After 2 1/2 years of pain I was recently diagnosed with Osteoarthritis. They originally diagnosed me with Polymyalgia rheumatica hence steroids for 22 months. My GP thinks I also have fibromyalgia. My questions are why do I have it in so many joints. Feet hands hips buttocks knees and shoulders. Also 90% of my pain is symetrical. I am all negative for bloods I have only had a raised CRP once at the onset. Thats the other odd thing about being diagnosed with Osteo the onset was in about 8 weeks. I thought Osteo took years to show on xray and was more or less one or two joints. Any advice or opinions would be appreciated Thanks
Osteoarthritis is not the same as rheumatoid arthritis which is what this forum is about. There are no blood tests for osteoarthritis. Did the pred help the PMR symptoms?
Yes the pain is so much worse since I stopped taking steroids. I also never got pain in my knees while I was on steroids. They are now painful and stiff like my hands and feet and so on. The Rheumatologist has presribed plaquenil i sure hope it does something.
Joanne
Hi Jo, I had the same as you, took a few years of seeing Rheumatologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists before they came to the RA diagnosis. Trouble is the symptoms fit so many different diseases. They knew mine was an auto immune problem but not which one. My Daughter has MS hence the Neuro. It was partly my own fault too as I would get disheartened with being fobbed of with diagnosis of fibromyalgia, then because of inflammation levels, poly myalgia rheumatica that I would leave it awhile until I got the courage up again for another battle. I gave up work, retired to a country town by the coast and finally saw a doc who did bloods and my RA factor had risen so sent me to another Rheumatologist who diagnosed RA. By this time I was having terrible pains in hands and feet, my ankles felt I had glass in them. I was put on 20mg of MTX and Plaquinil but still bloods showed high levels of inflammation. I was sent for a bone scan to see where the inflammation was and I had huge amounts in my hands, wrists, ankles and feet. I'm now on 20mg of MTX and a biologic DMARD and although not feeling 100% at least I know I am listened to.
Please keep on at them, it's possible to have osteo too but your right that it's wear and tear brought on over time. If they think you have polymyalgia rheumatica then they must see inflammation in your blood results (fibromyalgia and polymyalgia rheumatica are much the same thing only polymyalgia has inflammation). Good luck and keep at them. Mary
Spot on Mary! Wish doctors all knew the difference between fibro and PMR as far too many don't! I think fibro has become the lazy doctor's get out.
I read an article the other day that advised patients to take charge of their drs appt. My seconds rheumy advised she didnt think i had pmr. At that point last sept i got the impression she wasnt goning to see me again she advised there was no imflamation markers or visible evidence. I said I could bring her pictures so she agreed to se me again. Luckly lol my hands did there swelling for a gp appointment and he made notes for rheumy. So that was when they ordered more xrays and osteo showed up. I took charge and insisted my gp do more xrays on hips and knees. They are very slow at all this or they are trying to save money. You deffinetely need to take charge.
Thanks Mary I will keep after them and hope the Paquinil slowes it down. I also retired recently and am lucky I dont have to work and my kids 35 and 27 are now helping me not me helping them any more. My heart goes out to the younger crowd that sill has to work and raise children. Joanne
I was diagnosed with OA about 15 years before the onset of PsA/RA, All of the joints affected by OA were soon invaded by RA, so I think the two are quite friendly with each other - if not me.
Im really sorry to hear that. Its such a long painful road for you to be on. When you were you were diagnosed with RA after 15 years were you serio positive or negative?