Severe joint pain

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help here. I'm 53 years old and more or less finished the menopause. Since I was in my 20's I've had osteoarthritis in my hips, but for the last year pain has spread to other joints and for the past couple of months the pain in my elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles has become very severe. I visited my gp a couple of days ago as I can't sleep for the pain. She just told me it was wear and tear and gave me painkillers and sent me for a blood test for rheumotoid arthritis (my grandma had it) but said she didn't expect it to come back positive. I'm not sure what's going on, I've got burning muscle pain around the hip joints, I can't lift anything heavy as my elbows hurt so much. My ankles throb constantly even in bed, I used ot look forward to going to bed to 'rest' but now it's just as uncomfortable being in bed and I'm not resting. It doesn't feel like normal 'wear and tear' as the gp said. I'm exhausted and although I'm still working, as I have no choice, my life is affected by this pain. I don't know if this is related to menopause, arthritis or something else but it's making my life a misery. I asked the gp for x-rays but she refused saying that it's too difficult as it's multiple joints that are affected. I feel like I'm being fobbed off, and the painkillers don't ease it whatsoever.

Mandy.

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I have similar pain issues. A blood test showed RA foe most of my joint issues.

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My gp just told me it was wear and tear and what else should I expect at my age, she said she didn't expect the blood tests to come back positive. I do have osteo arthritis in my hips, but the rest of my joints have suddenly become very painful and I can't really see it being the same thing, it doesn't feel right somehow. I should get my results either tomorrow or the day after. The other thing I'm getting is a chill, although I'm not cold as such I have a cold crawling chill which seems to go right through me, It's not cold in the house and certainly not when I go to bed but the chill is there even in bed.

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Hi Aanda..hip arthritis is osteo in most cases...not all.. Wear & tear.for u age comment....wow ,that GP is a really rude dr..i've been thru a lot of dr.. For so many reasons I could write a book.from .misdiagnosis to surgeries for a hernia that wasn't there it was my hip...& follow thru on diagnosis are just a few. 

U could also see a rheumatologist.. They specialize in immune disease such as arthritis. I have osteo & many other itisis..all my joints r effected.. Back...any bone seems to be a magnet for arthritis in my body and my mom and her mom had it too.. Some is heriditary.. Had my first ihip mplant at 42 so UR doc can't tell me well what do u expect for UR age.. HOW RUDE...

I get the chill thing as well.. U described it well. I'm not sure what it is. It is just as u described.

my friend is diabetic.. Chills is from low sugar for my friend. So I try to eat something when It occurs.& before I go to bed it seems to have stopped since I react a cookie befor bed.. It's usually in the am after sleep all night.

i wake up shacking if I don't eat something. Creepy feeling.

Sometime I break out in a sweat drenched just soaked its from the waves of pain.. I take arthritis Tylenol & Excredrin . I feel waves of pain when the meds wear off. I have pseudo tumors in the tissue around the hip prothesis . It has metal on metal small parts which leach and corrode chromium & cobalt from movement into the tissue around the Stryker ABG ll hip implant. U can see it on line STRYKER ABG ll hip recall. It was done less than 2 &1/2 yrs ago. It was recalled due to bad bad design even though the FDA approved the hip prothesis. I am involved in a class action law suit against STRYKER ABG  ll hip system, the manufacturer.I am just devastated. I must have heavy metal blood tests done every 6 months. Metals could poison my major organs from metals fretting in my blood stream.  I go in at the end of the month for my hip joint prothesis check.. I have a lot of issues with it since it failed.i will have surgery again next fall. Both hips are bionic. My rt hip was done 14 years ago.  I try to take one day at a time & always write everything down to go over with my dr. Just a way to keep track of what to go over . 

PLZ be sure to get a X-ray of UR hip. VERY IMPORTANT. Osteo can grind bone to create unbearable pain. Hip replacements are generally good and last from 15-20 yrs depending on activity level. It's been known since the 70's metal on metal in the design is dangerous. Also most dr DONOT check for allergy levels of a patient befor THR implant. All are metal some are mix of metals. Stay with sergical steel the best. All metal hips are lined with ceramic or poly cups to prevent metal wearing . Those cups wear cause shards and need replacement eventually.

