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22 years old with possible Osteoarthritis?

Posted , 8 users are following.

davis04688
davis04688

I've just sumbled upon this possibility and I'm absolutely heartbroken.

I'm 22, healthy weight and healthy. About 2 years ago, I started to experience tonnes of pain in my body. First it was shoulder impingement. Next, it was my back. My back pain isn't too bad. When I turn my neck or bend my upper back/neck will sometimes hurt. I often times experience a sharp pain down my back, going through the shoulder blades. My lower back flares up after lifting or activity.

Next is my lower body. I apparantly have misalinged hips.pelvis according to my chiropractor. My right leg often times gets strained after exercise or  overuse, expecially when I don't stretch it. My knees aren't as bad as they was before, but I do have pain from a bakers cyst behind my left knee. On Occassion, I feel groin, hip flexor and shin pain.

It was much worse before. Now I can actually run and do things like play basketball although I have to limit it. Before, I could barely go a day at work without feeling back and leg pain... I've cut out some habits like drinking coca cola and sitting on my mattress.

I read the symptoms for osteoarthritis and I feel like they fit in with me, especially waking up with pain. I wake up with a stiff body that goes away after a couple minutes. I also have a job that involves some heavy lifting. My pain doesn't severly interfere with my life, but I'm unable to do a lot of physical acitivites (lifting for example).

I'm going to my doctor to get it checked out. What do you think?

0 likes, 66 replies

66 Replies

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  • CelsB
    CelsB davis04688

    Posted

    Hi Davis, it is possible to have OA at a young age but there are of course other skeletal and muscle problems that can cause very similar symptoms. Only an Xray will show wear and tear in the joints and it's probably the first thing you need to get done to confirm whether you have OA or not.  Ask your GP.

    I hope you get it sorted.

  • ken25066
    ken25066 davis04688

    Posted

    That's not osteoarthritis. Osteo affects one area at a time like hands or spine. Having multiple sites sounds more like rheumatoid arthritis. See a rheumatologist ASAP. You are too young to be in pain all the time and there are a lot of things he can do for you.
  • sparkle1
    sparkle1 davis04688

    Posted

    As a medic, i think its very unlikely you have OA and believe you shoudl go back to your GP and ask to be referred to a rheumatologist? for an accurate diagnosis as sounds very unlikely to me. 

    No need to be heartbroken until you know whats wrong with you.   I'd forget the chiropracter until e.g. the rheumatologist can show you an x-ray and show you exactly what is wrong with you as your symptoms and age dont suggest OA. 

  • davis04688
    davis04688

    Posted

    I just came back from the doctors office. My doctor gave me a blood test and referred me for a bone scan to see what is wrong. I hope to get his issue resolved.
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 davis04688

      Posted

      Glad you are getting things checked out! You are young and getting answers will let you get back to enjoying life again!

      Keep us posted on your progress!

  • dennis50814
    dennis50814 davis04688

    Posted

    I cannot find the thread I originally posted in.

    I have Bone on Bone and in severe pain especially when i have been walking. The pain is bad and my knees seem as if they are burning.

    ​Been to see my GP today and he tells me I am too young for a knee replacement. He's not a very nice bloke to deal with, something like Dr Martin in the TV series.#

    It's a group practice and everything goes through him sonopoint getting another appointment with them.

    ​I'm 59 and always been active. I'm a plasterer by trade who cannot apply his trade because of the severity. I expressed my situation and he tells me it's in my mind? yes this is whgat type of Dr I'm up against. I even asked him if Volterol does any good, he just shrugged his shoulders and said " No " 

    ​I then got a bit annoyed and he could see this, he asked why I would want to go through such an operation when I can stand up! He tells me I'm not in enough pain and it doesn't bother me as much as he'd expected it to. I demanded to see a surgeon and have X ray's so the surgeon/specialist can judge for himself.

    ​I am missing out on so many social events in my life, I'm at an age where I want to enjoy life not to be imobile and wait until I'm way beyond health to do so.

    ​My GP gave in and sent me for an initial consultation but this will be early next year.

    Heads he wins tails I lose.

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 dennis50814

      Posted

      Go see another doctor!

      My physical therapist had BOTH KNEES replaced at age 42. She was in great pain.

