Possible RA

I'm a 27 year old female who has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my spine (as well as hernaited disks, DDD and stenosis). The problem is the joint pain is moving to my knees, started at right but now it's in the left, and hands. My hands hurt bad when I do dishes, brush my hair and write. Basically anything where I have to grip things. I always thought I had carpel tunnel but now all my finger joints just ache. The arches of my feet have also started to hurt. Like I just walked miles or something. I went to a Rhuemy who told me that I just had osteoarthritis, runners knee and she had no idea why my hands hurt. She didn't do blood work and I was in the office for probably 10 minutes. I'm currently seeing a pain doctor who is treating me for my spine problems.

I also have really bad fatigue. I sleep 8 hours a night every night but I wake up feeling just as tired as I did when I went to sleep. I've tried adjusting the hours I sleep to no avail. I don't snore but I do wake up a lot during the night due to my back pain. I've been on every NSAID's out there including Celebrex with no help. The toes on my right foot are now all completely numb and I have electric shock feelings shooting down both legs. The joints that hurt are not swollen or red. They just ache and hurt when touched. Even my back hurts when touched. Is it possible to have RA without swelling? Since I'm young it's hard to believe that I have OA in all these places. I've also been having GI problems, which I've never had before.

I feel like every time I go to my PM doctor I have a new problem. I just had a knee xray done so I will get those results on Monday. Should I bring up the hand problems?

[Ailsatcm888]

hi friend  ,of course ,you should bring up the hand problem, i suggest you take whole body check.

In the case of Osteoarthritis, acupuncture has effectively reduced and alleviated pain improving mobility of the joints, and finally, increasing the quality of life and overall wellbeing.

[Peanuts2]

Vitamin/mineral deficiency can cause this.  Take food-based vitamins with extra supplement of pathothenic acid (vitamin), calsium, magnesium).  Then start check the foods you are eating.  Heavily chemicalled food wreaks havoc on our bodies.  MSG has 13 other names...learn them by heart and then start reading labels of what you put in your mouth.  

[atonicat]

Somehow I don't think vitamin/mineral deficiency can cause the problems I have in my spine and or fix them. Sorry. I've tried the natural route, and it did nothing for me. Some days the pain is so bad I can't walk. So you find me a vitamin that will make me walk when my pain is so bad I want to die. Also you have no idea what my diet is like. I could be vegan for all you know.

Supplements are great and natural foods are awesome but they wont cure everything. I'm glad you have found something that works for you, but until a vitamin can take away my pain like opiates, I don't want to hear it. I've tried every therapy there is and I've gotten no where. It keeps getting worse.

[Sandokanalabordaje]

Hi there! I kinda feel what u r going trough, pain killers, morphine  and such... better take easy, your GI will only get worse, I have 9 bleeding ulcers cause of medication and is no party sleeping siting up cause of the reflux, and the pressure on the hips!! Sadly I wish it will get better but chances are it will degenerate and get worse with each passing day, but try everything. Eastern medicine helps those who believe in it but it is not for e everyone. Is frustrating to think that a little herb will take away the pain, well there is one, won't cure you but you dont care or notice. Not the answer. What works for me if only for the moment is heat; a bath, a heating pad, keeping my bedroom warm. Salt water does wonders, swiming helps, but most important is your will, if a doctor says something you do t believe get a second opinion; with it some wisdom will come. Never settle. Research  doctors out of town if it sounds like it may help, roadtrip!!! Ask your fam doctor for an MRI, and get the results on DVD, you can attach files to prospective doctors. And when u need to vent and scream all hell lose, here we are, we have gone trough some humiliation our selves. Just
hang in there fight and don't give up ;)

[atonicat]

Thanks. I got my xray results back on my knee and I have a meniscus tear. I'm getting and MRI to see if I need surgery. I have an MRI disk of my back problems so that's not a problem. I'm in pain management right now so I'm sort of at the end of the line when it comes to my problems.

[Sandokanalabordaje]

Hang in there. Just keep an eye on meds u r young and if later on u wanna get pregnant (which i'm trying to) u kinda pay al the years of "relief" if any. As ridiculous as it may sound on good days try yoga it actually helps, I have tons of DVDs, so I don't waste good feeling time on travel. Best of luck

[atonicat]

I've been doing yoga for a few years. I used to work out everyday before I got hit with all this a few years ago. That's when I moved on to yoga. It helps. I don't plan on getting pregnant anytime soon if at all. I can't imagine having a baby like this and it's not going to get much better.