Joint/Bones Pain + Tiredness

[sickrabbit]

Hi, Guys and Girls - I'am suffering from undiagnosed illness for a while now...and I'm desperate to get rid of it unfortunately NHS isn't helping hence this desperate post on here.

Background:
29 year old male usually fit and well working both behind the desk and running around in the meantime, used to swim and cycle. No drugs, fags or alcohol intake.

Symptoms:

Tiredness/Fatigue 24/7
Joints pain traveling through all the joints randomly (1 day knees worse than others for example)
Joints hot and swollen.
Pain worst when walking down stairs (knees + ankles)when walking fast ankles getting hot and tired to a point when I can't walk further and have to stop for few minutes.
All this started approx 3 month ago and getting worse every day.

Diagnosis and treatment:

GP 2x Blood tests no signs of inflammation or arthritis - GP suggested using paracetamol for pain ;( nothing else...

Now after me demanding to see specialist referred to reumatologist (at the moment waiting for 3 weeks for the letter)

Now taking glucosamine + omega 3 and magnesium as advised in pharmacy.

So the question is what's wrong with me and how bad does it have to be for NHS to take some more swift action - will my joints start to deform? (my biggest fear)

Any advise welcome - and thanks in advance

Edited by sickrabbit on Wednesday 13th June 11:43

Edited by sickrabbit on Wednesday 13th June 12:08

[goldblum]

That are no studies that show glucosamine actually works.

Take a few weeks off,go on holiday.When you come back if the inflammation/pain has died down then start an easy exercise program.

[Halb]

goldblum said:

That are no studies that show glucosamine actually works.

Take a few weeks off,go on holiday.When you come back if the inflammation/pain has died down then start an easy exercise program.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/807.html#Effectiveness
It seems to be on the effective side rather than the non-effective side.

[goldblum]

I'm sure big pharma has spent plenty trying to show it works..

If someone feels it works for them there's no need not to use it,it doesn't appear to have any unpleasant side effects.

Also no proof that Cod Liver Oil does what it's supposed to.

[Halb]

goldblum said:

I'm sure big pharma has spent plenty trying to show it works..

If someone feels it works for them there's no need not to use it,it doesn't appear to have any unpleasant side effects.

Also no proof that Cod Liver Oil does what it's supposed to.

I find it difficult for me to get my head around that. How did it start?

[dave_s13]

Sometimes the blood test looking for an inflammatory arthritis can come back normal when it's obviously not.

The rhuematologist is the man to see, they can form a diagnosis based on your symptoms, history, physical examination etc etc. Not just a blood test.

Good luck with it.

[sickrabbit]

dave_s13 said:

Sometimes the blood test looking for an inflammatory arthritis can come back normal when it's obviously not.

The rhuematologist is the man to see, they can form a diagnosis based on your symptoms, history, physical examination etc etc. Not just a blood test.

Good luck with it.

Thank You - I guess I need to be patient and wait for MR Reumatologist?
But what if I can't cope with it in the meantime or I will have to wait for him so long that I suffer some in revertible damage to my joints?

[goldblum]

Halb said:

goldblum said:

I'm sure big pharma has spent plenty trying to show it works..

If someone feels it works for them there's no need not to use it,it doesn't appear to have any unpleasant side effects.

Also no proof that Cod Liver Oil does what it's supposed to.

I find it difficult for me to get my head around that. How did it start?

Truly I have no idea.At the risk of repeating myself the best treatment to keep bones and joints healthy is exercise.

[Tiberius]

Hmm

sounds familar,


try some ibuprofen ( its an anti-inflamitory pain killer), if this helps i would head back to the gp and ask for a anti-inflamitory pain killer (diclofenac, naproxen etc) which should help the symptoms, if you do get a pescription make sure they give you a stomach protector (omeprazole, lansoprazole etc) those NSAID's do your stomach lining no good at all.

but the rheumatologist is the best bet for help, they should be able to diagnose and sort out a treatment plan for you if its needed.

[Halb]

goldblum said:

At the risk of repeating myself the best treatment to keep bones and joints healthy is exercise.

Oh I know you don't mind sacrificing yourself to that risk.

[sickrabbit]

Thank you all - I have my specialist visit booked now

[BlackVanDyke]

Do wait for the rheumatologist, and talk honestly and clearly to him/her.

To save time in your appointment (they're horribly restricted), make sure you go in with a couple of clear typed sheets:
1) Family history - does any close-ish blood relative have any diagnosis of any joint problem and (especially) any immune disorder - arthritis, lupus, Hughes syndrome? Anyone on any long-term prescribed meds that relate to pain, joints, or immune system?
2) Your own medical history including as clear a history as you can manage of this problem - when it started, what issues turned up at what points, what time in the day it's better or worse and any activities it reacts to, what meds you've tried (including non-prescription stuff of any kind), what your normal/previous activity level was like.
3) any meds you're still taking including what they were prescribed for and when, dose etc.

[sickrabbit]

Thank you - that's useful - pain is worse and worse and I have another 8weeks to wait and holidays booked in the meantime - I don't think I will be enjoying them...

Any home kind remedies known to anybody?
How do I get help quicker I'm seriously worried and it affects my life big time...
thanks

BlackVanDyke said:

Do wait for the rheumatologist, and talk honestly and clearly to him/her.

To save time in your appointment (they're horribly restricted), make sure you go in with a couple of clear typed sheets:
1) Family history - does any close-ish blood relative have any diagnosis of any joint problem and (especially) any immune disorder - arthritis, lupus, Hughes syndrome? Anyone on any long-term prescribed meds that relate to pain, joints, or immune system?
2) Your own medical history including as clear a history as you can manage of this problem - when it started, what issues turned up at what points, what time in the day it's better or worse and any activities it reacts to, what meds you've tried (including non-prescription stuff of any kind), what your normal/previous activity level was like.
3) any meds you're still taking including what they were prescribed for and when, dose etc.

[sickrabbit]

Spondyloarthopathy is the initial diagnosis...waiting for all the results now also some stuff in the lungs have been found...a bit worried now...