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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / June 2006frustrated
I went to my doc a couple weeks ago for pain in multiple joints. He ran tests to see if it might be rheumatoid arthritis, and they came back normal. I wonder if it's possible i have osteo not only as confirmed in my spine but also in my fingers/thumbs, shoulders, jaws, elbows, knees and toes? All coming on within a fairly short time? I asked for a referral to rheumatology but they said i could not go there unless the tests had shown something. (that's our HMO) If it's fibromyalgia, i'm not sure how i can get that diagnosis or if it's even of any value to know. The osteoarthritis/DDD/radiculopathy is already something i have to just live with even though i can barely feel my left hand at times and my left side of face tingles. Now my other places hurt. I feel angry and defeated. Just take pills and shut up is how i feel. :-( Thanks for hearing my whine. I'm sorry i've not given support in this group yet, i hope to someday. I feel for you. Keep trying to get into RD. They know so much about what kind of arthritis it is and also about fms. You might have to change drs to get there. I feel for you. I know how that feels hitting the wall when you need help so badly. My heart goes out to you.  SignatureLove and hugs Jo (\__/) .~ ~. )) /O O ./ .' {O__, \ { / . . ) \ |-| '-' \ } )) Warning: squirrels. .( _( )_.' '---.~_ _ _& >I went to my doc a couple weeks ago for pain in multiple joints. > He ran tests to see if it might be rheumatoid arthritis, and they came [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > group > yet, i hope to someday. I wouldn't take that for an answer. HMO's have appeal processes and you could call them and ask how you get a referral. If this doesn't work, change your primary doc soon. The way it probably works is that your doctor gets a certain amount of money to take care of you and loses money each time he refers you out to a specialist. I am very lucky that most doctors in my area suscribe to my HMO so referrals have not been an issue. Ann > I feel angry and defeated. Just take pills and shut up is how i feel. :-( > Thanks for hearing my whine. I'm sorry i've not given support in this > group > yet, i hope to someday You might try some practical nonmedical stratgies. Find someone who was referred and talk to them about how they did it. I was talking to someone once who was having similar problems to me and I told her that when asked how the pain was on a scale of one to ten I answerd six and got something that helped while she had answered five and had not. Apparently six is the break point. She used that information and got help. Second, you might go hang around the couter of the rheumatologist and chat with the nurse about how to get a referral in your system. She may know the key term or the magic words. Don't lie and don't cheat, but find out how people react in your system and when in doubt go toward expectations that are liable to get results. There is no harm is being just a bit sneaky. > I went to my doc a couple weeks ago for pain in multiple joints. > He ran tests to see if it might be rheumatoid arthritis, and they came back [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Thanks for hearing my whine. I'm sorry i've not given support in this group > yet, i hope to someday. m-L, I have had RA for over 30 years and my tests for RA are ALWAYS negative or normal. It was hard back when I first started showing symptoms to get a diagnosis because in the '70s they relied more on the clinical side, not symptoms. But I finally found a doctor who believed me about the pain, morning stiffness and swelling. He started me on gold shots and they worked. Since then I have been treated for RA, even though my tests are negative. My current Rheumy said that there's a certain percentage (can't remember the number) of people with RA who have negative labs. She believes labs are an aid to the doctor, but not totally necessary. I can be in terrible pain and horrible fatigue and still my CRP will be normal. As others have said, try to get a different primary doctor who will treat you for your symptoms (meaning using RA drugs). Good luck to you! I know it's frustrating, but I believe you'll find someone to help. Donna > I went to my doc a couple weeks ago for pain in multiple joints. > He ran tests to see if it might be rheumatoid arthritis, and they came back [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Thanks for hearing my whine. I'm sorry i've not given support in this group > yet, i hope to someday. Have you tried lightly massaging to help lossen up your fingers, hand, wrist and forearm. I helped my father with his arthritis doing this which helped lossen the tension in his hand and arm. It may not completely stop your symptoms but it may lessen your pain. Try lightly pulling on your finger while sliding it towards your finger tips. Even wiggling and twisting each finger. >Have you tried lightly massaging to help lossen up your fingers, hand, >wrist and forearm. I helped my father with his arthritis doing this [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Try lightly pulling on your finger while sliding it towards your finger >tips. Even wiggling and twisting each finger. thank you, i'll try this. Also, thank you all for the helpful replies. m-l, Your doctor sucks and this is why you need a rheumatologist. Any good rheummy knows that one can have what is called sero-negative RA, which means it doesn't show on the blood tests. You can also find this on almost any good RA site, like John Hopkins or the Arthritis Foundation sites. Also, there are numerous other types of arthritis, such as what I have: Ankylosing Spondylitis. This is an auto immune type of arthritis which affects the spine, as well as almost all other joints; hips, shoulders, wrists, ankles etc.. This is something that only a rheumatologist (and only a GOOD one) can diagnose, especially in women. (Many old rheummies still think it only affects men). It took me three rheummies to get a correct diagnosis for me. I'm glad I did though, because any erosive arthritis needs to be treated AGGRESSIVELY before any permanent damage to the joints occurs. Is there any way to talk to your insurance company directly to see how you could go about getting a referral, since your crappy regular doctor doesn't seem to know that one can still have RA and test negative for the RF factor?? I hope you can!!! Char >m-l, > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >the RF factor?? >I hope you can!!! Thank you. This helps so much to be able to discuss it here. I can keep pushing them, have been doing that since Oct 04 when i started having neck problems before other joints got involved. It's an HMO and sometimes it's been necessary to complain to member services to get things done. I didn't even get the test results from my doc, it was a clerk (or nurse?) on the phone after several of my calls didn't get returned. Next step is to get another appt with him scheduled and see what he will do, he's usually very cooperative once i get past the rest of the staff and all the policies and stuff. Not as bad as getting my social security disability though, that was the biggest nightmare having to get a lawyer and go to a hearing, and here going on 2 years later they still haven't gotten my benefit amount straightened out. It's all so stressful and especially when you're feeling crappy. My doctor was helpful with the social security stuff, and he's never hesitated to order MRI's and tests and refer me to specialists (ortho, physical med, pain mgt, neurology) for my neck and back problems, so i think he will cooperate more than a clerk on the phone. I am so very tired, i'll be glad when social security is straightened out and i need to start making some adaptations in everyday life like pumps in the shampoo bottles i can't squeeze anymore, jar openers, etc.. little frustrations can really add up and they can be remedied. Boy to I understand where you are coming from, I had that at the beginning also, doctor said that everything was just stress and to much work, 2 years later a lot of erosions in the feet, and still all test normal. Keep trying I look for a different doctor if you can tell you find one that will help you. Good Luck Becky >I went to my doc a couple weeks ago for pain in multiple joints. > He ran tests to see if it might be rheumatoid arthritis, and they came [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > group > yet, i hope to someday. |
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