get a second opinion or wait.....
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Recently I had a flare of sorts of joint pain I have had for a few years (toes, knees), and hip pain that started in Aug., and elbow pain since Jan. I went to a rheum. to check a possible auto immune issue, since I also have late onset Raynauds.
He basically told me I didn't get enough sleep and that's why I was experiencing so much pain. (Even though I get more sleep now than a year ago before my hysterectomy) anyway.....He didn't seem interested in the raynauds. Didn't even look at my feet or knees or elbows. He poked my hip and ordered an ultrasound there.
They did find hip bursitis and a "knot" in my IT band. So I got a cortisone injection in my hip bursa and down my IT band. And he gave me a script for a week of 500 mg acetaminophen 3x/day, Meloxacam 7.5 1x/day and Gabupentin 600 mg at bedtime for this "flare" of what he didn't say. My joint pain, I guess.
So now that I'm off the meds for a week, the pain is back but much improved. He did do some bloodwork, which he said was normal. This is what he ran:
ESR Bld Qn Westrgrn 4.0 mm/hr
Rheumatoid fact Ser-aCnc <10
CRP SerPl-mCnc <0.30
cCP IgG Ser-aCnc <8.0
ANA Ser Ql Negative
HLA-B27 Bld Ql FC Negative
So, also.....I didn't really like this guy all that much. I wanted originally to get a second opinion. I had an appointment set for April 5th with another rheum. But now......given my bloodwork and lessened pain, I am questioning that. Coming off all the drugs with less pain now.....what could they really see or tell me? I would like someone else's take on the whole situation, but really if you look at just the main facts.....l don't know what else they would do.
Should I go and tell them all I've been through with this other guy......or just wait until something new comes up and then go? It does take a couple months to get in, so I hate to cancel an appointment if there is some insight they can give me. I am just starting to feel like a crazy person chasing a diagnosis....which is not what I want.
I just really want to know what this all is, so I know how to deal with it the best way, if that makes sense?
Would you guys go to a second rheum, based on what the first one already did? Do you think they could tell anything after a week of RX anti-inflammatory pain meds? What would you do?
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