Anyone with hip pain???

  Hi everyone,   I need some input.

 My hips, especially my left have been having a deep ache. Last year I could walk 2 - 4 miles with some pain, but not enough to stop me. Now it hurts bad after about 2 blocks, plus wakes me up at night sometimes and I have to change positions.

 The doctor I had in March, sent me for a CT Scan. It showed degenerative Osteoarthrtis. I wasn't surprised at all,  and she told me, I would need hip replacement in the future, actually that I needed it now, but no one would di it till I was older. I'm 54 for petes sake. Also about 3 years ago a CT scan showed arthritis in my left shoulder. It feels like I have it in my fingers too, and she examined my knees and said I have it there as well, I knew that too.

Well she moved away, so the doctor who replaced her, he looks like he's in his 70s, sent me for an MRI, and he said the results showed I do not have arthritis in my hips, he said the pain I feel there is caused from my Fibromyalgia. I know he's wrong, and when he filled out a medical form for SSDI he only put I have Fibro. I am so frustrated because I can't get in for a Rhuemy appt. till the middle of next March.  By then I will probably be turned down for disability, and my DH and I need this extra income so much.

Anyone else ever experience this sorta thing?  Do you know do MRI results cancel out a CT scan?  My fibro pain feels like the flu, and the arthritic pain feels comepletely different. 

Any kind of feedback would be most appreciated. 

Thanks

Debbie 

Post Edited By Moderator (getting by) : 9/18/2010 9:49:38 AM (GMT-6)

I am really mad, and hate all this so much!   Some doctors are not very considerate at all.

I can get copies of all the tests I've had,  I go to a health center, where my previous doctor treated me, and see the one who replaced her there. I am grateful for this place, as I am able to pay on a sliding scale, so it hepls.

SS can get all my records from this one place. So I hope they will see that I really do have this.

  I realize an MRI shows  more details than the CT scan.  I just don't understand how the results of one test can cancel out the results of another?

 I also know I have felt this arthritis in my hips since I was in my early 20s.  It was very infrequent, mainly when I slept on the floor, or went camping and slept in a sleeping bag on the ground, and every time thru all these years it has always cropped up whenever I get really cold. Otherwise I was healthy and energetic.

So this hip pain started way before I had Fibromyalgia.  I  don't understand this.

 I just remembered right now, the last visit with my doctor  this last tuesday, he was leafing thru my chart  ( right before he told me I do not have arthritis in my hips,) and told me  I have arthritis in my back,  this info from an MRI my previous doctor had ordered of my lumbar because of alot of back pain...   only all she had told me was it showed I have 2 mildly bulged discs.   No mention of arthritis from her!

Well, I was surprised a doctor wouldn't mention something like this. When I reacted with surprise;   my doctor (on Tuesday) said,   oh , it's nothing!  Meaning having arthritis in my back is nothing.  

 He also told me a few weeks ago that " my discs were only slightly bulged. " It seems like he is trying to invalidate the amount of pain I feel.

I deal with back pain every day, the entensity depending on my activity level. Sometimes it's really bad, it even hurts so much from just bending over the sink to wash dishes. But hey, it's probably only in my head! Either that or it's the fibro.

  Gee  ...  I guess this turned out to be a good vent!  Thanks everyone for being here, and for listening, and trying to help.  I value all your comments, and encouragement so very much.

Oh yeah, one more thing, I may as well get this off my chest too,  lol,  Remember I'm the one who had the terrible Serotonin Syndrome?  Well he prescribed another antidepressant, and I expressed my concern about if it can cause SS. He sat right there and used some sort of little gadget to check for interactions, and told me, this should be safe for you.

You will be proud of me Sherrine.. I went home and checked for myself before I spent money on the Rx,  and sure enough it can cause it.     It is Amitryptiline.

As far as antidepressants, I am seriously reconsidering not taking any of them, for me the side effects may not be worth it.

I'm not supposed to go back to see him for 2 months, if he will even still be there, he may not.  Anyway, I guess I will call on Monday and make an appt. to see him asap.   Not looking forward to it at all,  but I think he should add on the medical report that I do have arthritis, he even said so himself, just says not in my hips.   Does this sound like a reasonable request to you all ? i'd like to know what you think.

Thanks for your support all.  And thanks for the subject title Sherrine, I just forgot.

Blessings

Debbie

I do have hip pain off an on.  I am weird because I never think of telling the doctor about things like that.  I know fibro affects these areas so I just deal with it.

Osteoarthritis can happen anytime but usually happens as you age.  I probably have some osteoarthritis now since I'm 63 years old.  But, since I take ibuprofen with food and extra strength Tylenol to help with fibro pain, it would help take care of some arthritis pain, too.  But, it wasn't helping me hip that much today!     Oh, well, tomorrow is another day.

Here is a link about osteoarthritis from the National Institute of Health.

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Osteoarthritis/osteoarthritis_ff.asp

I'm VERY proud that you checked out  your medication.  You are your own advocate and it's your choice as to what you are willing to take.  Sometimes we have to take things we don't ideally want to take.  I do not take antidepressants and am doing fine with fibro.  I can still be in control of my pain and I don't have a bunch of side affects to deal with.  We are not all alike in what we need to take, though.  That's why you need to be informed, know what you are taking and what you aren't willing to take.  And you need a doctor that will work with  you and understand your concerns.  Teamwork is great for fibro!

Sherrine

Hey Sherrine, hi

Sorry to hear your dealing with the hip pain too.  I can only take tylenol or Tramadol for my arthritis, I can't take any type of aspirin or Ibuprofen because I use to take it too much for my back pain, and now I have stage 2 kidney disease.

