Arthritis?

[Les.]

When I was about 28, after a week long session at work, bending down, adjusting burners, standing up to do gas analysis, my knees started to ache badly. I hobbled about for about three months before they eventually returned to normal. Six years later, after two weeks labouring for my Father in law who was installing a new fireplace for us, the knee problem recurred. At the time, I had just found out that the then wife was having it off with a so called pal. No doubt this was a factor as well. When I saw the GP, he laughed and said “A young man like you”. When he put his hand on my knee, and I straightening it out, his face changed as he felt the “creak  creak  creak” of the joint.

Eventually I saw the rheumatologist privately. He gave me a thorough examination all over, and said that it was probably “Psoriatic arthritis”. I had a couple of patches of psoriasis in L forearm and L calf. He suggested the matrimonial problems were likely an aggravating factor. He proscribed me a one month course of Valium together with painkillers to be taken as I needed. The knee arthritis continued for the next 15 years before largely subsiding. Arthritis and skin problems are common bedfellows it would appear. I get small recurrences of the psoriasis, which is quickly quelled with a slight application of a steroid cream. However, over the years I have also suffered with eczema, with it getting slightly worse as time passes. In April this year I went to my GP complaining about it. I already have aqueous cream for washing with, but he gave me something new (to me) called “Zero Double”. After about 3 weeks of its application, I suddenly realised I was COMPLETELY clear of the problem! Something of a WONDER CURE.

Planeman, MAYBE it would help your skin problem.

[PlaneMan]

Thanks Les.

Any input is gratefully accepted.

[Bob Williams]

Thanks from me too Les, I looked at that and may get some to try. (on my missus first!)

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[PlaneMan]

Had to see the GP again today as I now have badly cracked skin one wound that isn’t healing properly.

So now it’s almost certainly an eczema flare up with probably an infection of some kind so I have an antibacterial/steroid cream and an antibacterial soap replacement.

GP reckons they are both going to hurt like hell for a few days but I should see an improvement in about 3-4 days. Already have an appointment for a fortnights time.

[Ed P]

Hate to say it, but the auto-immune aspects of your troubles seems to have worsened under treatment compared with your first post, and some of the things you are ingesting definitely impact the gut.

Perhaps it may be worthwhile looking at some of the research on the role of the gut biome and autoimmune diseases. This link for example. Although it does not carry any practical advice it is known that soluble bran (for example oat bran) feeds the lower intestine, and insoluble bran (e.g. wheat & others) act as road sweepers and keep the colon healthy. Perhaps adding a dessert spoon of each to your breakfast cereal may over time favour the good guys in your gut over the bad ones. Although worth discussing with your specialist it should not harm you and in the worst case is in line with general medical advice.

[Bob Williams]

My own hand problems seem to have faded away, just dry skin now with patches of rough.

On a more serious and sadder note, I just had a message from the wife of an old mate back in Notts: he is currently fighting for his life in hospital ICU. Looks like his brain cancer has returned. Puts things in perspective for me. That particular problem began for him after a head injury: some years ago, a heavy lamp fixture fell from the ceiling and hit his head at work. It took a few years for the first tumour to develop, but we thought he had beaten it. If I know Gee, he will be fighting as he always has done. Making it worse, his missus (also a friend for many years) lost her mum a few weeks ago. Her dad passed away when she was a teenager.

Sometimes you cannot put into words what you want to say to someone with such bloody awful luck.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[PlaneMan]

Saw the doctor again today. Hands are still ruined.

Doc doesn’t really know what’s going on but took photos of both hands and will forward them and a report to the dermatology specialist unit.

In the meantime I have another emollient and a stronger steroid cream to use. 4 lotions to use on my hands so far……..

[Bob Williams]

Good luck Nolan, I really hope they have a solution for your problems soon.

Your post reminded me of the mate I had posted about: he made it out of ICU, missus sent me a pic. He is gurning* smiling into the camera from his NHS bed, LH side of face all distorted, left eye looking somewhere else, but he made it and his SOH is back, so I know he stands a chance.

*He won’t mind me saying that, I asked his missus to tell him to send me a pic without the gurning, she says he “sort of laughed” at that. Known each other a long time, since very small.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[PlaneMan]

Thanks Bob.

