Advice?

Hello,

I normally post on the MS board since I was diagnosed a few months ago, but I have some issues that I am not sure are related to MS.

I have been having a lot of trouble the last year or two with stiffness and pain in my muscles.  I have been mostly ignoring it, thinking it was just normal to have so many aches and pains, but lately I am not so sure.  I am only 30 years old, and I cannot sit for long periods of time without getting very stiff and sore.  If I sit through a whole movie without getting up, it takes me a few minutes to stretch out my muscles before I can stand up all the way and walk.  I am also constantly changing positions due to soreness and sometimes I have trouble walking because my feet hurt so bad.  I have posted on the MS board asking if anyone else experiences this as a symptom, but I am not really sure what to do.

 

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) three months ago, and my main symptoms were:

*extreme pain/stiffness and fatigue that were worse in the morning, and improved as the day progressed
*symmetrical pain in joints (if my left wrist hurt, so did my right)
*extreme fatigue (which can be caused by a number of things)
* a very high Rheumatoid Factor (only detectable by specific blood test)

I was told that I had the classic signs of RA with these symptoms. I hope you don't have it. I have pain in my hands, knees, and also have pain in my feet, but it's much worse in the morning and gets better as the day progresses. I haven't been to a movie theater since being diagnosed with RA, so I don't have experience there. If you have any of these symptoms, ask your doctor to order an "Arthritis Panel" blood test. A high Rheumatoid Factor alone is not enough to positively diagnose you as having RA, but that, with other symptoms present helps with diagnosis. I'm not a doctor either, this is just my personal experience. Good Luck!!!

I agree with golitho, heat pads and hot showers will get me moving again. Good luck with your pcp appt. Post again and let us know how you went.
Jo

I finally the got the results back from my arthritis panel.  Rheumatoid factor was negative, the only abnormality is my ANA, which has been high for a few years now.  I am now getting shipped off to a rheumatologist for further testing.  My pcp thinks I may have fibromyalgia.