I have been reading posts here trying to figure out what my next move should be. I started having pain in my pubic bone about 6 months ago. It gradually became worse and finally last week was unbearable so I went to my family dr. She sent me for an MRI, called the next day (saturday) and informed me I had arthritis in my hip and pelvic bone that seemed "advanced". She also told me they reported "nodules" that are seen with RA. At that point I was a little stunned and didn't think to really ask detailed questions. She said she would do some research and get back to me after Christmas. I finally got in touch with her nurse this morning. The dr wants me to see a orthopeadist that specializes in the pelvis. Everyone I have talked to says go straight to a Rhuemetologist and find out for sure if it is in fact RA. I have 2 kids under 2 and was thinking all of my joint pain was just from getting older (I am 36) and the weight of having babies back to back and the extra weight I am still carrying. After reading all the symptoms of RA I think I do have quite a few symptoms but if the arthritis is just in my pelvic bone and not a joint then RA wouldn't be the diagnosis right??? Anyone else have it in that area? Of course the ortho dr is out of town til mid January so I made an appt with another dr in that practice but I am thinking I should go to a rheumetologist too?? I need some input here. I really feel like my family dr is not capable of dealing with this, she has been questionable about some other issues in the past. I know, time to get a new one. I plan on it but for now what can anyone here tell me??? I hate that I found all this out around the holidays because everyone is out of their offices. My dr wanted me to start oral steroids that day which I refused because I am breast feeding my 8 month old. She prescribed Tylenol with codiene so I could sleep at night and thats not doing a darn thing. I feel like I am being stabbed in the groin when I lay down and have major pain with most movement. Sorry for the novel, I am confused and scared and really want answers. Any info would help.
Thanks,
Erin
Hi, Erin! I can't give you many answers, but I just wanted to welcome you. I'm a newbie, too, with the same "holiday problem" of doctors being on vacation when I need them!Hi Erin and welcome! If I am not mistaken your hip joint is located in the groin area. Do you have pain on both sides? That is also a sign of RA. I agree with the see a Rheumatologist crowd as he/she will be able to sort this out for you.
Take care
Hi Erin and welcome to the forum. If your family dr. thinks you might have RA then you need to be seen by a RD. I'd keep the appt. with the orthopedic doctor just to see what he/she has to say about the pubic bone pain, arthritis in your hip and the mri. I'd tell the orthopod that you have an appt. with an RD. Get that appt. sooner than later so you can have the tests done to help confirm diagnosis. I wouldn't waste any time in getting a diagnosis confirmed because it sounds as if damage is being done very quickly. Take care and please keep us posted on how you're doing. LindyWelcome...sorry you're having such a hard time...especially over the holidays with small children. Seeing an RD certainly sounds like a good idea, but your symptoms don't sound typical for the onset of RA. The most common onset is inflammation in joints causing stiffness, swelling, and pain, usually following a symmetric pattern (...though not always) in the hands, feet, shoulders, etc. The inflammation tends to rise and subside in flares, and move around, at least in the beginning, though if not treated it will lead to permanent damage with constant pain in certain areas. Other common symptoms are fatigue, and a flu-like malaise. For me, in the beginning the flares were pretty dramatic but would then subside and I would be mostly symptom free for a while. If it is RA, steroids are not the best long term treatment...the side effects can be quite severe. There are very effective treatments now...I feel a LOT better now than I did 6 years ago when it started.
Good luck,
Alan
Welcome, Erin. I'm so sorry you are having such pain. Most of us here can identify with joint and/or bone pain. I hope we can be of some help to you and help you deal with the emotional side of arthritis.
First of all, I was recently having severe pain in my left groin are and have had pain on the outside of my hip for quite a while. My doctor told me that the groin pain was classic for osteoarthritis (OA)of the hip. I have been dealing with OA for a long time, and was diagnosed with RA 2 years ago. It is possible for you to have both RA and OA.
