Arthritis Flare-Ups

[nvsmom]

I had arthralgias for about 15 years when I was an undiagnosed celiac. It was caused by celiac disease.  It would begin with fatigue, flu-like symptoms, mouth sores, and then my hands, wrists, shoulders and elbows (all symmetrical) would get very sore to move, and weak.  Holding books hurt, brushing teeth was tricky, and getting my arm up to blow dry my hair was a problem.  It would last for a few weeks or months and then be gone. Poof!  It never left behind pain. Ever.  The worst I had was regaining my range of motion and strength after favoring it for weeks.  The joint was never left with damage

 

The arthritis I've had lately is not like that.  It leaves behind pain that doesn't go.  It's osetoarthritis but I want to know is this is how it usually goes with OA.  I'm only 41 with multiple AI problems so I want to hear from you all if this sounds about normal since I don't trust doctors much anymore.  LOL I want to make sure this is OA and not another AI issue.

 

I've complained about my hips to you all before.  About 2 years ago they stared to suddenly lock up and crack with a lot of pain.  It would hurt to get them going after sitting and rest, and when I moved wrong the shooting pain would sap the strength out of my legs and I would stumble.  It started out quite bad and then got a bit better when I went on corticosteroids for another issue.  I assumed it was getting better but when I stopped the steroids a year later it came roaring back.  I eventually got myself to the doctor and got x-rays done.  It is (mild) osteoarthritis with a normal spacing but the bone growths/spurs are there.

 

The hip pain will come and go somewhat. Every time it departs my hips are a bit worse.  I never seem to get back to where I was.  And now my knees have started up too....

 

I've never had great knees.  I blew the right one in my teens and had it reconstructed.  They've both been making griinding sounds since my 20's but they didn't hurt unless I did too much like run 20km or go up and down a mountain in a day; then they would swell for a day, ache and be a bit hot.  They got slowly a bit more symptomatic over time so they would swell after a 5 km run instead of 20km. I could still play some basketball and soccer, or go for a jog (when my hips were up to it).  

 

It changed dramatically just over a month ago.

 

I was gardening for a day - nothing too strenuous.  A few days later I was kneeling for an hour to help my son's with some history projects (which they won in the city - gotta slip in some bragging).  No biggie.  The next day (or 2-3 days later - can't quite remember) my knees were swollen and stiff.  A day or so later they became quite painful. Both of them.  They hurt to rest or to move after rest.  The pain would radiate up and down my leg on the outside, and it hurt on the inside when I lay on one side.  They've stayed swollen for a good month. although not always hot.

 

Then my left knee (the uninjured one) became worse after a few weeks.  It feels as though there are loose pieces floating in it and getting in the joint.  A lot of pain in the back of the knee and the outer side.  Ow.  It was very bad for about 2 weeks. The type of pain where you can't sit still with it, or it keeps you up at night, and I can usually sleep through migraines and labor. LOL If I moved the wrong way it would take my breath away and I could feel my blood pressure drop.  Super annoying and inconvenient because I was coaching two sports at the time.

 

The extreme pain has been subsiding for a week now but my knee feels MUCH worse than it used to.  It cracks and locks, and it feels like there is stuff floating in the joint.  Plus it is still a bit swollen - not usually noticeably so but it can be felt.  I had an x-ray done but haven't heard back yet.

 

So... is this normal arthritis?  Is this how knee arthritis, or hip arthritis, usually presents?  The arthralgias I had from celiac disease were so different from what I have now, and I have to admit that I'm worried about how fast this recent stuff is progressing.  Does it go from nothing to affecting walking, and getting up or down, so quickly?  All within months, or a year or so? I'd love to hear others' experiences - just rying to figure out where I stand in this.

 

Thanks all.

[icelandgirl]

Gosh Nicole...I'm sorry. (((Hugs)))

I don't have any answers for you. Just wanted to say that you are not alone in having ongoing struggles. I hate going to Dr's as well. But I wonder to myself...is this celiac related, Hashis related or is there something ELSE wrong with me? Urgh!

