Arthritis Information -newbie here with lyme arthritis

 

in a nutshell, 4 years ago, when i had just turned 42 my knee went wonky on me.  i thought it was an odd injury and no doctor was able to figure it out.  then, the other knee went.  then elbows locked up.  then it rapidly ran all thru my body.  i was tested for RA multiple times, as visibly i present with RA.  tests keep coming up neg so of course they can't treat me for it.   tested for lupus, ms, you name it.  finally a year in i was diagnosed with lyme, took abx for about one year and 9 months.  many of the weirder symptoms went away, but i was left with severely limited mobility in my elbows (docs aren't sure why tho)  and knees that didn't want to work right.  hands act up now and again too. 

 

i have just had to really accept the diagnosis of hybrid lyme arthritis lately.  i refused for years, fearing that if i accepted this, i would be stuck and it would never go away.  well, many doctors and xrays later and here i am, nearly bone on bone in the knees.  i just turned 46 and i walk like a lame duck, or a penguin!!  ugh.  i spend every day in pain now, sometimes have to use a cane, and am trying to get back to the states for bilateral knee replacement.  it's all very frustrating as i have aspects of both types of arthritis.   i'm hanging around here in china, quite gimpy, while slow and disinterested admins in the US get the insurance together.   boy, if they had to spend a few nights like i do, they'd be on top of it, toot sweet!!!

 

so, that's my story, and i'll be cruising the boards for advice and support.  esp. about knee replacement.  i'm hecka scared, but i'm a trouper and will survive.  it would be nice to be able to even halfway keep up with my triathlete hubby, 6 years younger.  it's tough to look like a 38 year old on the outside and have ppl look so shocked when you tell them that you're body isn't keeping up the facade on the inside!! 

 

so, here i am.  any advice or similar folks out there, i'd love to hear it.