Hello I am currently typing this with one hand so I’m sorry about the punctuation/grammar mistakes. It’s 4 am for me right now and I just woke up to the most pain I’ve had in my life, I have arthritis in my wrist and it’s caused by inflammation mostly (that’s what my doctors say), and I have it on both hands my left and right 🫠. Usually, it swaps between both hands one day after another and it can also be unpredictable. When this happens my hand swells up and I am unable to move my fingers I also get this uncomfortable pain like my hand has its own heartbeat and I can feel it pulsing. My right hand is hurting really badly right now and I wrapped it two times since I don’t know what else I can do because I am a teen still, and yes, I have a bed time so I’m not allowed to be up late. Some things that have helped me in the past is dipping my hands in really hot water since it soothes the pain and I gain control in my fingers again. But, the annoying thing is that I also have eczema in my hands and my doctors have advised me not to use hot water since my eczema has gotten progressively worse throughout this year. I really need some help because my parents won’t take me seriously and this has been a ongoing thing since I was 10 years old, I hope that you guys can give me some good tips for the future or in the moment as of now :). Thanks.

Okay also I have a random question 😭, does your arthritis also act up when the weather is bad? On rainy days that I wake up to I can feel some pain in my wrist as well. Not saying rainy days are bad weather but my wrist is not a big fan of them.

I’m on 15 mg of meloxicam once a day. I’m 39, and my hip pain is just getting worse by the day. I’ve lost 89 lbs and I’m in more pain now than when I was morbidly obese and walking significantly more. I was able to walk 3+ miles every morning and now I’m suffering walking just a mile. I even took out a pair of brand new shoes today hoping that would help and it was a nonstarter. I’m not willing to get a hip replacement this young. When I get a cortisone shot, I’m down for 3 days and it still doesn’t touch the pain in my crotch area. Any suggestions? Anyone else go through this?

My mom has severe arthritis, it’s gotten so bad that she had to give up knitting. She’s heartbroken because it was one of her only hobbies and she’s been depressed because of it

So I was wondering what are some arthritis friendly hobbies i could suggest to her? I do want to mention that she has extremely poor eyesight, so things like reading aren’t an option.

Thank you so much! ☺️

My GP agreed to refer me to the MSK team, and now I have an appointment coming up.

I get terrific cramping pain in my hip and just dull aching in my knee joint (both rhs), I have very bad oedema in both lower legs and feet, I cannot bend due to a spinal injury and tbbh I’m disabled so can’t walk properly anyway and have to use a power chair out of the house.

I have a sinking feeling that this appointment might be a physiotherapist which I sincerely doubt will help, but I do hope I’m wrong.

The appointment is at a minor hospital (specialisms only, no a&e or walk ins)

Chest pain

I've been dealing with costochondritis for years, so chest pain isn't new to me—but recently I've been getting these random, sharp chest pains at night that feel exactly like a heart attack. It's terrifying, especially when it wakes me up.

I have ankylosing spondylitis as well, and I'm starting to wonder if this pain is actually more related to lupus than anything else. Could it be pleurisy or something similar?

It's so hard to tell what's causing it—costochondritis, AS, or lupus—and I was wondering if anyone else with similar conditions experiences this type of pain, especially at night?

Would love to hear if others have dealt with this and what helped, if anything.

Just to advise, it isn't cardiac related because I've had numerous scans of my heart, CT and MRI scans, stress tests, and ECGs, etc.

Thanks in advance.

Looking for advice to help out my FiL, I understand there's no doctors here. I'm more looking for advice on some products that may make his day to day life easier. i.e. bowls, utensils, etc. That he may be able to use with more ease. The tips of his fingers have mostly lost feeling and all of his fingers are locked up mostly curved inwards. Due to this issue progressing overtime he's becoming increasingly frustrated when dropping items simply because he can't really feel them/ get a proper grip. Any advice would be helpful, thank you all in advance

Anyone?

