Possible osteoarthritis

Hi Debicat:

Have you found out more about your possible diagnosis of Osteoarthritis.

Arthritis has no age barriers. I was in my late 40s when Osteoarthritis was diagnosed. I first had headaches and then neck pain. I had a head CT scan, an MRI of my head and when the neck pain began an x-ray was taken. After the x-ray the Hospital did an MRI of my neck. By the time Arthritis is seen on x-rays it is already in an advanced stage.

I am now 60. Living with chronic pain for over 12 years.

I imagine if your symptoms continue they might want to do x-rays. It is good that you are in the hands of a Rheumatologist. I am sure that Rheumatoid Arthritis will be ruled in or out also.

What do you do for a living? Perhaps you have repetitive strain on your hands.

Take care.

Loring

Osteoarthritis in Multiple joints, Fibromyalgia, Neuralgia, Chronic Daily Headaches, I.B., Hard of Hearing...

Hi Debi:

I had a job that was 90% typing, data entry. I did not want my arthritis to stop my work but eventually it did. I, too, have degenerative disk disease which is more of a condition. It is normal aging. Some people do not get symptoms.

After the x-ray on my neck I quickly went downhill. I must have injured myself more. I always tell people to not let x-ray technicians bully you into moving in ways you can't. You want to get a diagnosis but not if it will make you worse. I realized I had trouble driving. On route home when I had to look left I hit nerves. The pain went shooting up into my head. Was not far from home luckily. Needed lots of ice. I was off work a month and went back but still with pain. I managed to work for another year and just could not do it anymore. I was taking transit by then and on route home I hit nerves again. This time it was due to an older bus with very bad shocks. I could not go back. It was not easy to get disability. I needed a lawyer to help.

I also have Fibromyalgia and Neuralgia. The Fibro quite complicates it all. I have Irritable Bowel my whole life and survived a bad bacterial infection.

Are you on meds? I am on a low dose of Naproxen (NSAID), Baclofen (muscle relaxer), Nortriptyline (anti-depressant but for Neuralgia - jaw pain), use Premarin (HRT).

Supplements, Vitamin C, Vitamin D (4,500 mg), Calcium from food now, Glucosamine, Choindrotin and MSM, Magnesium Glycinate and Magnesium Calm. Have tried Curcumin also. Pain creams - tried many. Have also tried pain meds - Fentanyl Patch and Oxycontin. One made me sick and the other I could not cope with. Have only tried small amounts of Tramadol. Had to stop Tylenol but did use Arthritis Tylenol. Can cause rebound headaches. I get nerve blocks for the unrelentless headaches.

You only know you felt better when you feel worse. An accident a month ago has set me back. 12 years of Physiotherapy swept out from under my feet. It will take time to improve. I do find Physiotherapy in a heated pool to help. It is just hard getting out.

I don't like to say I am suffering but it is life changing. Try to get help with lifting. My Husband has become much more efficient at home. When he retires I will teach him how to cook.

If you can go to a physiotherapist they could help some. I do simple exercise for my wrists and fingers. Wrists I rotate in a circle - magic number 10 times each. Fingers - take your thumb and touch the tip of each finger - go up and down. Massage your fingers gently. Start at the top gently go down each finger and thumb with a little squeeze with your other hand. Helps circulation. You can get arthritis in your hands. It is a difficult surgery. But Rheumatoid has to be watched for by your Rheumy. There are many people in Chronic Pain that have had neck surgery.

I live in Canada but subscribe to the "Cleveland Clinic arthritis advisor" publication. It has a lot of good articles.

Take care.

Loring

Osteoarthritis in Multiple Joints, Fibromyalgia, Neuralgia, Chronic Daily Headaches, I.B., Hard of Hearing...

