A question for those with arthritis and MS

[Eyesnlegs]

I have probably asked this before and if I have I apologise - but this is a quickie for those with arthritis and MS –

How do you know what is causing which symptoms?

Those who know me will know that before my relapse which involved my legs – a year ago now – I can’t believe it. I only had the odd day with one aching knee due to some arthritis.

Since that relapse and the arthroscopy I had on the arthritic knee, I have pain, stiffness and all sorts of sx in both my legs and now pain in both knee joints, one hip and my back also gets involved sometimes, this is my main concern currently as I cannot work out what is causing what!!!

So anyone with the same please advice as to how to tell the difference? Or do others have the same problems.

Thanks all

Pat

[Wobbly]

Hi Pat.. I have arthritic and take Celebrex for it... I don't like taking Celebrex, but really notice more pain when I don't take it.  my knees, joints etc...

so it's just another med I'm taking .. hope you feel better soon or find something to help with the pains

I found out my gait is from sensory .. if that makes sense... I can't walk backward...can you?  I also found it difficult to walk with my eyes closed.  

take care
wobbly
dx

[Eyesnlegs]

Yes she did evaluate me, she did some serious tests on strength even using a gym ball, etc. It was my inability to push down on the gym ball without my leg trembling and wobbling all over the place that led her to say that.

She did pass the comment that I had quite strong ankles - lol.

Ren has just suggested that my relapse may have left me with the weak hip and with my arthritic knee too, my gait may have changed and this could be causing my problems. It  does seem to be getting worse not better.

Oh well I better get the exercise DVD back out, you won't catch me kick boxing I'd probably break something knowing my luck.

(((Hugs)))
Pat x

[Lulu54]

Wow Pat,
Did she even touch you?  It sounds like she could have phoned in this diagnosis.  

She should have done a lot more .... especially since you were there as a private  patient. How could she have dx'd your hip flexor without working with your hip muscles to determine how they move?

I would have asked for an additional evaluation by someone else - I know this had to have cost you some serious $$$.

be well,
L

[Eyesnlegs]

Thanks Ess - I have been refered to PT but it takes a long time on the NHS in the UK.

I did pay a private neuro PT to assess my problem and she said that I had a weak left hipflexor but that my gait was fine. She managed to assess my gait in 6 steps across her office, whilst I was using a cane and wearing an ankle length skirt - is that even possible? I just figured she was very clever to do this.

I know it was not money well spent.

Thanks for your thoughts, I guess I will just have to wait to see the NHS PT.
Pat x

[essdipity]

Hello again. This gets complicated fast. You may well have muscle pain and tightness because of over-using that leg or group of muscles, in compensation for the weak ones.

I suggest you see a Physical Therapist. He or she will be able to analyze your gait and tell what's causing what, and even find ways to improve things at least somewhat. Doctors should do this but they seldom take the time.

In the final analysis it's more important to stop the problem than to know the exact cause. PT is really a good idea for you.

ess

[Eyesnlegs]

That's a good way of looking at it, I had never thought about the meds angle. Although I have not found any over the counter meds which take this pain away. I am taling over the counter analgesicas and Gabapentin currently but neither seem to help the walking.

There is no inflammation or swelling but there is pain in my one knee joint which I know comes from the arthritis as that is the knee on which I had the arthroscopy.

But would arthritis cause stiffness too especially in thigh muscles? and one sided or could that be just because I know walk awkwardly?

I know when I try to walk after a short time the opposite leg starts vibrating if I carry on both legs vibrate and I get pins and needles in my feet. But I have read that arthritis can cause this too.

My ortho wrote to my GP this lady has grade IV arthritis in the left knee complicated by her MS. So if they don't know how do I work it out?

I think what I am trying to say is I only had a small arthritic problem before teh relapse, yet one year later I still have problems walking - so when and how do I decide which is arthritis and which is the leftovers from teh realpse that could be with me permanently.

Thanks Ess

[essdipity]

Hi, Pat. A quick answer would be that MS does not cause inflammation and pain in the joints as a normal thing. Nor does it cause any swelling. So those symptoms would most likely come from your arthritis.

Another consideration concerns medications. If a typical over-the-counter pain med helps certain kinds of pain you have, then that is likely to have been arthritic pain, or pain from muscles that are tight.  Neuropathy requires Neurontin or Lyrica. Spasms require other meds, etc.

This way of looking at things does help, and I think even doctors often diagnose the source by what med works.

ess