But in a revision my hip design has small pieces fit only in one design and this design is not interchangeable..with a replacement. The ceramic or poly joint ball replaced only after wear is interchangeable without removing the total prothesis.,

In my case the STRYKER ABGll design the femor bone must be carefully broken to remove the complete whole femor implant with femor the stem . Therefor a brace or cast is worn after surgery and a longer rehab about twice as long compared to normal THR surgery.

When its time for a hip implant and that is usually when the groin pain is effecting UR quality of life PLZ remember to ask for the manufacturer style look it up on line. My first hip is not metal on metal good quality and great surgeon.,the recalled hip joint the dr was sold a false book of sales by the factory rep who was the attending physician, my dr. even told me there were no metal on metal pieces. Added that in the surgical report. Remember this is a fluke thing. My first hip went very well. It is always good to know the details about the THR u could need some day. My intentions r to spread the word so others do not have to endure the pain & suffering I have .

Later that dr had to eat his words as many of his patients r angry and his reputation was tainted. 

I think the dr should be punished & I am still dertermined to file with the state a complaint against him even though he left my state directly after the recall. I want this on his record he damaged hundreds in his practice not just me. I think the surgeon should be held responsible.. And if it takes 50 tons of paper work to get a judgments against my hip surgeon then so be it.

Take care and it will be a relief for u to get the health issues ur expierencing sorted out. Be sure to keep a copy of UR hip x-ray & all records in UR own personal file. Each time I go in the dr I ask for copies.. That way it's a few pages and costs next to nothing for copies.

good luck

HOPE

 

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Hi amanda I think your GP should refer you to a rhumatologist at the hospital. There they will take X rays and bllod and ask you some general questions on your health. I am going through the same at the moment. I saw my rhumatologist on 30th April who said its oteoarthritis and like you have been given pain killers. I was referred for physio which I am doing which swwms to have strengthened my legs but they are still stiff and painful. Like you I have it in most joints too. I am due to have acupuncture next week. I have made another appointment for the rhumatologist ans will be asking for stronger pain killers. Please ask your GP to refer you.

Louise

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Hi Louise, I had physio on my hips years ago, hydro therapy and acupunture, the acupunture was good for the muscle spasms in my bum, I'm now back to the same stage as I was with my hips then due to a job change, but it's the other joints now, I would love to lie in bed when I have the chance just to rest but it's more painful lying in bed, I get about 4 hours of rest then the pain kicks in again and I can't get comfortable. I'm ringing the surgery today for the blood test results, as the gp said it probably won't be RA I'm not expecting anything, but the joints in a couple of my fingers are swollen, my grandmother had RA and I believe it can be genetic, I don't know if OA swells joints or not. I hope you get some relief with your physio and acupunture, it sure is a life changing thing when it hits, the flare ups are horrible.

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Hi amanda how did you get on with your blood results? The last blood test I had showed inflamation at 72 which my GP said was pretty high.

My rhumatologist dismissed me saying it was O/A but pain in my shoulders feet wrists and knees is so bad I was unable to move on Monday.

I have made another appointment for rhumatologist for this month as I feel he cant just leave me like this. I need stronger pain relief so I can at least function properly. Please let me know how you got on.

Louisa

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Hi Louisa, the blood tests didn't show up any Rheumatoid arthritis so it looks as though it is Osteo. I've been given some more stonger painkillers to take alongside the ones I'm already taking and have an appointment next week to see the musculoskeletal doctor. The only trouble with taking strong painkillers is that I struggle to stay awake and that makes it difficult at work, it's a no win situation at the moment! And they don't take away all the pain anyway. I've had a flare up like this in the past and it took weeks for it to settle down, I don't know why or what brings it on and I'm just hoping it will settle this time. I know what you mean about the pain you're suffering, mine's in the same joints, it's awful, and the muscles in my bum are still in spasm. I still had a bad night last night even with the 'knock out' painkillers. Let me know how you get on with your next visit to the rhumatologist. 

