Guest guest Posted November 14, 2002 Report Share Posted November 14, 2002 Hello everyone, My name is Ruth, I am 24 years old and live in BC Canada. Since I was little, I've had problems with my bones, I've had three operations (bi-lateral bunionectomy to those who know medical jargon) but I've always had pain in my feet. At first my doctors (family doctor, pediatrist and surgeon) thought it was merely the bunions (a bone deformity, not a burr) and the subsequent operations, but the operation should have cleared up the discomfort, and from what I understand I should never have had as much pain pre- op that I did. (I wasn't able to participate in gym class in grade 10 due to extreme pain). After testing and investigation, my family doctor has diagnosed me with oestio arthritis (please excuse my spelling). This arthritis is not a disease like Rhuematoid arthritis, it's a " wear and tear " arthritis and normally is only found in adults over 50! Here is where I am now. I know what I have... the pain I feel daily is in my feet (of course lol) and ankles, sometimes my knees... in my knuckles on my hands especially, sometimes my wrists. My joints pop and snap when I stretch, and I ache more during cooler weather. I think the hardest part of all this for me is how hard it is to be active.. I find I love swimming, it takes weight off my joints and I feel light and free, but other activities aren't a possibility for me (not for long anyway). I know this group is more for things like rheumatoid arthritis, but I hope that I'll be permitted to participate... I'm having trouble finding methods of reducing pain and it's starting to affect me emotionally. Thanks in advance for any welcomes or support. Regards, Ruth ----------------------- The Craft Hall - http://crafthall.netfirms.com All-Crafts - All-Crafts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2002 Report Share Posted November 14, 2002 Welcome Ruth. Sorry about your arthritis pain at such a young age. I was dx¹d with RA in my early 20¹s and know how much it takes away from us. I¹m curious about how your doctor came up with the diagnoses of osteoarthritis rather than RA. Have you ever seen a rheumatologist? You are welcome to join us. Not everyone here has RA, although we are the majority. Many of us have osteo in addition to other dx¹s. We¹re a mixed group. My worse joints are my ankles and feet and I know how limiting it is. Swimming is also my favorite thing to do. It¹s so great to be able to move so freely with so little pain. a > Hello everyone, > > My name is Ruth, I am 24 years old and live in BC Canada. Since I > was little, I've had problems with my bones, I've had three > operations (bi-lateral bunionectomy to those who know medical > jargon) but I've always had pain in my feet. At first my doctors > (family doctor, pediatrist and surgeon) thought it was merely the > bunions (a bone deformity, not a burr) and the subsequent > operations, but the operation should have cleared up the discomfort, > and from what I understand I should never have had as much pain pre- > op that I did. (I wasn't able to participate in gym class in grade > 10 due to extreme pain). > > After testing and investigation, my family doctor has diagnosed me > with oestio arthritis (please excuse my spelling). This arthritis is > not a disease like Rhuematoid arthritis, it's a " wear and tear " > arthritis and normally is only found in adults over 50! > > Here is where I am now. I know what I have... the pain I feel daily > is in my feet (of course lol) and ankles, sometimes my knees... in > my knuckles on my hands especially, sometimes my wrists. My joints > pop and snap when I stretch, and I ache more during cooler weather. > > I think the hardest part of all this for me is how hard it is to be > active.. I find I love swimming, it takes weight off my joints and I > feel light and free, but other activities aren't a possibility for > me (not for long anyway). > > I know this group is more for things like rheumatoid arthritis, but > I hope that I'll be permitted to participate... I'm having trouble > finding methods of reducing pain and it's starting to affect me > emotionally. > > Thanks in advance for any welcomes or support. > > Regards, > Ruth > ----------------------- > The Craft Hall - http://crafthall.netfirms.com > All-Crafts - All-Crafts > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2002 Report Share Posted November 14, 2002 Hi Ruth...Welcome to our family. We are all familiar with arthritis