further investigation

[fruitsalad]

i have suffered with joint aches and pains for ages now and have been given different anti inflammation tabs to try but none of them seem to work, i keep going back to the doctors but he seems reluctant to send me for further investigation, i have had blood test taken which came back clear, but the pain is always there mainly in my knees, shoulders and wrists, can i insist he sends me for further tests?

[bednobs]

what tests did you have the first time?

[fruitsalad]

a blood test for rhemitoid artritis, bednobs excuse spelling

[shaneystar2]

Insist he sends you to a rheumatologist even if the rheumatoid arthritis test came back negative . Also you want xrays to see exactly what is wrong..
It could be a number of things ....osteoarthritis springs to mind .You can also ask for a bone density scan to rule out osteoporosis.Nsaids are all very well ..but they don't always work and some are downright awful to take because they have side effects. I have had a whole gamut of the wretched things .
In the meantime keep yourself warm ,take cod liver oil and glucosamine and rub the affected joints with an over the counter gel such as Traxam or Feldene.
Drink plenty of water and cut out acidic stuff from your diet . Above all keep moving ! Go back to your GP and put your foot down with a firm hand!
.Good Luck .Hope you soon feel better and can get something done about it.

[bednobs]

do you know if they looked for rhuematoid factor, or crp/esr?

[shoemad]

Hello fruitsalad, sorry you're not feeling well.
Your symptoms sound similar to ones I had some years ago and it was a miserable painful experience. I had blood tests for rheumatoid arthritis and although like yours, they came back negative, my specialist felt that I was in the early stages of the disease. Luckily my symptoms subsided although I do get flare ups every so often although touch wood, never as bad as the first few times. I found that eating a lot of tomatoes made the joints more painful and I also avoid oranges. I think you should ask to be referred to a specialist. They can do X rays which will show any problem with the joints. I really do sympathise with you as I remember all too well the frustration of not even being able to hold a pen properly because of the pain in my wrist and fingers.
I hope that you're lucky like me and that the joints settle down again.
All the best for Christmas,
Shoemad
xx

[fruitsalad]

thanks for all your replies, not sure what blood was tested for i told doc that my grandmother suffered with rhemitoid artrtis she had it quite bad and he said he would have my blood tested not sure exactly what for though, i will have to insist he sends me somewhere though because it seems to be getting worse, and i dont see the point of keep being prescribed anti flamm tabs until they know exactly what is wrong. so glad your symptoms subsided shoemad, just hope mine do the same. merry xmas to allx