Anyone else had arthritis since childhood?

Hey Nurse,

Sorry to hear what you are experiencing. I do not have Arthritis, at least not that I know of. Although, for a few years my was pasted around to many different docs. I have a Rheumy, whom I dont like very much, but he thought I had JRA for some time. He tried me on several meds, I cant remember any but Mobic. But, none of them worked for me. I think he finally gave. All my docs gave up actually, they pretty much sent all around and ended up passing me back to each other! What a mess!

I am only 16 now. This all started when I was about 10 or 11. But, I didnt know then so, I never started going to the doc until I was 12. I was just recently diagnosed with Fibro. I was started on Lyrica and its the first time in my life a medicine has helped me! So, hopefully, I have found my answer.

You mentioned bone spurs, my mom and I both had surgery a year apart on our left foot for spurs. Both were successful. But, we both went an entire year, and I know that was the most painful year I had. They are no fun at all. My mom had a spur in her right foot twice, but luckily they went away, I guess.

I usually dont post here, as I dont have Arthritis, but I wanted to share that with you.
Take Care of Yourself

Hi Nurse,
I was diagnosed this year with osteoarthritis. And now feel its moved to RA. I now my body real well. Right now pain meds are not helping me. So I can't imagne what you have been going through with your arthritis. I dad had hip replacement surgery and he is doing real good. So if you need it I would recommened it.
teddybear

I know of a many who has had his hip relaced twice. And a few other things also! He is doing just fine. He is always outside tending to his yard, he stays on the move! So, if you need it, I guess it would be worht trying.

Joan, my Rheumy thought I had arthritis for the longest time. He put me on Mobic, it never did work, so I guess he finally got the message that I didnt have arthritis. But, I probably will, RA runs in my family, and my mom just found out that she probably has Osteo.

Take Care and have a Happy New Year!

I am 28 yrs old and was diagnosed w/ JRA when I was 3. I know the kind of pain your talking about w/ your hips - it's horrible!!

However - I can tell you from experience that hip replacement surgery is WONDERFUL!! I had horrible pain in my left hip - it would get stuck, very limited range of motion, trouble walking anywhere (even just to my car), and a hard time getting in/out of cars. I put off having it replace until I couldn't stand it anymore. I finally bit the bullet & had the surgery Jan. 4th, 2005 (tomorrow will be 3 yrs!!). It was the best decision I ever made for my arthritis. I also had to have my right hip replace (Dec. 2005), but I didn't let it get nearly as bad because I saw the benefits of the replacement.

I now have more mobility & range of motion in my hips than I've ever had in my entire life!! I always had trouble w/ socks & shoes - basically anything that required bending forward. Now it's a breeze!! I'm doing things now that I couldn't do when I was a kid, and that other people take for granted.

If you want more info about the surgery & recovery, I'd be more than happy to tell you - but I don't want to bore you w/ too many details. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask - I don't mind. I've been there before and remember how hard it was to make the decision to go through w/ the surgeries (the first one in particular). :)

Feel free to ask me any questions. I've been there before and know what a hard decision it is to make!

Nurse1stik - Do you have short term disability insurance? I had AFLAC for my second surgery (didn't think of it for the first). It really helped out; although I still had to save. If I had thought of it before the first, I probably could have been able to afford to do it sooner. It is hard to save up - for a few years I felt all I was saving for was surgery! ugghh.. The results, though, have been well worth it.

I have the same problem with people understanding! People think I'm young, but they don't understand that my JRA is also 28. I feel like people would be more sympathetic if I was 78 and had been dealing w/ the pain, fatigue, etc. since I was 50. I have a really hard time getting people at work to understand (mostly my bosses). I'm very reliable, but there are times (like the day after a long trip, reactions to meds) that I just am too tired & in too much pain to work.

I don't have any children. I'm single - still haven't found the "right" guy (sometimes feel like JRA is one of the reasons). I haven't quite made up my mind yet about kids. When I was younger I wanted 2 or 3 kids. Now I would like to have a child someday, but I don't know if that will happen. I worry about not having the energy to take care of a child - I have a hard enough time just trying to take care of myself & house stuff :) I also think about how I would juggle flare-ups or surgeries while trying to care for a child - what if I my hands hurt so much I couldn't pick up my baby. If I ever meet a man that would be able (willing) to help a lot w/ the house & a child, then I would really like to seriously consider having a child one day.

Hope I haven't complained too much :) It's nice to know I'm not the only one that struggles w/ trying to live as a young adult w/ RA.

I too have muscle pains like fibro but I found two things that really help with that and I am sure you have heard them before the first is lots of sleep. Ten hours a night tends to eliminate the muscle pain for me and decrease the flares as well. The second is using the right NSAID for me I tried five of them before deciding to stick with sulindac as it did more to relieve the systemic symptoms including muscle pain then any of the others did. I said two right well there is a third plaquenil definitely has been helping with that and the daytime fatique. Obviously what meds you take are up to your and your doctor and from my experience everyone has a different perfect combo.

Have you tried trigger point injections for the TMJ. I used to work for a TMJ specialist and he was often able to delay surgery for his patients for years using these injections

  I hope you don't have to have too many surgeries that young.  I think trigger point injestions are a great thing.  If I could find someone to give me a few.  I'd be happy.   The lidocaine patches help with muscular spasms in that you can't feel the pain.  But, it is just there later. 

I found out yesterday that I probably have Avascular necrosis in my hip according to an Xray in January of last year . I have all the symptoms. I am so happy that I don't just have arthritis. It gives me a reason to have the pain. I say this because I feel my Rheumatologist sees my RH factor is under control... and it seems she thinks I should be pain free. The way she talks with me at appointments. My kneecaps sit so high that I also have patellar tendonitis, bad hips and I ache still with my deformities even if not noticable to the passerby. I have been going here for 15+ years. Does anyone else feel like they are not listened too by their MD. Do they get offended when you confront them? I know as a nurse...doctors are easily offended by my confrontatins of issues.