Fatigue and osteoarthritis ?

Mary, inflammatory arthritis is not gout.  Gout is in your feet.  You will have elevated uric acid in the body.  Blood tests will tell you what the type of arthritis you have.  Sorry you having discomfort and I pray your surgery goes well.  I am sending you a big hug!!!! 

Hi

You can get gout anywhere....in your knees is one place that it tends to head for so forget about gout.

As for arthritis there are over 100 types of arthritis ....gout being one of them. I'm a volunteer for arthritis care and when I read the list I was shocked. You tend to think Osteo arthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis but lots of things are arthritis that people dont think of as arthritis.  Gout, Fybromyalgia, lots of ones I cant even pronounce

Go to your GP, get him to refer you to your local hospial where you will see a rheumatologist and he will diagnose which one you have. Then once you know what you have you can start coping with it

Sorry I havent been much help

I've got OA in both hips, both replaced and the 2nd one didnt work so I'm permanently on crutches.

Seems to be going to both knees now. I'm going for an MRI tomorrow {Tue} to see what they say.

Kyphoscoliosis and lots of other things so I'm not talking from the angle of someone who knows nothing about it.

As for sleeping.....whats that ???

Let us know how you get on

Love

Eileen    UK

I can only imagine having that much pain. I'm sure you have tried everything possible, are you seeing an ortho dr. I don't understand why you have to work on top of this toture. If you have been seeing your dr for awhile, ask him/her about State Disability for now. At least you could rest. I'm so sorry for you! e

Mary

So sorry to hear you have OA and fibro Carol.  Me too - nasty arent they.  My GP told me that any form of arthritis can cause fatigue and not just because being in pain tires you out, its an actual symptom of the disease.  I had chronic fatigue from the OA even before I developed fibro, it just got worse after that   I keep telling my friends that they shoot horses in better condition that me *smile*. Trying to learn to take a rest when I need to instead of struggling to keep going through the pain barrier so to speak and then ending up totally slaughtered. 

Hello Loxie......I am glad I am not the ony one feeling like this - but many just don't understand and see what I am going through !!  It is probably because I STILL keep doing things which I find so difficult to do and leaves me with pain/tiredness afterwards.  What I can't manage, just doesn't get done !!!  Do you find also that when you over work or carry too much, your arms/legs feel so heavy?  That is the way it always is with me.....would like to be able to strengthen my muscles, but can't manage exercises, due to tiredness.  Often when I sit in a chair during the daytime, I just go to sleep.....something I never use to do or want to do - but my body seems to need it.  Todate I have never found a doctor that can really help me with  my problems.....they never give enough time or really understand.  How do you manage to keep going?

To answer the question how do I keep going - really - I have no idea, we just do dont we.  I'm finding it all very hard work to be honest.  I take note of all the helpful comments and 'good ideas' on forums like this but in reality it's still a struggle.  I dont think there's an easy answer, I just keep trying to cope daily with whatever new pain or symptom dumps on me.  I have OA in one ankle, in my upper spine, both thumb joints and because of the ankle I now have it in one knee.  I have extensive muscle pain and fatigue too.  Honestly ? There are days when I feel it's all not worth it but luckily that feeling doesn't last long and if I'm lucky something cheers me up again.  I get very short tempered, mainly due to the pain and exhaustion and then I feel guilty that I've snapped at someone trying to help me. I also get annoyed at myself for being such a whiner or a wimp.  hey ho.  Stress plays a huge part I believe in my tiredness.  I worry about things that need doing that I havent done or cant do.  I worry about losing my job - fortunately I work from home but even that gets too much at times.  I worry about going anywhere and how I'll manage to do the shopping or travel or visit someone etc.  I have stopped accepting invites to go out because I worry I won't cope with a long evening or activity.  Then I realise that all this worry is just making things worse and if I only just relax, it will help enormously.  Easier said than done eh.  The double whammy of things like arthritis, fibro, CFS, etc., is that one has to cope with the disease then on top one has to cope with the pure effort of doing anything 'normal'. 

