin D is an interesting hormone to google too with regard to RA. It is depleted during pregnancy. Probiotics work too and visit Conquering Arthritis.com

blood test will tell you if you have RA but i had parvo virus and it mirror the same things as RA...my son got slapped cheek when he was 6 and it gave me sore joints when i caught it from him. You havent got children who have had it fairly recently have you?