osteoarthritis

fin7

Hi, I bought my daughter a pair of touch screen gloves in the pound shop, she has an iPhone and says the gloves are really good.

Fin

bigjl

Payless wrote: »

I haven't seen a rheumatologist. My GP just says that she can tell it's osteoarthritis by how it looks. I've had no tests but I am seeing a podiatrist on Friday. However, she did say that I am young to have osteoarthritis this bad. I'm 51.

I thought that Raynards affected the ends of your fingers and turned them white. It's mainly my middle knuckles that are affected and they are red, hot and swollen.

If your joints are red and hot to the touch it could indicate some form of inflammatory arthritis.

I had sero negative inflammatory arthritis for years before I was diagnosed by a senior physio that decided he would do some blood tests, the inflammatory markers came back as fifty or sixty times normal levels and I was referred to a rheumy, a very well known one called Dr Kelsey, who has now retired.

I had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the cervical spine in 2004 and osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine in 2008.

I would be concerned that you may have been misdiagnosed.

I also have problems with fine motor skills that you have.

My advise, as a retired HCP and arthritis sufferer, is to ask your GP to check all your inflammatory markers.

If it is inflammatory arthritis of some sort them medication can slow the damage.

I have used natural anti inflammatories from Holland & Barrett that helped me, perhaps you could go to your nearest shop and ask for advice on what supplements might help you.

Obviously you may want to discuss this with your GP before hand, though he or she doesn't appear to have a very open mind.

tanith

Your problem does sound more like some kind of inflammatory Arthritis with all the redness and swelling.. I've had O/A for 20 odd years, fingers, wrists, spine (one surgery so far), hips (one replaced), ankles. Its a case of adapting your life/job to manage the condition. I also find swimming and walking invaluable for keeping the joints moving and the muscles strong to stabilise the dodgy joints..
I'd really see your GP and ask for a referral to a Rheumatologist just to check that diagnosis

Payless_2

Thanks all. The swelling and redness in my fingers has gone down now. I do a lot of walking in my job and I don't drive so don't have a choice. I'm seeing the podiatrist today and there is still some swelling in one of my feet so I'm going to ask his/her opinion. I can't swim butmay have to learn. The swelling went down when the weather warmed up!

The allergic reaction to anti inflammitories was very recent and severe. I'm wondering if this and my continual post nasal drip might all be connected.

bigjl

Don't forget that there is a difference between a sensitivity and a full blown allergic reaction.

If you are having gastrointestinal pain or upset the. Discuss it with your GP.

He may be able to prescribe something that can reduce any problems

If it was an anaphalactic reaction that is obviously much different.

Don't give up on anti inflammatories.

There are many more than you may think.

Not many people realise that Aspirin is actually a non steroidal anti inflammatory (NSAID).

Also a short course of steroids can have profound effects in an inflammatory condition.

To back and discuss your problem with your GP.

Don't write off NSAIDs till you try all be options.

As an example I took Diclofenac a few years ago and had ex ruciating abdo cramps.

But I tried again and took it only after a large meal rather than just after eating along with some milk and I was all good.

Try for a referral for a physio and then mention if there are any blood tests they could do to assist your GP in his/her diagnosis.

Payless_2

I was taking diclofenac after surgery and my blood pressure plummeted, I broke out in hives all over and my face and legs swelled up! My friend had to call an ambulance.

davsidipp

Brassedoff wrote: »

Errr, could you not just look for another job in doors rather than looking to claim benefit?

Where has this culture come from?

reported damm rude!

bigjl

Payless wrote: »

I was taking diclofenac after surgery and my blood pressure plummeted, I broke out in hives all over and my face and legs swelled up! My friend had to call an ambulance.

If this was a reaction to Diclofenac then it may not indicate that you can no longer take any NSAIDs.

You could be allergic to the chemicals used in the courting of that particular brand of Diclofenac.

Before you dismiss a group of medicines that are very useful to the conditions you have you need to discuss this issues properly with either your Practice Nurse or your GP, only then can you make an informed decision.

You will not be the first or last person to wrongly assume an allergy is related to every similar drug.

Or, indeed to be given worse case scenario advice at A/E, they are usually over cautious which given the level of decisions they have to make with so little patient contact time and medical Hx you can understand their position totally.

Above all posting on here won't sort the problem, and believe me you want to sort this now whilst it is still relatively manageable.

You really don't want to experience the side effects of mess like Sulphasalazine or Methotrexate.

They make most side effects seem like a walk in the park.

Ellejmorgan

I was diagnosed with OA at 30..I have it in my spine, neck, shoulder, arm and foot...

I think a refferral to a rheumatologist and perhaps the pain clinic should be sought..
Also making sure you are medicated might help, so make an app with your GP before you do anything drastic..

I do understand, I can't go out in the cold at all as its too painful...defiantly push for help and go from there..

Brassedoff

davsidipp wrote: »

reported damm rude!

Rude? Suggesting the same as a few others on the thread that a change of job may be an option. I changed what I did completely. I am able to work from bed, but then I decided to do that instead of curling up and crying about it, looking how best I can get benefits.

If someone has a problem with their knees that prevents them from walking all day long as part of their job, they have to look to something different. Should a computer operator lose a few fingers, the same may need to be considered, a change of job.

Some people are able to use their intelligence and say they are not prepared to lay down, not prepared to curl up into a corner to be kicked by the state apparatus and change direction.

Note the same was suggested by not only me, but McKneff and Pauliboo.

Yet it's easier to shout offence as the armchair benefit experts on here look to only have one avenue of advice on here.


I am pleased the OP appears to have resolved the issue to their satisfaction. Good on them.