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Multiple join pain - Drs refuse to do anything more?

Posted , 6 users are following.

FlopsyFlo
FlopsyFlo

For about 2 years now I've been suffering with joint pain (particularly hands and knees). Fingers feel stiff and tight and its more difficult to make a fist. Had bloods done for rheumatoid factor in 2015 but negative. Was told to do 'physio' at home, seen Drs again after that failed to work and all said that I work too much etc (I only work 35 hrs/week). 

Last week I couldn't sleep all monday night as I had a rash on my joints (toes, ankles, knees, hips, elbows and shoulders) and my fingers had swollen up like little sausages. Went to the doctors, they only had nurse appointments and she prescribed me antihistamines for a week. Week on the rash had gone but swelling of fingers, knees and ankles were coming and going. Today I went to doctors as they finally had an appointment available, no swelling currently but hands stiff especially since the swelling...she told me that I use my hands too much and I need to rest them ?!?! Is this not the most ridiculous thing ever??? She said this all smiley and I was on the verge of tears. 

I feel like there must be something going on   ? I'm only 22 but my body shouldn't be feeling like this!! :-(

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Gloria814
    Gloria814 FlopsyFlo

    Posted

    sorry to hear what happened at both of your appointments.   I have had joint pain on and off for several yrs and my rheumatoid factor is always normal.  My fingers swell and are painful so the doc ordered xrays of both hands.  It showed erosions and he ordered MRI of both.   Diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis and started on MTX

    IT does take awhile to get a diagnosis so sometimes you have to be persistent or switch Mds.    Wishing you improved health and ability to find a doc who listens and keeps trying to determine what is causing your pain and swellling.      Hopefully you can get some relief from nonsteroidal pills if you are able to take them for now

  • natasa24657
    natasa24657 FlopsyFlo

    Posted

    Hi flopsyflo

    Sorry to hear your doctors are not listening to you. I have zero negative arthritis and they only found this out as I went straight to A & E with an arm ache and kept me in after they gave me a blood test and my blood showed I had elevated liver function then they said I had arthritis So now I am on Sulfasalazine. I would insist they refer you to rheumatologist to chech it out.

    Good luck

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 FlopsyFlo

    Posted

    Can you get to see another Dr, the one you have seems hopeless.

    Couple of tests they could do are RA factor, ESR and CRP, you may have a negative RA factor, but that doesn;t mean you don;t have some form of arthritis, just not rheumatoid.

    When you hands are swollen get some photos, with your mobile phone of your hands, put a pen or pencil in the picture to show the comparision. Don;t give up, took me months to get somebody to listen to me as well, eventually collapsed on the floor at home, and couldn;t get up until helped, then taken to emergency room, where young Dr tested my blood for that ESR, hugely elevated which told them something was wrong, eventually diagnosed with psorasis arthiritis, hugley swollen hands, wrists, shoulders, and terribly stiff joints, espiaclly first thing in the morning. Medication has helped, even then has taken a chemists shop of tablets to finally find the right tablets that don;t make me worse.

  • Light
    Light FlopsyFlo

    Posted

    See another Dr and get them t refer you to a rheumatologist. If you are iin the UK?  it is your right see whichever Dr you want.

    20% witn RA r sero negative. Many GPs donlt know that.

    Other advice here is good too.

     

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