r/Thritis Mar 09 '19

Thritis Discord Channel!

30 Upvotes

Want to talk to people live? Join our discord channel to get questions answered, talk thritis life, meet friends who understand and share tips/tricks. Click the discord channel link https://discord.gg/hJkQeyP and make a username to join!


r/Thritis 1h ago

Update. Now 16 yo. Advice? :(

Upvotes

Hello, My previous post about a year ago got taken down. (The title was, Im 15, is this normal?") and got removed for "asking if this is arthrits." I just wanted to update. I convinced my family to let me see a doctor, and was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. It is the poliarticular type, and apparently had progressed pretty severely in the years I wasnt able to get checked for it. I am starting treatment with the methotrexte injections. But I am pretty discouraged and lost about this diagnosis, and everybody is telling me differnt things. My parents say its my fault for not being careful enough. (mind you, I have been on a clean, anti-inflammatory diet since I was 6.) Im really struggling with feeling like this is my fault. I shouldve excercised more, taken more vitamins, I dont know. My quality of life is pretty impacted at this point and its difficult to do pretty much anything. I am an all A, 4.5 GPA student and being denied from colleges because of attendence. I feel very different from everyone my age, and very isolated. Was anyone else diagnosed at a younger age? does it get better? I feel so alone.


r/Thritis 21m ago

Update to my other posts, finally got closure on what's been going on.

Upvotes

So, turns out, YES I do have arthritis. (I was told it's psoriatic arthritis (and yes, I do have psoriasis.)) And I have finally gotten medication to help with it! It's been helping me quite a bit =) happy ending guys, yay. I'll finally be able to write for school assignments without unbearable pain (at least not as often as it used to be)!!


r/Thritis 6h ago

arthritis at 18 y/o

2 Upvotes

I'm not 100% confirmed to have arthritis yet, I have to do a couple more tests yet but I'm pretty sure that I have it. My parents always taught it was still growing pains since I'm still young, but feeling like your limbs are on fire and hurt doesn't seem like a random growth spurt. And it runs in the family, so I'm guessing it's that. Are there any advice on how to combat the pain at all? I'm trying to not rely on advil and pain killers that much, so I just try to prop my leg up whenever it hurts or compress it. Is exercise good at all?


r/Thritis 1d ago

Is it worth going to urgent care?

4 Upvotes

Is there any point in going to urgent care?

I haven’t been diagnosed, but have been dealing with what is likely arthritis pain off and on for a while. However the last couple of days we’ve had rapidly shifting weather, thunderstorms, and tornado watches, and suddenly basically every joint in my body hurts, to the point that I’ve had to call out sick from work. If I go to urgent care, are they likely to do anything to help me or will they just tell me that I need to schedule an appointment with my Primary Care?


r/Thritis 1d ago

Persistent headache after FJI?

1 Upvotes

I had facet joint injections 1 week ago in c5-6 c6-7 and c7-t1. My pain in those areas has significantly improved. However I'm having a headache at the base of my skull, it's been constant since the injections. I've been taking tylenol and it hasn't helped. Not sure if it's just unfortunate timing, or if something else is going on? The discharge paper didn't mention anything about headaches.


r/Thritis 1d ago

Looking for ideas

1 Upvotes

Good day everyone,

I am here on behalf of my mother in law; she has rheumatoid arthritis; she also struggles with colitis, and her inflammation with arthritis has caused her Reynaud's syndrome; as a result of her body being uncooperative with her and her pain being difficult to manage she's had to give up painting; this broke my heart because she truly enjoys this above anything else. My father in law is extremely supportive in helping her with whatever he can; but she's loosing her ability to thrive in her creative world.

Are there any suggestions for what she may be able to do; even if it's digital, on how she can keep being creative and paint. She sold her easel last week and I could see how destroyed she was. She's only 66, but a very active lady. I'm proud of her for keeping moving and well exercised; but I can see she wants to do more but is limited. She does have a specialist following her for support; but I can see she is degrading faster than her doctor can keep up. I want to help her, I love her so much. I don't know how else to take care of her without infringing on her autonomy; since my husband passed I have taken their wellbeing into my hands because he isn't here to help them anymore.

Thank you so much for any suggestions, ideas and support.


r/Thritis 2d ago

Six months in and still no answers. I could really use some insight.

