Yes I had a blood test when this started and 6 months later and it showed the Rheumatoid factor was up which lead the first doc to diagnose as rheumatoid. She said the first thing they do is to try pain relief and later think about DMards (?) which are drugs used for people with cancer. The way she described it, sounded awful, you get the same side effects as chemo, hair falling out, sick, tired etc. I didn't fancy that!

That doctor left and the next doc agreed with the first diagnosis but said it sounded more like osteo, either way I'm just plodding along, realised that my pain meds are not supposed to be prn, but should be taken more regularly! . I think the doc would probably suggest seeing a rheumatologist but I don't have time for this!! Hahaha!