[blacklion1725]

PM – wish you the best mate – had a flare up in my ankle (nothing compared to your strife) which was cured with a couple of days of diclofenac (I always stock up abroad now as you can’t get tablets aka voltarol here without prescription now and also about 100th the price abroad aka voltaren). Can only imaging the grief yours is causing and sincerely hope you get a bit of relief soon.

[PlaneMan]

Thanks BL.

The new emollient I have is a different consistency and seems to be absorbed a bit better. It’s more like a soft wax kind of feel to it.

The new steroid cream also seems to be absorbed a bit better and that stops the itching almost straight away, the last one did nothing.

[PlaneMan]

New Years eve I had a call from the GP, a response from the dermatology specialists had come through way quicker than anyone expected, especially at this time of year.

They recommended ditching the steroid cream I had and try another cream, Mometasone Furoate, and carry on with all the other stuff. Also wear gloves when doing any thing like washing up, putting detergent in the washing machine, washing the car, so on and so forth.

They gave a time frame of 6-8  weeks to see real improvements. I’ll also be seen in the dermatology outpatients when possible. So maybe this time next year…… 🙄

 

[PlaneMan]

I’ve now managed to knacker my left shoulder doing nothing unusual.  🙁

GP reckons it’s a shoulder impingement and I’m seeing a physio on Tuesday.

[Richard]

Physiotherapy is often successful these days. If it does not address the issue, either the physio was wrong or the issue lies somewhere else. Usually a good one will give guidance on the issues they believe are causing your challenges. Shoulders can be a potent source of pain and are really inconvenient impacting everything you try to do. Frozen shoulder can come on suddenly as can rotator cuff problems, in truth they might have been growing just below your conscious state for a while. Hopefully, with assistance it will settle down but it may take several weeks. At least your physio appears to be on the near horizon, this is good.

[PlaneMan]

Thanks Richard.

My surgery is one of the ones in this area that have a ‘fast track’ physio service available at the largest surgery in the area, more like a small hospital. It’s only for people that can’t wait more than a few days, like me.

If it gets so bad I can’t use my crutches I’m in a right pickle.

[PlaneMan]

Had an ultrasound scan of my hands today, the doctor couldn’t see any problems with my joints.

Which is good.

But confusing, as he admitted. Hands are really painful, still.

The GP that had me fast tracked for the scan strongly suspects that I’m an the early phase of Raynaud syndrome.

Time will (maybe) tell.

 

[Richard]

My wife has had trouble with Raynaud’s syndrome for years. Her fingers go white and her hands become somewhat useless if she is not careful. She also has other autoimmune troubles for which she is currently finding steroids useful. She also has troubles with her joints. I thought it might have been a side effect of her chemotherapy. For a while she barely able to walk, so now I have a 99% complete disability form prepared on my PC. However, a minor foot operation and the steroids have helped her to regain better mobility so the form is currently parked. Some joint pains can be very hard to diagnose, I had a hip injection on Christmas eve and for a couple of days I thought that had worked, but since hen things have been worse so it affects my whole stomach. It could originate with my spine and may also explain leg and foot pains. Quite how a big toe joint could disturb a night’s sleep defeats me. Chemical treatments do nothing, which tends to suggest that it is the spine and possible nerve damage. Being wishy-washy explanations does not help pains to get better, they do impact on an awful lot of life.

[PlaneMan]

Richard, yes, joint pain is a real nightmare.

On the good side I had a tentative all clear from the physio today, if the progress continues, no need to go back.

 

[PlaneMan]

Hips and shoulders x-rayed on the 13th, still not had the result.

Got a letter in the post today saying I have an appointment on December the 4th for XR Humerus Lt.  I see the rheumatolgy consultant on the 10th.

Letter had a franking mark of Monday so the hospital has processed my x-rays but they are not on the system the surgery uses yet.  There must be a strong suspicion of something wrong for x-rays to be arranged before I see the consultant. :wacko: :unsure:

[Ed P]

On the bright side he may have had a stroke of inspiration and wanted to check if his diagnosis gave treatment hopes.

Best of luck anyway! :good:

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