I agree - over working and carrying are both killers.  I do some shopping and am careful not to lift anything too heavy but walking around a supermarket and even putting away groceries into cupboards etc will spark a flare up that can last a day or two.  Then I get upset at being so useless.  It's not just the pain or exhaustion, which are bad enough, its the loss of self esteem and self respect on top.  This all sounds dreadful and whiney - I try mostly to keep all this to myself and friends think I'm a jolly person but then in private I weep at times.  I look at disabled achievers - athletes, etc., who cope with terrible physical disability and feel such a loser but it's not just the disability of OA, its the overwhelming never ending pain and tiredness that get to me.  Sorry for being so downhearted, I just find these forums the only place people really understand what we're going through.  Youre right about doctors - most I ever get is about 5 minutes flat and am only permitted to speak about one single problem - when you have multiple issues it would be so much more helpful to be able to cover the problem wholistically, I'm sure many things are linked and should be treated in unison.

Carol,

I completely understand what you are saying about the quality of care given by alot of drs today. My sister had severe pain through out her cchest and left breast for 16 yrs, she went all over even New york with no relief. MRI's, Ct bla bla. Finally she found a dr who Listened and was able to give her some relif. So please don't stop looking for another dr, there are good ones who listeen. I feel for you!

Mary

Hello.....we sound similar how we cope with our pain and every day life.  I also get short tempered at times, when I can't manage like Others can...even older people can do more than myself.  I am always hoping that there is some medicine that will strengthen my muscles.  You say you have muscle pain, is that through weakness?  Shopping is also a great strain for me too....next day I am tireder and have more stiffness/pain.....but of course I still continue to do it.  What frustrates me so much, is that I get no help from my husband.....I don't think he realises there is anything wrong; but then he is lazy anyway!!!  So I am on my own with dealing with everything.  Unfortuntately our problems are not visible, though tiredness does show in our faces.....I think many believe we are just lazy when we don't do things around the home (I haven't been able to clean windows for years and my curtains need washing too....but I have noone to bring them down for me - so they are just left, which is terrible!!!) .  I always avoid appointments in the mornings because due to terrible stiffness/pain I can't get going until a few hours after getting up.  I am able to get more done in the evenings, if I haven't had a bad day......so go to bed always late and not before I am tired, otherwise I can't sleep.  I agree it is also the tiredness that gets me down.....my biggest hinderness - on small rests in between keep me going.

I see you have OA in your ankle....do you also have swelling?  I also wonder if I have it there too, because my ankles are always swollen and more so when it is hot.  I have been to doctors about this, but still don't know why my ankles get swollen....in the mornings they are normal.  I have OA in my joints......upper  and lower spine (maybe also shoulders),

knees and badly in all my fingers/thumbs.  The back of my hands are so shallow, as I have lost all the muscles there...giving me little strength in my hands.  I used to write /sew/knit a lot, but they are not possible for a long time now.  I tend to read books now, which I find very relaxing and take away stress (which I suffer with greatly) even for just a short time !!

A hobby helps to take stress and pain away, because it gives us pleasure.  This Forum is a great help too, as Others understand what we go through...it is awful being on our own with our problems.

In my case, I have two separate issues.  The first is OA.  My ankle developed it following a nasty accident which caused compound fracturing and subsequent loss of cartilage.  I had plates and bolts inserted and the ankle is somewhat misshapen now.  It isnt swollen most of the time however, only if I spend too much time walking or standing.  I've had issues with my thumb joints for many years, original diagnosed as tenosynivitis and now assumed to be OA, again they only get swollen if I over use them but generally its 'invisible' but extremely painful and restricting.  For the last three to four years I've had a more generalised pain syndrome with chronic fatigue and memory 'fog' which my GP initially thought may be fibromyalgia.  This affects my muscles in arms, legs, back and midriff but is not anything to do with joints as the OA is.  It is there all the time but when I'm stressed or try to do too much it flares up and is truly horrible.  I was referred to a neurologist, primarily because of the memory and cognitive issues, who stated I definitely didnt have any neurological cause, that the fatigue and memory issues were probably caused by the pain wearing me down.  He referred me for an MRI scan which I had recently.  This showed I had OA in the top of the spine (OA the disease that keeps on giving!).  This is now causing me neck, upper back and shoulder pain but again isn't directly linked to the muscle and soft tissue pain I also have.  I then insisted my GP refer me to a rheumatologist.  3 months later I got seen.  She doesn't seem to think its fibro but may be excess iron in the blood (haemochromatosis), which can cause liver damage and heart problems (oh great joy).  She referred me for blood tests and I'm still awaiting the results of those.  I sense that my muscles are weakening or shrinking but I've taken to measuring my biceps and realistically the loss of muscle tone is very slight and probably only because I can no longer go swimming which I used to do frequently.  It's difficult to explain but the mind thinks the muscles are withering because they feel so weak but really they arent, theyre only weak because of the pain experienced.  I'm no further forward as to a diagnosis for the muscle and lower back pain therefore.  I appreciate I'm stuck with the OA and to be honest no matter how painful that is, I sort of 'understand' it because it's been diagnosed and at least I know what I need to do to minimise the symptoms if possible.  Its frustrating to need help to do things I used to do myself but most of the time I find ways around the difficulties.  The undiagnosed fibro type symptoms are the ones that are hard to deal with and I'm exhausted trying to find a cause and a cure!

