Good afternoon all
After 2 years of pain I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis this morning by a rheumatologist. I have this in all of my joints including hands and spine. I also have had fibromyalgia since 2012 but he has said this is now chronic. He has started me on 30mg of Deloxetine and I wanted to hear from anyone that maybe on this or had any experience on this medication please. X
Hello, This medication is usually given for depression. It does have side effects but after taking a similar antidepressant it caused me to develop peripheral neuropathy. There are other anti depressants you could take which don't cause this side effect. In view of all your medical conditions its not surprising you are feeling fed up and low. Get back to your doctor and don't be fobbed off. You need help and support to make life reasonable and comfortable.Best wishes
Tha k you for your reply.... I challenged the consultant this morning and rang the hospitals pals team... I told them I wasn’t happy with the diagnosis... I told them I wanted a second opinion... she asked me why? I explained that I was happy and that I didn’t feel comfortable with the diagnosis.... yes I understand that osteoarthritis is painful but my symptoms are not consistent with osteoarthritis (I don’t think) I have fat digits ( thumb & toe on left foot) not swollen fat... and the top of my left foot where my toe is fat sometimes looks red and inflamed. I have pain at the back of my left ankle and ball on foot and I have this feeling of muscle pain in the tops of my arms and legs as if they have been over worked at the gym... I’m struggling to walk and the fatigue is terrible. I felt the consultant was brushing me off but I am 40 years old and need to try something to help me. The receptionist tried to tell me that if I wanted a second opinion that I would need to be seen as a new patient but she said she would speak to the consultant and see what he says. Within 20 minutes the consultant was ringing me personally... he said that basically to forget what he had said yesterday and that he wanted to treat me for inflammatory arthritis and start me on two medications one being steroid.... I thought WHAT!!! He said we will start you on them and see how your symptoms go in the next 6 weeks and see if they help!! I will book you in to see my colleague! And said I will need regular blood tests. I just don’t understand all this!!! I told him yesterday that I believed my symptoms were consistent with psoriatic arthritis. Can I please have peoples thoughts on this because I just don’t know what to think.
Thank you all x
My goodness Dazakella what a story! You should be able to trust a consultant to give consistent advice. I’m glad you went to Pals, that was the right thing. From what you said I would not have thought psoriatic arthritis - but I’m just a member of the public and not a medical person.
Your prescription for steroids - what kind of steroid? If prednisone then your consultant may be thinking of polymyalgia ???
My daughter has psoriatic arthritis but it’s her skin trouble that bothers her most, the pain aspect doesn’t bother her too much, so she sees a dermatologist. She has just been started on Methratrexate.
Don’t give up!!
Sorry I should have mentioned my hands and thumbs have crippling arthritis in them.... in the thumb socket and thumb joint. I picked up my prescription today and the consultant has put me on prednisolone, methotrexate and folic acid.... after reading about methotrexate I’m really quite worried about taking it.
A friend of mine has been trying to get her aches and pains diagnosed for six years. Even rheumatologists find diagnosis difficult. For example, I don’t know if you’ve heard of the disease Ankylosing Spondolitis? The average time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis is something like eleven years.
Anyway, my friend started off with HRT as she was menopausal and this helped for a year or so. But she’s on Methrotrexate for the past couple of months and is a new woman!
Really... after ready about this drug it has really scared me... I’m currently waiting to hear back from my oncology team as I’m on chemotherapy for blood cancer and need to find out if these drugs are ok to take first. X
Do you mind me asking what blood cancer you have? RA puts a person at higher risk of lymphoma.
Sorry to hear you are in so much pain. I had swollen painful finger joints that returned to normal. The reason was, I am pretty sure, that I changed from spreads and sunflower oil to butter and olive oil. Omega 6 fatty acids are very inflammatory and in most processed food. Read up about the omega 6/3 balance. Sugar is also inflammatory. I add as little as I can get away with rather than what the recipe says. I also ferment vegetables and eat a dollop a day. Every little helps!
Hi.... unfortunately my thumb joints are damaged due to arthritis.... it’s just trying to find out what arthritis I have. It’s spread to my ankles, knee, should, feet and ankles.
There are various blood tests your GP can run for you, along with X-rays to help with a proper diagnosis.
Rheumatoid factor and the nattily titled Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody are the main blood tests. The latter is more sensitive than the former.
Do you have any food intolerances? I know for me a couple of things really make my joints flare, including gluten, so I now eat a gluten-free diet.
I really do wish you well Dazakella. You seem to have a lot to contend with at the moment.
Knee osteoarthritis 
thumb osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis help
Osteoarthritis of the hip.