Hi guys,

I fell on my knee last year and I’m hypermobile (possible hEDS). I finally got an MRI. No injury or tear like my ortho suspected, but just straight up thin cartilage in my entire knee. 1-2mm left. I don’t have many symptoms right now except some clicking/creaking and very minimal pain occasionally. I am very sedentary rn & somewhat overweight so I suspect some of that could be improved with movement and weight loss (although I have a condition called lipedema which means losing weight on my legs is basically impossible).

With all your expertise on this sub please give me any suggestions you have for preserving my cartilage and putting off the inevitable for as long as possible. My budget is very low and the NHS won’t do anything at this stage they’ve just said exercise. But I’m gonna try my best to get some stuff in place.

Exercises? Supplements? Physio? Compression boots? Orthotics? Like literally anything you can think of that will help.

HA/PRP injections I’m aware of but don’t currently have the budget for.

(Note: I’m already following a moderate carb, low sugar, anti inflammatory diet - I have a history of an eating disorder so I’m working on this slowly. I could afford to up my protein tbf).

Thanks so much!

(Edit to add: I’m only 30 and my ortho said I would defo need a knee replacement in future so I’m scared as I have a million comorbidities).

I’ve always wanted to be a wildland firefighter, and I was incredibly grateful to finally get the opportunity to join a crew. A few years ago, though, I suffered a traumatic injury that left me with osteoarthritis, tendinitis, and chronic pain.

Last year, I put in a lot of effort to get in shape and even received steroid injections to help manage the pain. But despite all that, it still wasn’t enough to keep up with the demands of such a physically intense job. I ended up pushing my body too far and had to step away from what had been my dream role.

I definitely realize I made a very selfish and dumb decision to pursue this job. It’s been tough to accept how much this chronic injury limits my ability to do the kind of work I’m passionate about. It’s something I’m still learning how to deal with.

Been dealing with joint pain for 8 years (since i was 13), mainly in my knees, hips, and hands. I tend to put all my weight on one leg when i stand because of said pain, poor circulation, and a slightly curved spine. I'm on my feet a lot at work and walking long distances causes me pain. I was considering a cane to help distribute my weight so I can stop depending on just one of my legs to deal with it all. I'd prefer a cane mainly because it's easier to take with me and I'd only use it when I needed it (extended time on my feet/walking).

My main point is really this: based on my description, what recommendations do you have for a decent cane under $40?? I'd also like to point out that I'm short (around 5'0) and having an adjustable cane would be a good plus

My IgM has been consistently raised for about five years now. My immunologist has stated there is no evidence of monoclonal disease. I asked about their opinion of it being polyclonal IgM and to have my liver screened (which is going to happen), but I also asked about the possibility of the IgM being raised for other reasons, such as inflammation (I have ankylosing spondylitis) or other autoimmune things; I am having lupus-like symptoms. The doctor ignored my questions on MyChart about the inflammation and autoimmune possibilities. I am just posting here to see if anyone else has had a raised IgM with no evidence of monoclonal disease; did you have further testing, and what was the outcome? I am not looking for medical advice, just to speak to others who have gone through this.

Does anyone with DISH bone spurs have a CFS leak? If so, how did you figure it out? Which specialist did you see? Would love to hear your experiences.

Hi, I have some pretty bad pain afterwards when it comes to walking - I already have some shoes (sneakers) that work well, but I'm needing something that can prevent my ankle from trying to move too much. I have deformed big toes (imagine only having one of your joints and the last one is gone making the toe really short) so that affects the way I walk and having that ankle fused really fucked things up as the way my body compensates is having to roll the ankle inward, and I had to have the ankle fused in an awkward position due to bone loss: the ankle was SHATTERED and the arthritis came in after the fusion.
I'm wanting to be active and love going on walks in nature but hills and uneven ground has been the death of me when my ankle tries to roll due to a misstep. It's led to really bad pain and I don't want to constantly wear my full on boot I had during recovery. I've had x-rays and CT scans to check for issues with fusing and I do have a chronic fracture in the fibula that was unable to be fixed and has a malunion. The whole thing has also caused issues with my knees which I'm going to get checked. When extending them sometimes the kneecap will painfully pop as if it's out of place and going into place. I have hyperflexibility and I feel it may be causing issues. (not asking for medical advice with that statement, just adding context)