      Within a year she felt better than ever.

      Four years later she walks pain-free and is working full-time.

      Pain and BONE-ON-BONE doesn't just go away. No sense wasting many good years waiting ...in pain.

  • davis04688
    davis04688

    Posted

    Hi everyone.

    I'm very curious again and starting to worry a little bit. I'm starting to notice (probably has gone on before) that I have some tingling in my lower legs. It's not really painful, but it's just odd and annoying. Could this be a symptom?

  • sparkle1
    sparkle1 davis04688

    Posted

    This is NOT a sign of OA.   You shoudl go back to your GP and say tat you are fearful and ask to be referred to a Rheumatolgist. You are in danger of being unnecessarily fearful, esepecially listening to others on these boards. Dont be frightened. Just ang your GP until someone can show you to yoursatisfaction what s wrong with you or reassure you that it is nothign serious. Dont be frightened. Go back to your GP. Start with a rheumatolgost. Sounds to me like you have persuaded them to do blood tests (which will be able to tell if you have e.g. rheumatoid arthritis or not). Sounds lie the GP is on the case to me and is takign the right steps to reassure and check nothing serous is wrong.  The Rheumatologst will be able to shw you to your satisfaction if you have an arthritic issue or not but it is unlikely at your age. IF you are unlucky, which is not particuarly likely, then your GP will put you under the ongoign care of a rheumatologist. The latest drugs are superb compared to even5 years ago so there is no need to panic at all.  Try and control the fear of the unknown until yu have an accuae diganosis. You are ain danger of letting the fear on the unknwon and future worry you unnecessarily.  Nag your GP until he/she or a specialist can provide you an accurate diagnosis.  I'd honestly ignore most other posts on this board until you have an accurate diganosis as they can be unnesesarily scary needlessly.      Ask your GP to refer you to a Rheumatolgoy consulatant. Irrespective of what this board syas they will be able to set your mind at rest and if you do have arthritis (and it seems unlikely to me from what you say) then they will be able to show you and work out a plan of action so you can move forwards. Dont be frightened. But do nag your GP and tell him you are worrried. 

     

    • davis04688
      davis04688 sparkle1

      Posted

      Thanks for the advice, but it's just hard to control.

      When my blood was taken, the girl said that if there were any problems or unnatural patterns, they would call me. Should I still go in and ask to be refered to a Rheumatolgist? My doctor only mentioned Rhematoid arthritis, not Osteo.

      Are you basing your post based on what I posted in the opening paragraph?

    • sparkle1
      sparkle1 davis04688

      Posted

      Hi, 

      try not to worry - the fear of the unknown is sometimes greater than the reality.   The blood tetss will show if you have a rheumatoid factor. From this simple test they will be able to see if you have rheumatoid arthritis or not. The GP will want to discard this to start with. If it is positive, he/seh will undoubtedly refer you to a rheumatology consultant. No-one on this board so far is commenting on rheumatoid arthritis so you should ignore all posts here.   At your age, IF 0 and it is a big IF - you have RA - then this is an anti-inflammatory disease and the treatment is entirely different to osteo. You woudl be put on the latest biologic drugs to control it (and it is likely nowadays to be controlled). However, whilst you might be worried there is currently no need to fear.  When do you get back the results of your blood tests? These dont normally tale too long. The blood test will categorically show you if you have RA. IF you do, then you will be referred to a Consultant Rheumatologist.  IF you dont have a rheumatoid factor, then the GP might refer you to a rheumatologost anyway to do some more tests to rule out other things. I know  its difficult to not be frightened, but yur mid is playing tricks on you. Sometimes just say to your brain " shut up! i will wait and see whether i have this or not. Utnil then i wont listen to you and i will wait to see what the tests show." your brain kind of talks to you and maes you worried unnecessarily sometimes. Be strong and tell it to shut up, sleep as well as you can - i know its worrying; ask your GP when you will get the results and you can only live one day at a time. I think you are storng enough to live today and you can probably get through tomorrow and thats all that needed until you get an accurate diagnosis. The fear of the unknown is overcoming you. Dont let it. Be strong. Find out when you get your blood test results and book an appointment with your GP to discuss next steps. It would be incredibly rare if you have OA and given your GP has done blood tests i think he/she thinks it is unlikely as well.  you are in danger of being controlled by fear. Dont be. There is no need. Just tell your brain when it talks to you " I am worreid but i shall wait until i know the results and now i am goign to sleep as once i know the results then they will be able to help me get better."  It might be difficult but you will look back on this and realise it made you stronger as a person and hopefully when bad things happen in the future you will look back and think " hey, i can cope with this".   You do NOT know if you have a serious issue at the moment. You are waiitng for a diagnosis. EVEN IF you have RA, then in the last 5 years, the advent of biolgics has revoltionised treatment and contnue to do so. DO NOT be afraid. Your GP is on the case and the very fact he has ordered blodd tests is simply to check you do NOT have RA. If n the unliekly event you do then your GP is on the case and WILL refer you to a specialist who will care for you and help you. You are right to be wrorried until you know otherwise - this is natural - but you are in danger of being crippled by fear. That fear will disspiate when you ahev a diagnosis you believe. You are on the right road to find out what is wrong with you. The GP will not mind you phoning and explaining you are really worried. You wont have very long to wait for the blood tests. They will either put your mind at ease or you will be referred to a specilaist who will help you. Thus you will not have long to wait. No-one on this board will be able to help you really in the meantime as you really truly need an accutate dignosis. Then you know what you are dealing with. It is very unlikely to be OA as none of what you describe is a symptom at your age.  If you are very worried, then i;d call the GP in the morning explain you are really worried but they probably can't alleviate that worry until they have the blood tests.  

