I have been dealing with my thumbs and wrists hurting for almost 2 yrs now. I went to my doctor, she tested me for lupus and RA and the tests were negative. She then sent me to orthopedics where they made me braces and treated me for tendonitis. I returned to my doc after a long period of constant pain in my hands and now in my ankles and knees. She has referred me to a rheumatologists but it will be August before I can be seen. She retested me and it is still negative. I also have Raynauds Disease which has also worsened over the last 2 years. NSAIDS do absolutely nothing for me. My doc put me on prednisone for 10 days and had me make a pain chart for the same 10 days plus 10 days without pred. The prednisone was fantastic, the first I have had no pain in a very long time. According to her that's a sign of RA, responding to steroids, I am just worried and concerned about the outcome of this. I have always been VERY active and I already see it slowing me down, It's just unacceptable to me. It is changing who I am and I am not happy about it at all.
I eat right, exercise everyday, I am very active with my kids and expecting my first grandchild in June. I am also a very small, petite person who does not take medicine well at all. It wipes me out, I have to take a childs dose and even then it's strong to me.
My co-workers and friends are amazed by the amount of exercise and activity I do and how healthy I eat, stating that they could never commit to a lifestyle like mine. And now I look at them and say "Yea, eat right, exercise, do all the right things and you too can live in agonizing pain for the rest of your life.
Can anyone tell how it all began for them, am I just trippin or what
