arthritis?

Hi there, My name is Jennifer and I am from Scotland in the UK.

Im 21 years old, and have a 3 year old son.
Arthritis runs in my family, and my dad has traced it back 4 generations so far, both my dad and aunt have it, my aunt was diagnosed at a young age, my cousin tells me. (in her late teens) although i'm not quite sure what sort of arthritis it is.

I am worried as for the past 5 years i have been having stiffness in the morning, pain when resting in my left knee. The past few months it has really been playing up, and every few weeks i get the same in my right knee and lower back. My fingers have always been stiff from a young age (around 10).

I also have a tiredness i can not get rid of, my left knee always feels warmer than the rest of my leg.

I have been to my doctor 3 times, but I have recently changed doctor due to a relocation and he doesn't know my family history. Where as my old doctor dealt with all my family members.

I have told him that arthritis runs in my family, and explained all my symptoms, but he says i'm too young too have it, and it is just general inflamation (inflammation) in my left knee. And he totally disregards my other problems.

He is a young pakistani doctor, and due to my history in his surgery, well to put it plainly so that  i dont come across as racist, I had a termination and i feel he doesn't take me seriously after he found out as i went to a family planning clinic as i felt he would refuse due to he is a practising muslim. I really feel since i told him this, he teats me like a 10 year old child.

I dont know how to go about getting refered to another doctor, and I would like to change my doctor  but i dont want to just in case im palying up about a whole thing that isn't there.

correct me if i'm wrong, but if my left knee is inflammed for the past 3-4 month and wont go away, and arthritis is a infamatory disease, then shouldn't i at least be tested for it,

please help as it is really stressing me out, with a 3 year old son, and the fact i do want to pursue a career in sports development, i just dont know what to do

Jen
can i request to be tested for it?

[SixStringer]

Arthritis can affect a person at any age, and with your family history, you are right in keeping that in mind.  Is there a test for arthritis, or is it something that is diagnosed after studying one's symptoms?  Is it possible for your former doctor to intervene with your new doctor by informing him of your past symptoms and family history of arthritis?  However, if he is dismissing arthritis out of hand, it shows that he is not well versed in the disease and quite possibly has had little experience with it.  Otherwise, if you are not getting the care you need, changing doctors becomes an important consideration for your future well being.