I wish I could because Ibuprofen helps alot with pain and inflamation. I'm glad you are able to though.

Thanks for the link, I will certainly check it out.  Sherrine you are so right about how we are the only ones who can decide what is best for us to take, with of course the guidance of a good doctor.

To be honest, I really have hated the idea of taking anti-depressants. I have just about come to the decision to not take any. Even though I deal with ups and downs of having pain and fatigue, and the changing severity of it all, I think emotionally I am gonna be okay.

My faith helps me so much also, the Lord helps me get through each and every day.  And because of Him, I have a peace and joy inside that is real, and I know it comes from Jesus.  Not saying all is wonderful, ( as i'm sure anyone can tell from my previous rant, vent, whatever you want to call it. lol ) just saying inspite of all the pain and fatigue life is still pretty good.

Just the knowing that this life is only a vapor, and then there will be heaven forever with brand new bodies. This knowing sustains me. Can you amagine a perfect body!?  Perfect sight, hearing, no pain, and no stress, only bliss!  What a day that will be!

I do know too, that some people are really helped alot by anti-depressants, my Mom being one of them.  Just like I had to make the decision to start taking the pain pills, I guess we decide if the benefits outweigh the side effects.  The tramadol does help me alot, for the fibro pain, and my systym handles it well.

Sherrine thank you, you are so helpful, and encouraging.

Hope the hip pain goes away soon.

Blessings

Debbie

I have the last six months had pain in my hips.  Last month doc ordered xrays and said what I already suspected.  I have osteoarthritus in my hips now as well as in my knees.  Said it shows the "beginning stages". 

At first, I thought the pain in my buttocks was just my fibro.  But then it didn't seem to move at all.  Meaning, somedays fibro may affect one part of my body more than the other, but this was a consistant pain.   Then I started having trouble putting in weight on one or the other hip, standing on one leg in the process of getting dressed or anyother activity would result in sharp pain that left me stumbling to keep from falling.  The pain as it increases from activity will shoot sharp pains down into my knees and across my groin. 

While Tylenol won't even begin to phase my fibro pain, it has helped somewhat in aleaving my arthritus pain.  Enough at least to tolerate it and get through the day.  Doc has told me at this point my only other option is cortizone shots.  I"m holding off on the shots for now as long as I can find some releif otherwise since you can only have so many shots.

I don't have any idea about SS assistance because at this point, I am fortunate enough to still be working.  I am however making certain everything is being documented by my rheumy and occassionally asking for copies of my records in preparation for when I can no longer continue to work as I am now.  

Thanks bwfm,

I think from what you all have said I should see someone else, I am going to do a little more research, and see which kind of specialist would be able to help me.

Most likely an Ortho, or a Neuro.

You know from what I've been thru, and heard from many others, there are some doctors that for whatever reason, do not take you seriously, or are dismissive of your concerns, and some even try to minimize the pain we suffer.

Oh well, we must keep on fighting. Do you think it's a gender thing? lol  I mainly have heard this complaint from us ladies.

just_grace,  thank you for replying.  I love your user name by the way, God's grace is sufficient to get us by in this life, and His loving grace bought us a future with Him in paradise.

I'm sorry to hear about the arthritis dx, but it is good you have caught it in the early stages.

I havent tried tylenol for my hip pain cause it has never helped me with anything else, except minor headaches if I take it with coffee. I guess I will try it and see.

If your able to take ibuprophen it will also help with any inflamation, anyway that's what i have read online. I can't take it myself.

And yes, hold off on the shots, it's a good idea, you may need them more later on. It's great you can still manage to work, I really wish I could, but can not with all the pain plus the memory problems too.

Smart thinking about keeping copies of your medical records;  as you never know, one day you might need them, and of course a well documented case is more likely to be approved.

Blessings

Debbie

Gee now that I've heard all the responses here, I'm wondering if it really could just be the oh so elusive and migratory fibro.

I am glad to get everyones feedback, it really does help. This makes me more determined to see an ortho.

I really did not think fibro could mimic arthritis to this degree before.

I am sorry to hear how many of you suffer in this way too.

When, and who knows how long it can take, but when U find something out I will let you all know.

Thanks again fibro family. I will be back this evening to see whats been going on with.  Hope you all have a low pain day.

Blessings

Debbie 

  Gee,     I must of been more tired than I thought last night as I can see from reading the last post I wrote.  I meant to say I'll let you all know when I find something out not instead of whenU find something out. 

I know I can blame it on fibro fog, but I decided to save that for when I really blow it. 

Mrs_Mike,  Do you mind my asking how your arthritis was dx?

My first doctor did not send me for tests on my knees because you can hear a terrible grating sound whenever I bend them, she just said I know for certain you have it in your knees.     They are starting to get worse on me, It hurts some when I walk, and alot when I go up and down the stairs. I'm sorry you have to deal with so much at such a young age. Let us know when you do try a shot and if it helps.

Wolf92,  Thats what my doctor said, back in March, I think she may not realize that these days many more people get joint replacements.  I hope yours is working well for you, and that it will last a long time.

 Does anyone elses arthritis make noise?  My neck makes churnchy noises when I shake my head back and forth, I'm wondering if I could have it there too.

Bridget10,   It can all get a bit confusing can't it?  I hope you are able to find out what exactly the source of your hip pain is.    I know some people have pain from bulged disks, and some do not.

Stacy,    I'm also wondering how long can you keep getting the shots? I hope they relieve your pain well. 

Thank you everyone,  some day I will get all this sorted out!

  "Come to me all you who are burdened, and I will give you rest."

   Matthew 11:28