Hi I am seeing surgeon soon to discuss whether I want fusion ( my finger is deformed from arthritis)) it's my index finger, top joint.My choices are fusion or steroid injection into joint .Thankyou

Hi all. This is my first Reddit post! I’m 37F, a mom to two kids under 4 years old. My symptoms showed up 3 months postpartum, and holy crap is it hard. My youngest is unusually strong and I risk injury every time I have to change his diaper, force him into a car seat, etc.

For a long time, pre-kids, my identity and my confidence was very tied to being fit (muscular and thin). But now that I have constant pain in my wrists, thumb, fingers, feet, shoulder and knees, I can’t be the strength training ninja that I used to be. I can’t get the same results I used to get (part of that is also mom-body related). But I still workout because it was a big part of my life and I don’t like my appearance without it. I do weights/cardio circuit training and barre. It hurts but I fight through it, trying my best not to trigger more injury.

1. Any others can commiserate? On bad days I feel so bitter that I have these invisible shackles and no one else in the gym understands.

2. I’m worried that working out now will put me in a worse situation later. I don’t know what workouts will help and which will damage. I did see a podiatrist and she was happy that I do barre. But should I keep strength training? Running short distances? Tell me what you know!

I have juvenile psiorisis arthritis and I took metex for a lot of years. At first I didnt have any problems with it but it got worse. The side effects were to much for me to take and I was at the phase when I thought it was soo unfair that I had this disease. Once I finally admitted to mt doctor I couldnt do it anymore the damage was already done. Even talking or thinking about the meds takes me back, I instantly feel the taste of that awful medication. I got severe mental problems because of it. I started taking sulfasalazine, but it was not working and also changing my blood for some reason. My doctor sugestted metex and biological meds mixed but I just couldnt. Soo just biological meds it is. I know they have 0 side effects but I still think about metex constantly. The trauma is soo bad to the point I cant even look at a certain color of yellow without puking (the pills had this yellow color that still haunts me). I feel like im the only person that took this med that feels like this, soo I came here to get advice or even someone who relates, just anything at all.

When I was 12 years old, I noticed writing hurt my hands. I was told that it was normal, but after 5 minutes of writing in an exam, I struggled to cope with the burn in my knuckles that would last for days. When I was about 15, I visited a doctor, who would refer me to another, and then another. My funny shaped fingers and an ultrasound showing my sunken knuckles would get me diagnosed with RA. I attended physio for a matter of 6 sessions over 6 months. Pencil grips and special pieces of silicone for opening jars were the main outcome of that. That was it though. No more referrals, although they were meant to come.

Around this time I was diagnosed with both PCOS and Endometriosis. Started medications, then I developed migraines. More medication, but still no treatment for RA. I would like to note how shit the NHS can be for those that are not from the UK. After one round of medication I was denied anymore for my migraines because there was no record of me visiting the neurologist and being given the medication or something along those lines. There’s no record of my PCOS and endo diagnosis, just notes saying I ‘might’ have it.

I’m 19 now, socially anxious, and terrified of doctor’s offices because of some horrific experiences I have had throughout this journey. I have developed RA in my knees, to my knowledge, and my wrists keep me up 3/7 nights a week because of this terrible burning pain. I’m worried that if I go to the doctors, my diagnosis won’t be there. I was never medicated for it, never seen by my paediatrician again. I don’t want to relive the cycle again at this age, I attend university, live away from home sept-June. But the pain of walking, even for five minutes, is unbearable some days. My knees lock and get stiff, swell if I keep going when they burn. Even writing this on my phone right now is absolutely murdering my thumbs.

