Arthritis Information -New and tons of questions, please respond

I have been in pain for about 5 years now and it has become worse each year. The last 2 have been almost unbearable and the last one is not over yet.

I have been trying to figure out what is wrong for ages. I see some of you write about what you call muscle spasms and I have them but they are more like horrible cramps in which my entire leg from the hip down completely atrophies. Every joint in my body cracks and pops, many hurt and are swollen. I recently went to help out my aging parents and couldn't get out of bed for a day...not at all my intention! I felt, as thought there was something going to explode inside my body between my left hip and the front of me. I hurt from my back to my foot.

I can't tell you that it was the magnitude of the pain but the on going consistency of it. It feels like I want to reach inside of my body about 3 inches below the surface and pull something out.

Both knees, both shoulders, my foot on the top, my big toe (of all things) my hip, my back. And all this whenever it feels like it..It could be completely gone tomorrow and loves to come when I'm on vacation and want to walk places.

My husband recently pushed me around in a wheel chair in the airport after "vacation" because I couldn't walk over about 20 steps.

My Orthopedic surgeon has me scheduled for epidural shots for degenerative disk disease but also has me scheduled to go to a Rheumololigist...in about a month.

I'm so depressed I could cry and sometimes hurt so much I can hardly stand it.

I sort of got better when they gave me SOMA, Vicodine, and Predisone (2 sets of dose packs) but it's coming back and I don't have an appointment to see the people who will be giving me the shots until next week, late, and that is only for a consultation.

I am beginning to hurt again and called for pain meds since it will be a while and here it is the weekend and I called the pharmacy and apparently they got no response and that too is frustrating.

I just need to know did any of you go through this? Is this how it is? I feel so desperate and sort of like I'm begging for help and they are all acting like it's all so routine and no rush or hurry for response.

My husband gets so frustrated and I ultimately begin to cry because I understand why.

Please write and encourage me, advise me, something.

Thank you so much,

Gem