Hang in there...I hope you get some answers. (((Hugs)))

[nvsmom]

Gosh Nicole...I'm sorry. (((Hugs)))

I don't have any answers for you. Just wanted to say that you are not alone in having ongoing struggles. I hate going to Dr's as well. But I wonder to myself...is this celiac related, Hashis related or is there something ELSE wrong with me? Urgh!

Hang in there...I hope you get some answers. (((Hugs)))

 

Thanks.    You're a sweetheart.

 

I wish I knew if it was AI linked too.  My hip looks like OA but it's odd how it came on so fast, or I'm much wimpier than I thought I was... I don't think so though.  

 

It could be Hashi's doing it, but I've never had spikes in my TPO Ab or big flares of thyroid changes.  It just seemed to slowly stop working.      I sort of doubt it is Hashi's but who knows.

 

I suppose it could be a left over problem from celiac disease, one of those things that won't improve, but I don't really believe that.  My hip problems started after I had been gluten-free for about 6 or 9 months.  This knee thing popped up after being gluten-free for 3 years so a celiac cause is becoming less likely as time goes by.

 

Hopefully I injured them both, at the same time and without noticing it  , and my knees will get back to where it was - very mild OA without a lot of pain yet.

[cyclinglady]

I can not recall, but has RA been ruled out? You seem so young for OA!

[bartfull]

I'm so sorry to hear this.  You really are to young for osteo. I'm wondering if it's Lyme or maybe one of theother tick-borne diseases. Maybe you should see a doctor?

[nvsmom]

I can not recall, but has RA been ruled out? You seem so young for OA!

 

They checked me pretty thoroughly for RA and lupus about 2 years ago.  Everything was nice and negative, even my ANA.

 

I think I'm too young for OA too!  LOL

 

 

I'm so sorry to hear this.  You really are to young for osteo. I'm wondering if it's Lyme or maybe one of theother tick-borne diseases. Maybe you should see a doctor?

 

I saw a doctor about my hips and it definitely was OA.  

 

I saw a doctor about a week ago.  I am getting some blood tests done, and had an X-ray for my knees.  The doctor already called me about coming in over the Xray results so I know they found something - my guess is OA since they did the same thing with my hips.  I haven't gone in yet because my blood tests aren't done.  

 

My husband commented that my knees must really be bothering me if I actually made a doctor appointment.  LOL

 

I never thought of Lyme disease.  There aren't many ticks around here that carry Lyme disease. We get the Rocky Mountain ticks but usually not the other ones (black-legged ticks?).

[GF Lover]

I hope you get some good options at the Doc appointment.  Sometimes I wish there was a Parts Department for Humans.  Just fill out a requisition and pop in a new knee or what have you.  

 

Colleen

[beth01]

Hugs to you Nicole, arthritis is a b%$@#.  I have it pretty bad in my spine and my hips and knees have been getting progressively worse the last few years.  I hope they get it all figured out for you and can get you on something so you're not in so much pain!

 

Colleen, I think we all need gene therapy to go along with the parts department, something to get rid of all these nasty genes we have.

[GF Lover]

Oh gosh, Beth.  I hear ya!  I saw this article the other day and it was about the first Head Transplant to be attempted in around 2 years from now.  A man has volunteered to do it.  He has a destructive disease that is destroying his body.  Guys got some guts!  At any rate, Options like that start to look attractive as more stuff happens to us....lol.

 

Colleen

[nvsmom]

I know!  We joke about the full body transplant quite frequently.  I would love to trade this body in for a younger model... about 30 lbs lighter.

[GF Lover]

Reminds me of how I would pop barbie's heads off and try to change it up.  I think tape came into play.

 

When do you see the Doc next Nicole?

 

Colleen

[nvsmom]

Do you think duct tape would do the trick?

 

I haven't made an appointment yet.  Probably in about a week or so.

[GF Lover]

A LOT of duct tape.