How did you get an arthritis diagnosis?

Hi. I'm just curious how some of you with arthritis were diagnosed, what led to it, how long it took. I would love to hear your stories.

I'm only 28. But I have ulcerative colitis (UC) and I know that many individuals with UC have some sort of issues with arthritis. Even before my UC diagnosis, I have had so much pain throughout my body so I suspect arthritis might be a possibility. My doctors don't seem to be taking me very seriously though. Making note of it but not really suggesting any way I can help myself or get to the bottom of whats causing the pain.

I was diagnosed 1/8/16 with osteoarthritis of the spine. I have a litte bit of curvature of the spine also. They did an x-ray.

I had couple falls. I started getting pain in my back while standing for a long period of time, doing household chores. Walking for too long, carrying lots of groceries and the list goes on and on. This started 3 years ago.

Suppose to start therapy first week in March.

Only you know your pain. Ask for a referral. I was complaining about my back pain and my doctor at the time said too much X-ray is not good. After she left that practice and my pain got worst I ask for a referral from a new doctor.

I'm interested too. I have really sore hands and fingers. I've looked into arthritis as well as carpel tunnel but the symptoms don't seem to "fit". I can only see a doctor when my vet bills for Amy are paid off. Some days are good, other days aren't so good and my hands and fingers ache and have constant pins and needles.

I'm going to start on a natural supplement called Athroguard soon.

Mine first started about 18 years ago with occasional joint stiffness, and I had an episode where I had severe pain in my hips and had xrays done and it was diagnosed as osteo-arthritis, which has no cure and is progressive. Now I have pain in all joints at different times, almost constant in hips and lower back. I've found that exercise does help some, with keeping muscles strong, but does nothing for the pain. I also have rheumatoid in hands and feet. Sometimes with big lumps on the joints that can come and go. Rheumatoid can go into remission, but can come back.

Pain meds can help with movement but again, does not do anything to the arthritis.

I was very rough and tumble as a kid. I don't know if it has anything to do with how my joints are now. I also had hip pain with each pregnancy which no doctor had ever heard of. lol

Maybe the docs don't say much about it when you mention it because there is not too much they can do other than pain meds. I had so many issues through the years that it was the last thing I addressed to my doc. She had me get an MRI on my spine and it confirmed what I already knew. I have severe pain and stiffness in various joints that comes and goes. I don't take pain meds regularly, but they say if you take it on a regular schedule it can help, for example, start taking it every 4 hours the day before you know you will be in a situation where you know you will have pain.

You may have the beginnings of rheumatoid in your hands. Last year I took a supplement for joints and it worked wonders! I had to quit due to circumstances tho. Does Athrogaurd have circumen in it?

I got diagnosed by a rheumatologist. You may need to get a referral from your internist.

I'll check as soon as I've bought it

I've started ArthroAway. It doesn't have "circumen" in it. I really hope it helps. My hands have been incredibly sore the last few days.

A suggestion for those of you with arthritis in your hands. I find it helpful to rub liniment into my hands and wear a pair of light weight gloves when I go to bed. Sabrina, might be too hot for you to wear gloves now.

For the OP, I complained of knee pain for years. I finally had a doc who would listen. He took an x-ray which didn't show anything. Then he sent me for an MRI which showed arthritis in the knee. I had an MRI done on my shoulder for a different problem and it showed arthritis.

My rheumatologist took x-rays of my hands and it showed arthritis but an MRI showed it in my knees and make.

My Neurologist did nerve test to so if I have carpal tunnel and I do in both of my wrists. He recommended wrist guards to be worn at night. I find pain patches help or icey hot helps a lot.

I asked my family Dr. for a referral to a rheumatologist. I was listened to and believed! She did a lot of blood work and narrowed things down from there. The rhueumy has really helped me.

Cake, I had/have carpal tunnel in both wrists. The right got so bad I had to have surgery. Wrists braces at night are very helpful. They can also help during the day when things get really bad.

I got some generic Glucosamine-Chondritin, it's cheap so I thought I'd try it. ($6 for 80 caplets which sound small but they aren't. lol) After one week of taking them I can already feel just a little improvement. The acid test is when I do grocery shopping. I always get really stiff and a lot of pain from standing/walking for more than a minute or so. Today I still got stiffness and some pain, but not as bad as usual. Also the cold weather doesn't seem to have as much affect as it did before.

This is the generic of Osteo Bi-Flex. Name brand might be just a little better, or another high priced brand. Almost any grocery store or dollar store would have it or a generic.

Add: That's triple strength Osteo Bi-flex.

I'm also 28, and was just diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis last summer. I've had knee pain that came from nowhere for almost 7 years now, and I've gone off-and-on to my primary doc about it. He's sent me to an orthopedic before and prescribed physical therapy, but none of it helped and the orthopedic surgeon wouldn't recommend surgery (thankfully!). Last year, at the suggestion of family, I asked for a referral to a rheumatologist. He did lots of blood tests and ruled out a couple other issues before diagnosing me. I'm now on an injectable medication that reduces inflammation, and it works wonders. Last weekend I finally was able to walk the whole store while grocery shopping with minimal pain.

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