Stiff joints for the past few years (hands, inner elbows, wrists, toes etc) - Worried silly
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi all,
I'm 48. When I was 46 I started stiffness started in my fingers, inner elbows (you know that smaller joint on the inside if you face your palms up?), wrists, left ankle, left hip and toes. This all happened within a few months and terrified me. Over time, the stiffness has become a bit achy. Much worse in the morning but I get over it after about 5 minutes.
I was convinced I had RA (thanks Google!) and rang the docs. Got all the blood tests done, including anti-ccp, but all negative). I've had three lots of blood tests taken since then. Tried lots of random diets (low-carb, high carb, vegan, plant based, water fasting, dust (lol). All of this made absolutely no difference to my joints, but I have stuck with mainly plant based because I feel most energy on that. I also like animals so feel that it's more beneficial for the planet and selfishly, better for me. However, don't get me wrong, I'm no saint - I still eat and drink rubbish at times.
My GP hinted at the peri-menopause, but because I still have regular periods (albeit they are slightly closer together) so I dismissed it and inwardly rolled my eyes. However, I actually think they might be right. So my question is, can you have regular periods but still have symptoms? Is it the estrogen dropping?
Also can anyone relate to the absolute hell I've been through? When I started having these symptoms I actually had white fear and thought my future was bleak - thinking I had an incurable disease. It's been really tough few years.
Thanks for listening x
0 likes, 3 replies
Gypsy014 helen01355
Edited
Hello 46 is definitely not too young to start symptoms , and joint pains are for sure on the list..as well as a lot more crazy ones...the health anxiety is the worst because your just cruising along with life and then you are smacked with all these symptoms and then you start to Google and go to doctors and run all kinds of tests but tests come back negative then you start thinking its all in your head doctors want to give you antidepressants when its actually yes the lack of hormones that run your entire body.. Think of it like running your car low on gas and oil its going to sputter out! For me I started with bad joint pains excruciating.. Never felt anything like it.. My joints were red inflamed very hot to touch feet shoulders wrists fingers all of them ..mornings were like walking on rocks and hot coals ,, and the frozen shoulders were exactly that frozen could not lift to take off shirt couldn't even lift an inch so because joints are excruciating to move I would wrap them up as comfortably as tight as I could stand and wait for the pain to subside all the while keeping whichever joints that was flared up immobile,, that was my only relief.. And those gel pads you put in microwave and make hot , those are a life saver..but for me my blood tests definitely show positive for rheaumatoid arthritis.. And hashimotos all these autoimmune diseases I believe rear their ugly heads at perimenopause when hormones are declining..now for me its whatever I can do to make myself comfortable , pain wise.. And do what I can to keep flare ups at bay and autoimmune diseases in check.. And diet is key just like you said.. Lots of things can trigger flare ups food that you consume is one of them so anti-inflammatory foods are important..lots of water and yoga and easy exercise walking is good.. I don't ever over do it or I pay dearly.. And I suffer migraines with dizziness as well so that needs to stay in check best I can.. Even storms rolling thru and barometric pressure is horrible on the joints...bottom line is it probably will always be there these issues with our bodies because thats just the way it goes as we age lots of pains and issues .. But you can do what it takes to keep yourself comfortable as possible.. And on the really bad days when you need to stay in bed because you just have to then I do.. Lol hope this helps ...
helen01355 Gypsy014
Posted
Thank you!
You are so right with how it hits you. As you say, life is just plodding along and then suddenly you are hit by a ton of symptoms including ones you wouldn't expect from the peri-menopause. The doctors also offered me anti-depressents because when I went to see my GP I burst into tears as I didn't understand what was going on. Heck, these symptoms and Googling is enough to turn even the hardest person into a crumbling wreck.
I'm sorry that yours turned out to be RA, I hope that you do find relief from it. I think when you have high inflammation, diet is key to bringing it down (and correlates with the swollen/red joints). I don't have those symptoms - but I do have stiffness and aches. Although I don't find that diet doesn't improve my stiff joints, I do notice that if I drink alcohol or eat too much processed sugar that they ache more - so there's definitely something to that.
It's such a relief to find a forum like this and to know that you are not alone. I truly think we should be more educated more about what to expect. Everyone hears about the time leading up to menopause where your periods become erratic, night sweats, mood swings etc. But I had no idea that there were other symptoms.We get taught about puberty (at least in the UK) but it seems the menopause is hardly talked about and we just have to get on with it and suffer in silence not knowing what the heck is going on. If we know more what to expect then there will be less fear and far less health anxiety.
Helen x
sandeep08592 helen01355
Posted
yes Helen its perimenopause take Vit D. Its really helped me.
I seem to have other symptoms now dizziness and numbness in my hands