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hi I'm new and looking to hopefully find some answers. I don't have a diagnoses at this point although I am planning to make a dr appointment after the first of the year. I live way out on the country with no specialized dr around so will have to take the day off work and make a 2 hour trip to the city. So...until then I am doing some research to see what I can find out on my own. I am having some joint pain that I'm thinking is either arthritis, lupus or fibromyalgia. All 3 run in my family. Although most family members suffer from knee pain.
I am wondering what does the pain of arthritis feel like? Or is it different for everyone? I am 39/female, occasionally my knees will hurt going down stairs and when they do hurt its a very sharp sudden pain that stops me in my tracts other than that they don't hurt at all. My other joints- 1 hip, both shoulders, 1 elbow and both hands( not the figers, but the palms) have a dull achy pain that worsens with extended motion. Sometimes my hip hurts so bad I can't sleep. My right shoulder hurt for a couple of years and then it stopped and my left shoulder hurt for a couple of years. Now I think its stopped and its my right elbow and both hands that hurt. I try to remember to sleep with my hands flat open or I wake up in pain if I sleep with them curved closed.
I am overweight and I realize that can be a factor especially with my knees and hip but was'nt sure if that would effect my arms. So I realize everyones experience can be different and only a dr can dx but if anyone has opinions or could point me in the right direction that would be great! Thanks!
Hi and welcome to the forum. Each of us is different in pain sites, levels and how it affects us. It could be any of the arthritis conditions or all of them. You might want to try and make an appt. earlier than when you plan on it. RDs are usually booked far in advance and if you wait to call in Jan. you might not get an appt. till March or April. Call now and get an appt. Also keep a daily journal of your pain and other symptoms. Take this with you to the doctors. A list of questions is also handy. If you have a partner, take them along for the appt. and any subsequent appts. They'll know what to expect and what to expect from you. Take care and keep us posted. Lindy
Hi and welcome! Lin, you took the words right outta my keyboard about making the appointment now. Taking your partner with you is also an excellent suggestion. In addition to a pain journal, if you have any swelling, take photos of it to show the doc in case they're not as swollen when your appt comes up.
Every time I see my rheumy, I bring with me a written list of things to talk with him about, including how my symptoms have been, any changes, questions I have, and scripts I need (for med refills or labwork). For a first visit, you can still cover the symptoms, and especially the questions.
You may already know this from your family members, but with these types of conditions, each doctor has their own way of diagnosing and treating. It's shocking how different it is for each person. By doing your research and asking questions here, hopefully you will develop a good list of questions for the doctor so that all the bases are covered.
I hope you find a good doctor and that they're able to pinpoint the cause of your pain pretty quickly or at least get you started feeling better.
Hi Rocky~welcome to the board. When I'm not flaring I don't have much pain at all. When I am, it's pretty bad. I agree with Lin that you shouldn't wait to make the appointment. If it is RA, the sooner you can start treatment ,the better. Anyway, welcoome to the board :)
Linda
Hi RockyMntGirl, I was going to say the same thing about getting an appointment now. The sooner you treat your condition, the better off you will be in the long run. What part of the Rockies do you live in? If you're Canadian you will need to be referred to a Rheumatologist by your GP.
Good luck and remember this board has a wealth of information, hidden among it's wealth of internet drama.Hey Rckymtngrl. Glad to meet ya!
When I first started having joint pain, I went to the doctor right away. I'm so glad I did because I got referred to an Rheumatologist right away and, in turn, started treatment right away. That's very important if you end up having RA.
For the first few months, my joint pain was migratory, after that, it would hit a joint and then additional joints would "join the party" as it progressed. I would be going about my business and then all of a sudden when I'd go to move, I'd have excrutiating pain. I found if I could force myself to move the joints that were flaring, that they would loosen up a bit and hurt less. Sometimes it was just too painful to do that. The more I would rest it, though, the worse it would hurt when I'd try to move it. I can honestly say that pain from an RA flare is the absolute worst pain I've had in my life to date. I remember once when the palms of both my hands hurt so bad that I sat in the floor and cried because I couldn't open a bag of bread. I was trying to eat a piece of bread so I could take some ibuprofen.
I would also have times when I had a constant dull ache in both my wrists. I actually never got rid of that until I started Enbrel. Besides the joint pain, I also had terrible fatigue. I felt like I was on the verge of getting the flu. Sometimes, the fatigue was just as bad as the pain.
I'm not a doctor so I could be wrong here, but I really don't think being overweight will cause all your joint pains. I've yet to meet anyone whose joint pain was a side effect of being overweight. It may make knee and hip pain worse, but not cause it. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong on that, but please don't assume that is the cause of your problem.
I hope you can get to the doctor soon.
hi Rocky,
Welcome to the board and I hope you listen to the above and make you an appt to a dr. My pains come and go and vary but since I have been on enbrel it's been good. My RA jumped from joint to joint and started in my hands and feet. I had days where I couldn't walk. I had days where I limped and I also had days where my feet didn't hurt at all. If it is RA it is a strange disease and varies so much from person to person.
Get some answers from a doc.
I wish you the best.
Hi Rocky, welcome, I truly hope you don't have any serious diagnosis, but if you do, we are all here to listen and offer comfort, support and best of all hope! Kind regards Janie.
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