Hi Loxie,

I have OA and I had surgery (6/29/16) for 1st, 2nd metatarsals, still recovering. I've had severe pain in my foot for 5 yrs. In my hands which I stopped over using them and the pain stopped. I also get Buchards nodules on my hands, ugly,!. But, my question is I also have Hemochrotosis for yrs. I get phlebotomies to get my ferratin down. Why did the Dr suspect hemochromotosis for you? Why the t tests? I agree overuse with OA is the cuulprit but, sometimes you can't help it!.1 Good Luck, mary

So sorry to hear of your problems Mary, my sympathies.  The Rheumatologist just said she wasn't convinced my issues were fibro and then started talking about her suspicions about haemochromatosis.  She said aches, particularly back ache around the liver area, tenderness on the skin in that area and chronic fatigue, plus the increase in arthritis locations I have are symptomatic of excess iron and said a ferritin test would determine if that was the cause or not.  She did say that if the test proved positive I would need regular blood taken - small price to pay if it prevents serious liver damage or heart damage and eases my symptoms.

The problem with OA is sometimes it just flares up for no reason even if I havent overused the joint but usually I can get the pain to bearable levels with low doses of anti inflamms and natural remedies.  The muscle aches I have dont seem to respond to absolutely anything yet.

It's great if you have nipped this hemochromatosis in the bud then you can get started on the phlebotomies. No need to feel soory for me I have no pain or discomfort, I'm just glad I finally found out. Mine ferratin was 1840, dr wants it to be >100. I'm a registered nurse and accidenly got stuck by a needle, after numerous tests they found the high ferratin. From there I went to a Hematologist, Dr, and get tested every 4 months. Do this or there could be serious damage. Hope you start feeling better.

Mary

Not sure if I should be happy or sad but they have ruled out haemochromatosis, my ferritin levels were okay.  Good that I dont have a serious condition that needs long term treatment, not so good that I'm back to square one in not knowing what is causing the terrible pain and fatigue symptoms I have.  I'm still on the merry go round of being referred here there and everywhere, waiting six months at a time each time only to be referred somewhere else.  I did have a brief appointment with a physio therapist and whilst he didnt actually do any therapy, he did sit and talk - and more importantly listen, and said he regularly sees patients with fibro and he is convinced from hearing my range of symptoms that it is fibro.  He said there are new spinal fluid tests that can positively identify things like lowered levels of dopamine etc., which are a more efficient way of diagnosing it rather than the imprecise method of testing 'pressure points' previously used.  Back on the treadmill of doctor/rheumy/etc etc I guess.

Thank you for mentioning this Fybromyalgia as a probable cause of 'realted pain'. I thought my pain in the groin and back were related to the rcently diagnosed OA in my right hip (by MRI). I'm due an injection in my hip in a couple of weeks and if that does not provide relief I'm going to ask for tests for Fybro. I seem to have developed auto immune conditions since a flue jab in 2014, including problems with my gut (have thought it was gluten intolerance, which it might be of course). 

Fatigue, poor sleep and not being able to walk much is the worst thing though and what I can only describe as mild depression and increased anxiety about my health does not help. 

Good luck with your situation.