I had my first rheumatologist appointment

May 21, 2008

I had my first appointment with the rheumatologist...what I found out

was not what I was expecting. He told me that although I may have

early RA he didn't think that was what was causing all the pain I was

having. He said I had a " mixed bag " of things going on. At first I

actually felt insulted..as I felt like he was dismissing me..but I

was wrong. He told me that I have bad rotator cuffs in both of my

shoulders. He injected them both with cortisone and that was two days

ago...my shoulders are now pain free! I also had terrible pain in

the base of my neck..he said that was an " impingement' from the

rotator cuffs being bad...that pain is now gone. He said I have

bursitis in both of my hips and in two months I am going back to have

them injected with cortisone, too. Then he diagnosed a foot problem

that I was born with (I am now 50) and said that my whole body has

compensated for the way my feet are so off kilter...he has refered me

for orthotics. He said that was probably what caused the bursistis as

well as my low back pain. I was just stunned by all this unexpected

information. He also said he thinks I have early raynauds..which is

why my hands get so freezing cold. He said he thinks I may have very

early RA, but is not treating it with anything right now. I am just

writing this to let people know that if you have pain, don't give up.

Pure luck brought me to this doctor that really knew what he was

doing..and I have hope for the first time in a long time that I may

be pain free. He said that if the cortisone didn't work, I would need

an MRI and probably someone to go in and " clean out' my

shoulders..well, so far...the shots have worked. My wish for all of

you is to find a doctor that will listen to you and give youa good

diagnosis! thinking of all of you! Jeanette

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