in one form or another. I've been to B.C. several times and found it quite lovely. I live in NW Oregon about 60 miles from the Pacific. I'm a Mom to 4 grown children and Grammi to 2. I hope you find as much support & comfort here as I do. Hugs of Hope... Tess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2002 Report Share Posted November 14, 2002 Thanks for the welcome a, > I¹m curious about how your doctor came up with the diagnoses of osteoarthritis rather than RA. Have you ever seen a rheumatologist? Thinking I might have had rhematoid arthritis (based on the symptoms that they *finally* believed I had) he ordered blood tests. As you know rheumatoid arthritis can be detected in the blood. Those came back negative, so he did tests for osteo and sure'nuff. I haven't seen a rheumatologist, my doctor isn't horribly attentive (I'm currently seeking a new one) and simply told me to go buy some arthritis cream and use it as needed. I'd like to point out that it's not been helping me. (Applying it actually hurts more, because my hands get such a work out!!) Once I have a new family doctor I'll be able to ask for a referal to a specialist. Thanks again for the warm welcome. Regards, Ruth ----------------------- The Craft Hall - http://crafthall.netfirms.com All-Crafts - All-Crafts > Welcome Ruth. Sorry about your arthritis pain at such a young age. I was > dx¹d with RA in my early 20¹s and know how much it takes away from us. I¹m > curious about how your doctor came up with the diagnoses of osteoarthritis > rather than RA. Have you ever seen a rheumatologist? > You are welcome to join us. Not everyone here has RA, although we are the > majority. Many of us have osteo in addition to other dx¹s. We¹re a mixed > group. My worse joints are my ankles and feet and I know how limiting it > is. Swimming is also my favorite thing to do. It¹s so great to be able to > move so freely with so little pain. > a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2002 Report Share Posted November 14, 2002 Hello Tess, nice to meet you. I hope I'll enjoy the group as much as you as well. Thank you for the warm welcome. Regards, Ruth ----------------------- The Craft Hall - http://crafthall.netfirms.com All-Crafts - All-Crafts > Hi Ruth...Welcome to our family. We are all familiar with arthritis in > one form or another. I've been to B.C. several times and found it quite > lovely. I live in NW Oregon about 60 miles from the Pacific. I'm a Mom > to 4 grown children and Grammi to 2. > > I hope you find as much support & comfort here as I do. > > Hugs of Hope... > > Tess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2002 Report Share Posted November 14, 2002 Ruth, My blood tests are negative for RA. It¹s called sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis. Did your doctor order any x-rays? Here is a website that has the differences between OA and RA. http://www.fauxpress.com/kimball/med/ortho/osteo/3.htm Osteoarthritis is a deterioration of cartilage and overgrowth of bone often due to " wear and tear " . Rheumatoid arthritis is the inflammation of a joint¹s connective tissues, such as the synovial membranes, which leads to the destruction of the articular cartilage. They both destroy the cartilage, but you are so young for OA. RA treated early minimizes the destruction. The earlier it is treated, the better the outcome, so it is important to see a rheumatologist if you suspect your doctor is wrong. I hope you get a new doctor soon and it's one that cares about you! a > Thanks for the welcome a, > >> I¹m curious about how your doctor came up with the diagnoses of > osteoarthritis rather than RA. Have you ever seen a rheumatologist? > > Thinking I might have had rhematoid arthritis (based on the symptoms > that they *finally* believed I had) he ordered blood tests. As you > know rheumatoid arthritis can be detected in the blood. Those came > back negative, so he did tests for osteo and sure'nuff. I haven't > seen a rheumatologist, my doctor isn't horribly attentive (I'm > currently seeking a new one) and simply told me to go buy some > arthritis cream and use it as needed. I'd like to point out that > it's not been helping me. (Applying it actually hurts more, because > my hands get such a work out!!) Once I have a new family doctor I'll > be able to ask for a referal to a specialist. > > Thanks again for the warm welcome. > > Regards, > Ruth > ----------------------- > The Craft Hall - http://crafthall.netfirms.com > All-Crafts - All-Crafts > > > > >> Welcome Ruth. Sorry about your arthritis pain at such a young > age. I was >> dx¹d with RA in my early 20¹s and know how much it takes away from > us. I¹m >> curious about how your doctor came up with the diagnoses of > osteoarthritis >> rather than RA. Have you ever seen a rheumatologist? >> You are welcome to join us. Not everyone here has RA, although we > are the >> majority. Many of us have osteo in addition to other dx¹s. > We¹re a mixed >> group. My worse joints are my ankles and feet and I know how > limiting it >> is. Swimming is also my favorite thing to do. It¹s so great to > be able to >> move so freely with so little pain. >> a > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2002 Report Share Posted November 14, 2002 Hello again a, Yes it's OA. I know the difference between the two, and as my doctor puts it (the one prior to my absentminded one, an actually good doctor lol) I have " old bones " . My feet alone are in such disrepair she said that she has seen 80 year old women with better feet. I can assure you though, when I move at the end of the month and get in to see a new family doctor I will ask for a third opinion on my condition. (They did do more than one blood test over the course of 15 months of testing). Thanks for the link and for the heads up. Regards, Ruth ----------------------- The Craft Hall - http://crafthall.netfirms.com All-Crafts - All-Crafts > Ruth, > My blood tests are negative for RA. It¹s called sero-negative rheumatoid > arthritis. Did your doctor order any x-rays? Here is a website that has > the differences between OA and RA. > > http://www.fauxpress.com/kimball/med/ortho/osteo/3.htm > > Osteoarthritis is a deterioration of cartilage and overgrowth of bone often > due to " wear and tear " . Rheumatoid arthritis is the inflammation of a > joint¹s connective tissues, such as the synovial membranes, which leads to > the destruction of the articular cartilage. They both destroy the > cartilage, but you are so young for OA. RA treated early minimizes the > destruction. The earlier it is treated, the better the outcome, so it is > important to see a rheumatologist if you suspect your doctor is wrong. I > hope you get a new doctor soon and it's one that cares about you! > a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2002 Report Share Posted November 14, 2002 That¹s good Ruth. As you probably already know, misdiagnosis is a big problem in rheumatic diseases which causes a lot of early damage. I didn¹t realize OA could start so early. I can sympathize with 80 year old feet. Mine kill me. Many of my bones have naturally fused but some are still causing a lot of pain. Have you tried super blue stuff? It¹s an msm cream that you rub on that helps. It¹s the only rub on that has ever helped me. a > Hello again a, > > Yes it's OA. I know the difference between the two, and as my doctor > puts it (the one prior to my absentminded one, an actually good > doctor lol) I have " old bones " . My feet alone are in such disrepair > she said that she has seen 80 year old women with better feet. > > I can assure you though, when I move at the end of the month and get > in to see a new family doctor I will ask for a third opinion on my > condition. (They did do more than one blood test over the course of > 15 months of testing). > > Thanks for the link and for the heads up. > > Regards, > Ruth > ----------------------- > The Craft Hall - http://crafthall.netfirms.com > All-Crafts - All-Crafts > > >> > Ruth, >> > My blood tests are negative for RA. It¹s called sero-negative > rheumatoid >> > arthritis. Did your doctor order any x-rays? Here is a website > that has >> > the differences between OA and RA. >> > >> > http://www.fauxpress.com/kimball/med/ortho/osteo/3.htm >> > >> > Osteoarthritis is a deterioration of cartilage and overgrowth of > bone often >> > due to " wear and tear " . Rheumatoid arthritis is the inflammation > of a >> > joint¹s connective tissues, such as the synovial membranes, which > leads to >> > the destruction of the articular cartilage. They both destroy the >> > cartilage, but you are so young for OA. RA treated early > minimizes the >> > destruction. The earlier it is treated, the better the outcome, > so it is >> > important to see a rheumatologist if you suspect your doctor is > wrong. I >> > hope you get a new doctor soon and it's one that cares about you! >> > a > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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