Hi all,

   This I believe is my first time posting in this / these newsgroups(s).
Ever since about 1990 or 1991 I have had lower back pain at times and at
times very severe.  I have also had what I thought was just the aging
process at age 28 at the time...I am now 35, white male live in
Pennsylvania, USA.  I am obese at 315lbs.  Just below my knees almost my
shin would hurt and have gotten worse over time.  I have been told by
doctors that would just look at them that I either had Patellar Tendonitis,
OsteoArthritis, Arthritis, etc.  About 6 months ago my Primary Care
Physician ordered a RF test which was negative, an ANA which was >1:40, ANA
Titer 1:160, ANA Pattern Homogeneous, SED Rate of 20, Lyme Disease <100...He
felt that I may have Lupus.  He referred me to a Rheumatologist which
commented that my numbers were in the "Ho Hum" range.  She did X-Rays of my
hands and knees and an MRI of my left knee since this was my biggest
problem.  She said that she saw nothing wrong or any types of Arthritis and
that she felt that all I needed was physical therapy.  After I got a copy of
my tests I saw that there is some minor tearing in the I would assume
cartilage or muscle in the knee area.  I do not have a problem with physical
therapy but when I am treated as though I do not exercise in which case I do
and left her know this and when I left her know what type of work I did in
the past she basically shrugged that off as not being physical which it was
most definitely I tend to get a little angry to say the least.  I also asked
her what type of exercise I would do in PT but she basically said that she
would not tell me or develop a program for me if I did not want to attend
PT.  I am a very shy person in which being around a bunch of others is not
going to go over very well with me.  I feel as though she could have gave me
some ideas, it seems as though all she wanted to do was to make money on the
PT.

   However, That is when I last saw her.  Since then behind my right knee
was starting to be in severe discomfort.  I am now seeing my PCP for this
which he ran all the tests again.  ANA is pending, SED Rate is 25, Uric Acid
Serum 8.1mg/dl, I had X-Rays of my right knee which came back as no
definitive acute fracture or osseous destructive lesion.  There is no
significant periosteal reaction.  The osseous alignment is satisfactory.
Patient was rotated on this study.  There is some degenerative disc disease,
change as evidenced involving the proximal femur as well as some mild
narrowing of the medial knee joint compartment.  Can someone explain this to
me...I thought this disease was just for the back.  He is now referring me
to a Orthopedic Surgeon / Doctor not sure for what though.  My next PCP
visit is next week otherwise I would know.  I feel that I should also
mention some other things in case they are factors here.  I am Diabetic Type
II since 2003, Hashimoto Thyroiditis, HypoThyroidism and have a Non-Toxic
Multi-Nodular Goiter since about 2003-2004.  I have taken 50 mcg Synthroid
since then and ever since I started this I felt as though I had no energy or
want to do anything anymore.  I take Prandin, Glipizide Extended Release 10
mg, Metformin 1000 mg @ 2 times per day.  My BG averages around 135, I have
ups and downs.  Since about the time my Right knee started hurting the right
side of my neck, shoulder, lower then upper arm would also hurt.  The elbow
is now starting to get in on the action.  My Lipids (Chol, Try's, etc.) are
great, my heart seems to be fine (have had a few Stress Thallium Tests).  I
also stopped seeing my Endo at the same office as the Rheumatologist because
as I read in these groups, etc. that if you have a doctor that treats you
only based on the TSH and blames any other problems on other things you need
to run away from them.  MY PCP seems as though he is now going to take this
over, he ran a TSH, Free T4, Total T3, Total T4 and they are as stated...TSH
1.880  This fluctuates between here and 3.something for me.  Free T4 1.20,
Total T4 7.54, Total T3 0.744.  From what I see and have read, etc. I think
that I may need some T3 possibly Armour.  I am just looking for some input
from all of you criticism or not as to what you think, would do, etc.  I
apologize for the length of this and appreciate and thank all who can
help...

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