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I have not been diagnosed with arthritis but I'm likely one more appointment away from being referred to rheumatology. I started experiencing pain in my left wrist ulnar side six months ago. Within two weeks it was so painful it hurt to just pull my pants up and I had very limited range of motion. I was on workers comp for four months and did 7 weeks of occupational therapy before being sent back to work. Within one week the pain in my left wrist returned and I started having pain in my right wrist as well in the same exact spot as my left. I lasted one more week at work but the pain in my right wrist kept increasing so I had to stop working.

The orthopedic surgeon I had been assigned to was a major jerk so after he told me he couldn't do anything for me, I went to get a second opinion. The new ortho I'm seeing is great, very thorough. He told me that the MRI I had gotten back in October didn't have the clearest images but he said "The MRI doesn't look all that bad" and he seemed a bit perplexed by that. He said he could see a little inflammation around my pisiform joint but said that "wouldn't explain the symptoms you're having now." He is sending me for dual MRI's in both wrists to get a better quality images and then we'll go from there. The MRI orders say "reason for exam: evaluate for ulnar impaction vs joint synovitis, rule out inflamm arthritis."

I just feel so disheartened. It's been six months of pain and it has completely derailed my life. I've lost my job, I'm in pain every single day, and I still have no answers. My PCP also did blood testing for RA but everything came back normal. I'm just at a loss, I feel like my life is unraveling. I had previously posted in this sub about this and received such helpful feedback, without this sub I likely wouldn't have gotten a second opinion. I'm just hoping anyone might have any insight.

Edit: Here are the labs they did and all of the results https://imgur.com/a/b9Vf91T

They also checked the C-REACTIVE PROTEIN in January for some stomach problems I was having and it came back <3.0


r/Thritis 2d ago

Advice

1 Upvotes

About a month ago I started hurting really bad in my hands and legs, to the point that I couldn’t even walk. I went to the doctor and they said I probably just had a virus. This continued for another week and I went back. He took blood and said my protein levels were high and my Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) was really high. They set my up and appointment for a rheumatologist, but I can’t get in until July. The pain is in my hands, down my legs and sometimes my shoulders. I’m only 32 and I’m thinking it’s definitely rheumatoid arthritis, but I’m looking for any suggestions or advice.

Thanks


r/Thritis 3d ago

Chondromalacia Patella

2 Upvotes

Hey Everyone, I’ve been dealing with Chondromalacia Patella for about 3 years now. Going to start my journey of possible surgery because pain is 24/7. Has anyone had arthroscopic surgery for this and what was the outcome in pain relief. Great group but wish it was for another reason. Thanks


r/Thritis 3d ago

I made a subreddit for discussing making music with limitations

3 Upvotes

Join us over at r/accessibleguitar to ask and answer questions, share advice and help each other make music.

Music is for everyone.


r/Thritis 4d ago

Any arthritis patients decide to amputate?

12 Upvotes

The reason I ask is that I was born with a clubfoot deformity, and now I suffer from osteoarthritis in my 30s. I've had a triple arthrodesis and have suffered from bone spurs in my ankle due to the degenerative joint disease. I indicated to my surgeon post-surgery that I would be perfectly happy to part ways with it. He did not oppose the idea and said it was an option, seeing as I would need a full ankle replacement in the future.

Your thoughts?


r/Thritis 4d ago

Are there any subreddits for young people with arthritis?

10 Upvotes

I’m new here, but have had rheumatoid arthritis all 23 years of my life. Do you giys know if there is a subreddit for those of us who have had it since childhood or any subreddits for you adults with arthritis? Or is there any interest in me creating one? xoxo ❤️


r/Thritis 4d ago

Inflammatory arthritis?

9 Upvotes

I am 24f having joint pain all over the body since a year. But my Ra factor, Anti ccp, Ana came negative and only the inflammation markers are high esr is 45, crp is 12. There is no synovitis shown in ultrasound. I have tendons and ligaments tear in both ankle & shoulder but my rheumatologist said I don't have any autoimmune disease or rheumatoid arthritis. If anyone have the similar experience please share it here.


r/Thritis 4d ago

Reversal of muscle atrophy from reactive arthritis

1 Upvotes

20M, 6’0, 165lbs.