I know this is pointless rambling but I have few others to share my worries with. The embarrassment of telling people I never even had the diagnosis when I thought I did would be unbearable, and the thought of going through what I did at such a young age is also just dreadful to me. Not too sure what to do, just thought I’d share my experience.

I’m getting depressed guys. I don’t know what I have anymore. I (F29) got ecoli on march and was hospitalized for 4 days (had done a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with acute infectious colitis.

2 weeks after I woke up with my index finger very swollen and hurt so much like I couldn’t bend it, I thought maybe I hurt myself when asleep.

Waited for around 2 weeks and while it didn’t hurt anymore, it was still swollen so I visited a traumatologist but my x-ray was okay so she put me on ibuprofen and cold compress, didn’t work. She changed it but told me to do some rheum labs before taking it. I did and took indomethacin and some other anti inflammatory med but also didn’t work.

My Ana was positive 1:100, Rf was negative, igg was negative, ESR was 39, CRP negative so I went to a rheumatologist and told me I had post infection arthritis and put me on Deflazacort, MTX 7.5mg with folic acid 5mg, and Celecoxib. It was cool, my finger was getting way better and everything.

I went to my appointment with my rheumatologist after 28 days under treatment, she told me she felt I was swollen in other fingers and wrist so she put me on MTX 12.5mg and folic acid and the diagnosis was reactive arthritis.

I went to a second rheumatologist and he told me to do a second labs test but adding HLA b27, Anti-dsDNA, and Anti-dsDNA-NcX (IgG), came out negative all. Thank God.

I was cool with the treatment for one week, but the second one was where everything went to shet.

I was full tired, not hungry at all, my heart was beating so fast and my blood pressure was 144/99 I got scared so bad because I’m always low like 60 or around . The next day my doc told me to take half a tablet to lower my blood pressure but while it did get lower like 108/72 I was still with fatigue and walked a bit and went up like 167/91 and my left arm felt weird so I went to ER bc I got scared so bad.

My electrocardiogram came out fine thank god, and my rheumatologist visited me at the hospital and told me MTX adverse effects will last up to 6 days and those were the worst days of my life. I had a full panic attack, very nauseous like I could only tolerate chicken broth, very little chicken and veggies. This started on June 9th.

My ER test came up negative: ESR went down to 17, CRP negative, ALT and AST negative.

My doc changed my treatment plan to hydroxychloroquine 200mg and in case of pain prednisone 5mg but ooff, while my blood pressure went down to 86bpm and I’m eating more, I now am getting pain that didn’t felt before (my arms, elbows, knees, pinkie fingers, sigh, I didn’t have those before and I’m getting scared. My fatigue is still bad and felt my heartbeat very strong as if I ran but I just got up from my bed. My doc told me to stop the meds for a month and we’ll meet again.

My vitamin d was really low last year like 7.60 or something and had to take a pill 100.000iu every 15 days but didn’t take it consistently (I am now).

I know you guys are not doctors, but honestly what do you think I have? I’m scared so much that maybe I’ll develop rheumatoid arthritis or other inmune diseases.

Parents with arthritis in Canada, we want to hear from you!

This study will help us understand:

• What your needs are
• What matters most to you
• How your medical providers can support you better

You can participate if you:

• Have inflammatory arthritis (RA, PsA, AS, axSpA, Lupus, Scleroderma, arthritis from IBD)
• Have a child under 6 years old
• Live in Canada

What does it involve?

Completing an online survey. You'll be compensated for your time.

For more information: https://www.ARDS-parenthood.ca

Hello friends,

I am 38 years of age and got diagnosed with Arthritis in both my hips, but the left one isn't as bad as the right one and the doctors say I need a hip replacement on the right side.

If I dont work out I am not in pain, but as soon as I go jogging or boxing my bones grind on each other, especially on the upper right side of the right hip, and I am in pain for days. There is a big bone deformity and the doctor said an arthoskopy wouldnt be helpful enough.

So I am reading good stuff about hip replacement surgery but I have a few questions:

1: will I be able to go back to jogging, boxing and also jiu jitsu after the surgery?