But it sounds like you have some additional issues with the pubic bone pain. I would definitely see the orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the pelvis, first. A doctor specializing in your particular areas of concern would have added training in that area. He would have treated more people with similar problems than one who treats general arthritis problems.
With the nodules showing up, it sounds likely that you probably have RA too. And I''m sure that the pelvis specialist would have you see a rheumatologist, too. It doesn't have to be one or the other. They each have their areas of expertise.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I'm sure it must be a challenge to be in such pain and take care of two babies. Is there someone who could come and stay with you for a while, as you are seeing the specialists and getting treatment?
Please keep us posted. Let me know what the orthopedist says. You will have a lot of new friends, here, who can identify with what you are facing.
Gentle hugs, Nini
Welcome to the forum, I am sorry to hear of your recent problems.
I am the RA poster girl for what can/will go wrong. I got the regular and the rare things.
I got regular joint problems, but like you i get the hip too. Usually the right flairs more, but the left has it's times too.
In my hip it is right in the inside toward the female parts. And it is horrible. When it acts up, i find that facing my foot in or out when i walk helps a lot with the pain, depending on where the swelling is at the time.
With RA, you can have flairs in all spots including major joint areas like knees, wrists, finger joints, ankles, toes, but you can also get flairs in non-joint areas like muscles, meat around the ribs, lungs, kidneys, heart etc. etc. etc.
I have full blown, my lungs and heart are effected but my kidney and liver are fine. My bowels swell without crohns, uterus swells when body is bad, shoulder muscles, neck etc.
This disease is very open to what it can attack. The good thing is that most people can handle the meds without problems and there are many "cures" currently being tested that we should know if they work within the next 10 years.
Remember to keep your spirits up, you aren't alone in this, you have to make sure your children don't see you suffer. I know it's hard to do, but i do my best to make my daughter feel like i am doing super good so she doesn't worry.
Keep your hopes up, there is so much that can be done today. Most people do great, you just don't see them posting in the forums much cuz people doing well don't think of visiting the forums often.
God bless.
WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with all here. GO to the ortho, in the meantime see about getting into a Rheumatologist you may have fibro as well. GOod thinking on yoru part for not taking steroids while nursing.
Keepa record/journal of your pain rating it 1 through 10 on a daily basis and wher eit is. THat is really valuable info to the Dr.'s. Make sure they know you have had 2 babies back to back and if you plan on nursing them and for how long. ( My daughter plans on nursing as well, the best thing ever for the baby).
Please keep up posted nad feel free to post and ask queations anytime.
Jode
Did your family dr do blood work? Often an RA dx is done by the results of that, although not always. Mine was easily dx'd because my RA factor was elevated and there are other tests that show inflamation. I hope you get some answers soon.Hi and welcome -
I can't say much more than that - the others have covered all the bases.
Let us know how you're doing.
Pip
Yep, others have covered the bases for you. Just wanted to say welcome to the board, and glad you found us - (but of course, not glad that you are hurting). People here are wonderful, diverse and very kind, we've all been "starters" and it can be a pretty scary place to be. No matter what the final diagnosis is, (there are many forms of arthritis and other strange things) bottom line is it still hurts, and is unpleasant to say the least, but good treatments are out there, and it is possible to bring it under control.Inflammation in the body can be caused by a large number of things. Your muscles and joints can be attacked and swelled by things like diabetes, different types of arthritis, digestion disorders, swellings of uterus that put pressure on prominant veins causing lack of blood flow, same with heart, lung or kidney problems causing lack of blood flow which swells joint areas, muscles etc.
Getting tests done quickly will help you find the right treatments. Be sure to list all symptoms when you go to a doctor, even if you had them all your life and thought they were not related.
I found out all sorts of things i grew up with were jr. RA as a child when i was told by doctors that i was growing problems, but my white cell count was high (they didn't check for RA in kids back then).
So, mention any stomach problems, odd swellings in body, any reactions to foods, drugs etc. you might have had, breathing problems, odd pains in back, sides or stomach etc. It will all help them head in the right direction.
I wish you well.