  • sparkle1
    sparkle1 davis04688

    Posted

    Hi, 

    Wait and see what the blood tests show. If they show nothing in particular and your GP doesn;t think you have arthritis, then its possible to go to a podiatrist who will monitor your gait. They stick things which look like buttons from your neck to your toes and pop an insole in your shoe. They have infra read things on and then they video you. The resulting computer images will show if there is an imbalance in your gait as you walk or run. They will then be able to use this to give to a physio to correct your gait / give you a treatment plan so that your legs etc are balanced.   I went to one in London who looks after Arsenal football team. You can use the internet and type in something like gait analysis.  But I wouldn't do this until you have the results from the GP from your blood tests.  

  • davis04688
    davis04688

    Posted

    Well there's a bit of good news today. I called into my doctors office and asked for the blood test results. I was told by the receptionist that there were no flags or notes made by the doctor, meaning that everything is OK.

    Should I still ask to be referred to a rheumatologist? I've had much less anxiety today, but I just want to make sure.

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 davis04688

      Posted

      Great to hear! So glad you got the blood tests!

      Not sure what to tell you about your next step.

      The GOOD THING is they have been able to eliminate issues. A diagnosis doesn't always come quickly!

      There are people here with good ideas for you. Keep looking on your thread for them!

      Good news today for you! Yea!!!

    • susan67756
      susan67756 davis04688

      Posted

      If your doctor thought a referal to a rheumatologist was warranted he'd have made the referal. I'm all for putting up a fight if you doubt the doctor but there's is absolutly nothing about this that indicates anything other than muscle imbalance going on, so if your doctor isn't suspecting anything I don't see any cause to argue with him over it. It'll only serve to hold up addressing the true cause of your problems.

      If the doctor wants to rule anything else out then you should go along with it. You could ask for a physio referal but that will take months and I can tell you now that NHS phsyios aren't trained to deal with complex imbalances. In your shoes my first step would be to find a good local private physio - one that lists addressing muscle imbalances or movement impairments as a speciality. Get one appointment with them just to see what they have to say. Have a good think about what he has to say - run it by us. Then decide your next move. It can sometimes be a really simple fix - just one lazy muscle not working can wreak havoc - fire it up and the most complex of problems can fix themselves very quickly. Crazy to sit and worry when you could get an appointment within a day or two that could provide you with very useful information - and possibly even an accurate diagnosis.

      Better to take steps to diagnose what it probably is and get to work fixing it than spending months of anxiety trying to rule out all the things that are remotely possible yet highly unlikley. Trust that your doc is looking out for all the sinister possibilities - that's what they're good at!

      Great news though.

       

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