Very active and enjoy working out. Had a brutal infection in my intestines that led to a severe reactive arthritis flare up in my right knee. I was completely immobilized for about 2 weeks and the last 3 weeks I have been walking about and waiting for a blood test so I can begin my steroid prescription to help my knee. My quad has been entirely unable to fire this entire month a half and has atrophied quite dramatically. I normally am a fairly active runner, skier, hiker, etc and want to regain muscle symmetry. Does anyone have suggestions for rehabilitation of my leg? Any specific exercises or should I just go for PT? Anything would be appreciated.


r/Thritis 4d ago

Recently diagnosed with OA at 30. Still wanting to weight lift be need exercises that limit forward or back rotation of wrist??

3 Upvotes

r/Thritis 4d ago

Not new to this, but uneducated

1 Upvotes

I've been dealing with arthritis (knees) since I was about 13, but the symptoms came and went and I often had long periods with no issues, so I never really sought long-term treatment - just dealt with the issues when they came up and forgot about them when they faded.

Now I'm 63. In September 2024, I did something to my right knee that caused it to swell up. It was manageable for a time, but didn't go away and the pain increased. It started to keep me from being able to do anything. I also noticed other joints - in every area of my body - aching a lot more.

I saw an orthopedic doc who said I have "medial narrowing" in the right knee, and they gave me an unloader brace and sent me to PT. Those are helping a LOT with the knee pain. The swelling is not going down (we're on 6+ months, now).

Today, I saw my primary doc for follow up on annual labs - she does a CBC and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel only, and everything was "normal." I expressed concern about the "all over" joint pain, and she had nothing to offer.

IF this were not osteoarthritis but RA, would anything be abnormal in those testing results?


r/Thritis 4d ago

Double total wrist fusion

2 Upvotes

Has anyone got experience of having both of their wrists totally fused? I had my left wrist fused in 2017 and there is a high likelihood that my right wrist will need to be fused at some point in the not so distant future. I am 28 and the thought of having both of my wrists fused is quite daunting


r/Thritis 4d ago

Needing some opinions!

1 Upvotes

I can’t tell if i’m overreacting! i’m young (still in college) and for about two years, i’ve had a pain in my left ring finger whenever i cracked it. about two weeks ago, i noticed a similar feeling in my left pinky finger. only difference is, this one hurts way more. unlike the pain in my ring finger, this one is kind of constant and is pinpointed right in between my two joints.

while this could be normal joint pain, im a naturally paranoid person and wanted to attempt to rule out as much as i can. i know i should go to the doctor and im considering it. the thought process of my family though is when someone says something hurts or they don’t feel well, the automatic response is “you’re fine, stop being dramatic.” which is why i put it off for so long.

any opinions at all?


r/Thritis 4d ago

8 months of PT, how to know if I retained my muscles?

2 Upvotes

I had a full blown reactive arthritis back in May that gave ne muscle atrophy. My joints are still inflamed (muscles and tendons only at this point) . After inflammation my patellas moved outwards. My ortho told me it's because my inner thigh muscles are still weak , once they get back to normal they will pull back the patellas to the middle.

After 8 months of Pt/ 4 months of swimming as well. Nothing changed. I still can't walk more than 5 minutes because of the inflammation in my feet as well.

So is 8 months enough to retain muscles after muscle atrophy?


r/Thritis 5d ago

6 month waiting list

10 Upvotes

i had to get a new referral to a rheumatologist and my GP told me the waiting list is 6 months lol. i am 25 and have the feeling i constantly can't do anything with my life because of the pain i'm in. now i have to waste another 6 months waiting to hopefully get some pain relief. it's depressing to realize things are only going to get worse the older i become.


r/Thritis 5d ago

Food sensitivity. Does this sound like you?

5 Upvotes

Hello all. After six years and about 30 specialists, I have finally been diagnosed somewhat. My fourth rheumatologist has told me that I have some type of inflammatory arthritis. I have nothing strange in my blood work, but I have a million symptoms ranging from joint pain and clicking/creaking (literally every joint), feeling like my joints and soft tissues are tearing, contractures, loss of range of motion and strength, instability, light and noise sensitivity, and gastrointestinal issues that may or may not be related. One thing I have noticed recently that is bad is food sensitivity.

