Arthritis anyone?

[VictorAndBarry]

I have historic knee injuries, so sometimes am a bit achey and it wouldn't surprise me at all if I got arthritis.

However, over the past few months I have been actually woken in the morning by my achng knees.

And every morning now for over two weeks my little finger and slighty my ring finer in my right hand have had achey joints on waking. Sore to straighten out - it feel like I am wearing tight or stiff leather gloves, so it is hard to fully straighten. This is most noticeable on waking in the morning, and generaly eases off during the day, soI almost forget about it.

My elbows and shoulders are achey too. Possibly from sitting at a desk and using an ipad at home, but it is a bit of a worryng pattern. If I drve for more than half an hour my elbows start to ache dully.

So, how on earth do I find out if ths is arthritis, and if it is do I just need to live with it?

Thanks

[digerd]

Sounds like it. I am a very restless sleeper and move around a lot in bed while asleep, which helps my joints.
I had a MRI scan on one knee, but for 20 minutes I had my elbows bent clutching the buzzer on my tummy. Afterwards, I had an awful stinging pain when straightening them. < won't do that again>
You should have the knees X-rayed to show if the bones are arthritic. I had the MRI scan as suspected Cartilage damage - soft tissue.
Knee replacements for arthritic knee bones are common place. My neighbour at 78 had both done at the same time
I met an elderly lady who said she had replacement elbow, shoulder and ankle joints.
But if not in absolute intolerable agony constantly, like I am not, I'd rather not have the surgery, and just live with it < with sighs and groans> as it always goes away.
My cartilage tear was repaired and was given the good news that they found arthritis in the bones of the knees while at it. It's been behaving for 7 years now. < keeping fingers crossed>

[ppeatfruit]

Hello digerd Victorand I had those type of symptoms when I was in my early 40s so I studied a number of books about health I am 62 and am now slimmer and completely healthy. I have-;

1. Stopped eating fruit AFTER a meal.
   

1. Followed The Blood Type W.O.E. By Dr. Peter D'Adamo
   

1. Take linseed oil and or starflower oil every other day.
   

4.Followed the Food Combining WOE (which is not mixing carbs and protein at the same meal.)

1. I follow the Paul Mckenna WOE for weight loss.
   

It seems complicated but I'm used to it and it works .

[bigfatfeet]

I normally lurk rather than post, but didn't want to leave this unanswered; I had similar symptoms this time last year (stiffness in the mornings, random joint pains), and similar "explanations" for them - computer use, uncomfortable bed etc. However, when my feet and ankles swelled up to the point I couldn't get most shoes on I went to the doctor, who did some blood tests and diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis.

I'm not trying to scare you - I have now been on medication for six months and am feeling completely normal again - but you do need to see your doctor and get tested to for the inflammatory arthritises (arthriti?) as the sooner you start treatment, the better.

Hopefully it's not that and will go away on its own - now I can actually move my fingers again, I'll keep them crossed for you!

[VictorAndBarry]

Thanks Big I really do need to go get this checked, don't I?

[VictorAndBarry]

GP took a battery of blood tests. I am hypermobile, so slightly inclined to arthritis, she agrees my crunchy knees probably will get arthritis.

But proably not yet.

[sashh]

Go to your GP.

An antinflammatory at night might be all you need and you can get those over the counter.

[bigfatfeet]

Well done VandB (great name by the way) - hope it's all good news.