Osteoarthritis at 22 | Arthritis Information

 

Hi all.

I'm concerned that I should seek a 2nd opinion. I was diagnosed with osteoarthrits yesterday. I'm 22.

I was in a bad car accident November 26th, 2008. Full work up done after the accident, x-rays of most major joints and entire spine. No one said anything about arthritis at that time.

I had a spine MRI performed. Now all of the sudden I'm riddled with arthritis, and the degeneration is compressing discs and nerves.

My Orthopedist seems to feel that the arthritis is not related to the wreck. It's my understanding that trauma to any joints can lead to the onset of arthritis. I have never had the kind of problems I'm having until after the accident.

My doctor is generally a bright guy. I like him, great doctor. But I feel like I need to respectfully disagree with his opinion that it isn't related to the accident due to my medical history - I've never had any constant joint pain anywhere except my ankle that's given me problems since I twisted it as a kid.

Would it be fair to present my case to another orthopedist with my opinion for review? If it's as advanced as my orthopedist is leading me to believe, shouldn't it have been clinically diagnosable with x-rays alone?

Opinions appreciated.

 Hi cazlee,

Can you get your orthopedist to review your 2008 x-rays?

Ron
He has. I submitted all emergency room x-rays to him on my first visit. He took a new series of x-rays of my shoulders and of my spine on my first visit. He said that all x-rays look good, no fractures, but a definite whip-lash injury. He said absolutely nothing about possible arthritis. The emergency techs said nothing about possible arthritis. I have been seeing the same GP for a number of years now, who also has said nothing about possible arthritis, and I needed x-rays due to a kidney stone in 2005.

cazlee2009-04-16 06:02:04
Hmm...I am perplexed, a young person with a sudden onset of OA, there has to be a reason.

Perhaps you should follow your own intuition and get a second opinion.

I had a sudden onset of OA but in my case there was bacterial cause, take a boo at my OA page in my sig below.

Wish I could be of more help.

Good luck with your research.

Ron

That's what has me concerned. 6 months is far too quick, in my opinion, for even subclinical arthritis to become full blown arthritis causing me the level of discomfort I'm experiencing, and then my ortho doesn't want to do any further testing for an underlying cause? That just doesn't jive with my intuition. Arthritis at my age is a symptom - not the cause, just my $.02, especially considering my current ortho indicates some kind of artifacts/fragments, which, according to him, is why I received the arthritic diagnosis.

Ok. I was able to obtain a copy of the MRI report. Maybe this will provide some additional insight to the medicalese fluent. Thankfully I type 100 WPM so typing this up isn't gonna take 4 hours. I'd also like to reiterate there were NO ABNORMALITIES on ANY x-rays immediately subsequent trauma.

Technique - Multiple pulse MRI sequences were performed in multiple planes through the cervical spine without administration of intravenous contrast.

Findings - There is no evidence of acute fracture, subluxation, or dislocation. The vertebral body heights, intervertebral spaces and alignment of the spine are maintained.

The prevertebral soft tissues are within normal limits.

At C1-C2 - No abnormalities are seen.
At C2-C3 - There is no evidence of disc herniation. The spinal canal and neural foramen are patent.
At C3-C4 - There is no evidence of disc herniation. The spinal canal is patent. There are mild hypertropic changes seen in the uncovertebral joint causing mild right neural foraminal stenosis, the left neural foramen is patent.
At C4-C5 - There is no evidence of disc herniation. The spinal canal is patent. There are mild hypertropic changes seen in the uncovertebral joint causing mild right neural foraminal stenosis, the left neural foramen is patent.
At C5-C6 - There is a central disc osteophyte complex abutting the ventral aspect of the cord and causing mild cord flattening. There is mild to moderate stenosis of the spinal canal. The neural foramens are patent.
At C6-C7 - There is a large central disc osteophyte complex abutting and causing flattening of the ventral aspect of the cord with mild to moderate stenosis of the spinal canal. The neural foramen are patent.
At C7-T1 - No abnormalities are seen.

There is no evidence of cord edema or cord compression.

Impression:

1. No evidence of acute fractures.
2. Central disc osteophyte complexes seen at C5-6 and C6-7 causing mild to moderate stenosis of the spinal canal and abutting and causing mild flattening of the ventral aspect of the cord without cord compression or edema.
3. The remaining intervertebral disc spaces demonstrate no evidence of disc herniation and the remaining portions of the spinal canal are normal in caliber.

Comments?
cazlee2009-04-16 15:14:18Right now my symptoms are as follows;

Coldness/tingling/pain down left arm. This sensation may affect either arm, radiating down the back of my arm, very tender towards the elbow, very tender in the wrist and coldness/tingling/tremor in fingertips. Does not affect both sides at the same time, does migrate, does vary in intensity and sensation severity.

Significant discomfort across left shoulder. May also affect right shoulder, as noted above. Does not affect both sides at the same time, does migrate, does vary in intensity and sensation severity.

Significant discomfort in the neck right above that large-ish bone that usually kind of sticks out on people, C7? T1? Something like that. Logical location according to MRI report.

Any insights would really be appreciated. I need help with this and some direction as to my next step in seeking relief.

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