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Hi Amanda thanks for your reply.I hope that your painkillers are helping you more with the pain now. I know what you mean with the tiredness. I have now been released from my job as I have not been able to go back since Christmas so I now have the joy of trying to obtain benefits which I have NEVER had to do as i always worked.

I will let you know how I get on with the rhumatologist. I am going to ask him if there is anything he can give me in his private practioce that he cannot on the NHS anything is worth a try

Louisa

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Hi.

i am sorry to hear of UR painful joints. I know I have been thru both hip total replacement . Scoliosis herniated discs, degenerative arthritis back. I'll tsp there. I just wanted to let u know that I am here and totally get hoe this disease can change lives forever. 

Take care healing prayers sent UR way

HOPEconfused

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Hello amanda,

several months ago i visited some relatives in austria. My cousin who also has Arthritis told me that he tried a new therapy called "regenerative stem cell therapy" to alleviate his pain . He noticed this kind of therapy on a website of a well known specialist, from vienna, called DDr. Heinrich.

You get stem cells from your own body fat injected into the affected area and these stem cells find their way on their own to the building sites in the body where their regenerative and healing effect is needed

Maybe I could help!

Regards

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Hi Chenye, that sounds interesting, also expensive unfortunately. I've been seen by another gp and I'm having various x-rays and specific blood tests then going to be referred to a rheumatologist so hopefully I may get somewhere with a diagnosis. I have been reading about psoriatic arthiritis tonight, it sounds very much like what I'm suffering and I do have psoriasis so it would make sense. Anyway for the time being I'm on 3 lots of painkillers, fingers crossed the 3rd lot work. 

Mandy.

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Sounds like a cure or remission..

I read about that too. I hope treatment thru clinical trials starts in the US 

soon..

gives us a little sometin to look foreword to!lol

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Mandy ,

I have psoriatic arthritis & psoriasis.. I pray that u do not have PSA.

((hugs)) biggrin

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Thankyou, I'll let you know how things go with the tests...x

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Amanda my fingers & legs r crossed.. I also put in a good word 4u with our creator...

HOPE

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Thanks Hope. May I ask how your psoriatic arthritis was diagnosed and did they get it right first time? My gp acknowledged that I'd not been given the help I should have had for long enough and aploogised and said we will get to the bottom of it this time. It may not be this type but there's definately something going on within my joints and muscles, I get tired easily and have to rest inbetween doing things. I should hopefully have an answer this time next week (fingers crossed), the x-rays are of my hips, pelvis, lumbar spine, hands and feet so I'm sure if there's anything there it should show up. The joints in my fingers have been swelling up now for a few years although they aren't too swollen, my hands/fingers swell up every day and feel stiff, like sausages! My toes sometimes do the same. I hope things go well in your lawsuit and you get some justice, those things should never happen, they don't care that they're playing with peoples lives and what for? money? It's a disgrace, good luck with that.

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Hi amanda how did you get on with your tests?  I have now been given co codamol to run along side my ibruprofen. I am still in great pain and like you have to rest whenever I do anything. I usually work for 1 hour and then rest for half an hour. I too get very tired my shoulders are really painful at night and my legs very stiff in the mornings. My mobility is getting worse and I am afraid I will end up in a wheelchair. I just want to be out of pain now and am due to see rhumatologist next Thursday. I am going to ask him if there is anything he can do in his private clinic that he cant do on NHS anything is worth a try. Please let me know how you are doing. - Louisa

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Hopefully admin will let me link this for you - http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/osteoarthritis-women-12/arthritis-supplements

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Hi Louisa, I got results from x-rays yesterday, I have osteo arthritis just about everywhere, in my spine, hips, hands, and due to the pain in my elbows, knees and ankles I think they have it too. I'm taking dihidracodeine, codydramol and naproxen but it just makes me feel terrible, but I have to work and it's the only thing that's getting me through the day at the moment. I am waiting for my gp to refer me now to a rheumatologist. I hope it goes well with your appointment, let me know how it goes, I really sympathise with you, it's horrible - Mandy.