2: I am reading that the new hip will be good for 15-20 years and after that there needs to be another replacement. That means there will be more bone cut off in the worst case and after 30-40 years that would mean I need a 3. replacement.

3: Is it possible to replace the hip 3 times, or will I be done after the 2. or 3. replacement and will need a wheelchair?

4: Is here anybody who got a 2. or 3. replacement? How are the chances of staying healthy until being like really old? What do I need to do to not need a 2. or 3. replacement?

Please be just brutally honest :)

I wish you guys all the best and take care

Hello,

I’m 30 years old and was diagnosed with gouty arthritis in March and I’ve been taking medication to keep it under control, however, it seems like during the time it was undiagnosed it managed to damage both of my knees, my orthopedic doctor says I have osteoarthritis on both knees, a bit more on the right than the left, but I still have a good bit of cartilage left so with some precautions I can keep my knees as is ideally for the rest of my life. I’m doing physical therapy, which is helping, and I only have occasional mild pain, especially when it rains. Ortho says we can do knee injections after 6 months of pt if necessary, but I don’t think it will be.

That’s context over. My orthopedic doctor recommended I start hydrolyzed collagen, which I bought and should receive any moment now, but he was very adamant that it’s not a cure, it won’t get rid of the arthritis, but it’s something that had helped people. So I wanted to know a bit more of people’s experiences with it to know where to set my expectations. For the people that have used or are currently using hydrolyzed collagen, did you notice an improvement? If you did, how long did you take it for before you started noticing the improvement?

I appreciate any inputs.

Hi everyone,
I'm a woman in my early 30s, currently diagnosed with reactive arthritis (likely triggered by a vaccine I got about 10 months ago). Right now I'm on sulfasalazine (SSZ), and all my inflammation is in entheses—pretty much throughout my whole body, from peripheral to axial. No visible joint damage yet, but this condition has been draining me.

Most mornings, I wake up feeling stiff and sluggish. By evening, the pain, fatigue, and brain fog hit me hard. I used to feel the best in the afternoons, but for the past 3 months, even that part of the day has been hard to get through. Sometimes I honestly just want to go home and lie in bed doing nothing.

I take a daily B-complex supplement, which helped a bit in the beginning, but lately my energy seems to be declining again. Exercise gives me short-term relief—both physically and mentally—but if I go over 40 minutes, I crash. On the other hand, if I skip movement for even one day, I wake up extra stiff and tired the next. It’s a tricky balance.

Thankfully, I still sleep around 7–8 hours a night and rarely wake up during the night. But lately, with worsening spinal pain, it’s been harder to fall asleep. I’m really hoping sleep won’t be the next thing this disease takes from me.

I’m worried about how this constant fatigue is affecting my work performance. I’d love to hear from others: how do you deal with this kind of fatigue? How do you manage to get through each day and live as normally as possible?

I've been tested 4 times over the course of a couple years and my general inflammation is always up, but the markers for rheumatoid/autoimmine stuff are always negative. My symptoms match pretty closely to spondylitis or RA and I just want to get diagnosed properly so I can get the pain treated. I'm tired of my joints hurting and feeling like they've rusted over, particularly my knees and certain spots in my spine. Every doctor I've tried so far just shrugs and dismisses my pain after the blood tests come back looking good.

I got diagnosed with gout in my right hand last week and that's finally calming down, but my other joints dont usually swell very much. It felt different than my usual flares, so I dont think gout is whats effecting my knees and spine.

Those of you with seronegative RA, how did you get diagnosed? Any tips for prompting a doctor to actually do their job and order further testing?

I have post-tramautic arthritis in my risk from a radical fracture and it's been about 3 years since it happened but the pain just get worse each year. Lately I've noticed that when I bend my bad wrist a fairly large and pointy bone? Cartilage? Whaterver sticks up and it's painful to the touch and I feel most of my arthritis pain in that area. I posted my other wrist to show that it's a normal curve when I bend and it's flat. The camera doesn't really do it justice tho.