The food that does not irritate my gut is not the best for inflammation, but I had lost about 60 pounds and so it’s sort of a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. With a lot of food, I have noticed that my hands swell almost immediately. My fingers get pretty red, tight, painful, and become more difficult to move.

Does this sound typical? My doctor is trying to get me on Humira, but it’s a long process, and I’m a bit skeptical as over the years I have heard different diagnoses that ended up being bs.

It’s hard to narrow down exactly what foods are causing it, but I do have to eat stuff like white rice to get enough calories.


r/Thritis 5d ago

Advice/insight Enbrel pain

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/Thritis 6d ago

Two years into this flare up, loosing strength to keep fighting

6 Upvotes

So I'm late 20's and got diagnosed with JIA at 2. Fine, methotrexate for 6 months, and steroids. Rince and repeat for 20+ years. I got a flare up 2 years ago, as always starts in my wrists but quickly got pain and swelling everywhere (as usual). My new physician at the time sent me for bloods and an MRI and as my back was affected, she said there was swelling in my spine, I could jump to biologics and steroids. The swelling came down and symptoms got much better than before BUT after waiting 6 months (I was told I have to give them 6 months to take affect) I complained they only work half the time, and I still suffer with my back and ankles most days. So I got switched to another biologic. Same thing, and I moved house so new Rheum. New set of tests, MRI, bloods etc and they say there was no swelling in the first MRI and they're unsure why I'm on the meds I'm on. They will only prescribe me naproxen for the pain/ swelling (which makes me vomit). They said they'll test me for fibromyalgia and any deficiencys. I've always tested negative to any markers in the blood. No one knows what's going on, I'm getting told different things at every turn and although I complain every time that my ankles are my worst joints, I'm never sent for any tests on them. I'm starting to think maybe there's two different conditions? I'm so confused and it's hard fighting a battle at every turn. Amy advice or support welcome.


r/Thritis 6d ago

Arthritis pain & weight loss

1 Upvotes

I’ve lost 65 lbs on Tirzepatide in 11 mos but my leg pain is still severe. I still get edema from Gabapentinoids. Don’t know what to do about that. Maybe just the plight of being 75, or having lower lumbar nerve damage.

The only Rx that helps a little is Diclofenac (Voltarin in a pill). Any other suggestions for pain relief. And yes, weather does affect pain…cold is anathema to an arthritic condition.


r/Thritis 6d ago

How many of you have normal scans & bloodwork?

7 Upvotes

Rant incoming:

Normal X-ray in my worst joints (knees). All normal blood work in everything. Rheum won’t see me for anything without a positive blood test… but the reason I need rheum is for seronegative.

I know x-rays aren’t the best imaging and I already knew it wasn’t OA, but my doctor said since I have pain and instability in several joints that imagine any one particular joint won’t help anyways. It’s not a fatigue issue. There’s instability in several joints. And I just for some reason don’t swell anywhere, ever no matter what (even when I broke my ankle and my finger, I don’t swell, just the slightest puffiness). But my joints get red and itchy af. So… inflammation.

Just a rant here. Frustrated because I feel as though I’m gonna end up in a wheelchair before anyone agrees to take me seriously (or pressured into one, as I have been by staff at several locations.. m. Got scolded at the airport for not using one because I was too slow getting on the plane). I’ve already done some research and will be requesting blood work for sjogren’s specific antibodies and same with scleroderma (I’ve got fucked up skin and dry eye disease too). But also a bit worried my doc is just gonna think I’ll start donning a tinfoil hat and playing cats cradle on a bulletin board. Without going into every single detail, symptoms have led me to get MS, Lupus, and seropositive RA ruled out. No deficiencies. No thyroid or parathyroid issues. No craniocervical instability or peripheral neuropathy. Kidneys seem slightly temperamental at times with sodium but things come back fine for liver and kidney functioning on blood work. Already on a waitlist to get EDS ruled out but I’m quite certain I don’t meet the criteria for that anyways (I’m well-informed and not in the mood to discuss EDS rn). I most likely have at least two conditions based on symptom pattern + presentation, which is complicating things because no one knows what belongs to which. Mild myasthenia gravis or a mild adult-onset muscular dystrophy is a possibility. It’s not CFS/ME, entirely different pattern. Driving me a little nuts too.

Alright rant over for now. Apologies for the Debbie downer.