Post Edited (Loring) : 10/22/2014 1:44:05 PM (GMT-6)

Hi again. Glad that you are getting some medical answers. There is another person on the boards that has begun Plaquenil. The med is for treatment of Rheumatoid or Osteoarthritis. I did not know it was used for Osteoarthritis and she explained that it is. The med is helping her. I don't know what limbrel is.

I have used Lyrica. It is a medication to take pain out of nerves. It is being used for Fibromyalgia, nerve problems after bouts of shingles and possibly for diabetic neuropathy. It is also being used for migraines. I was on the med for a couple years. It helped some but did not stop all my pain. I didn't realize it helped until I came off of it. Off due to weight gain. I did not have any noticeable bad side effects. I could feel my nerves a buzz on windy days. I have not tried Cymbalta. It also is used for Fibromyalgia. When I came off Lyrica I began to get nerve spasms in my back and behind when I went to bed. Lyrica may have been masking the spasms. I began Nortriptyline (for Neuralgia) again and a wanted effect is that it stopped the spasms. It is not a cure. If I go off the med the spasms will return.

Tramadol is used by people with Fibromyalgia and I presume other conditions with pain. You can find comments in the Fibromyalgia board. I have not used Tramadol on a regular basis so I can't comment on it but many people find they can cope better with its use.

The disfigured hands/fingers happens with people with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Have your Doctors mentioned the possibility of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

I, too, have trouble opening jars. I must use an electric can opener. I have grabbers to pick things up and a dust pan with a long handle. My Husband helps too. Glad that you are getting help from your Husband.

My worst problem is my headaches. It was thought that it might be caused by the arthritis in my neck. Have you had any x-rays done? They would likely show signs of osteoarthritis.

Loring

Osteoarthrtis in Multiple Joints, Fibromyalgia, Neuralgia, Chronic Daily Headaches, I.B., Hard of Hearing...

Post Edited (Loring) : 10/22/2014 2:21:43 PM (GMT-6)

Loring,

Thanks for the reply.  I do have headaches also and figured it was from the neck problems.  I had an x-ray on my neck and hips last year and it did show arthritic changes as they worded it.

I have the tramadol for my neck issues and I guess it could help with the finger pain also.  The other medications I will hold off on for now.  I do not like taking new medications and when I got the tramadol, it took me a few months before I would even try one. 

You mentioned getting spasms in your back.  I have gotten some spasms in my back also, and recently had some in my side.  I do not get them too often, but occasionally it hits me.

The doctors do not think I have rheumatoid arthritis.  The osteoarthritis is causing the fingers to look a little crooked and I guess nodules can form.  I did look up pictures and there are different things that can happen.  What is weird is I have pain if I bump my fingers or they are squeezed.  I have to be careful when I clap because it hurts my fingers.  That was definitely a sign when the doctor pinched my finger joints and it hurt a lot.

I do not like feeling like I cannot do what I have always been able to do.  I am trying to make adjustments.  Of course the doctor said it will get worse.

Thanks again! 

Debi

Hi Everyone:

Degenerative changes in our bodies do occur in most people as we age. Some people have no symptoms. Others, like me, have pain. My Mother has much arthritis and at age 84 cannot get out much. She moves around in her house and two sisters help look after her. I can't drive to get to her to help. I am struggling too but if I could I would help her. Perhaps it could be hereditary.

Physiotherapists can help teach correct exercise and stretching, including for hands. I don't have pain in my fingers, at least not yet. I am sorry, Debi, that you have such pain in your hands. I do have carpal tunnel and Osteoarthritis in my wrists. I have to wear wrist braces to bed as my hands go numb. I do get tingling in my hands that comes and goes. I do exercise for my wrists and fingers. I can walk, but with pain.

No type of arthritis is fun to live with Debi, but Rheumatoid Arthritis must be diagnosed and treatment early can halt some of the deformities. I only speak from what I have read.

Is tramadol helping you?

Loring

Osteoarthritis in Multiple Joints, Fibromyalgia, Neuralgia, Chronic Daily Headaches, I.B., Hard of Hearing...