Maybe a silly question-is this the new normal?

[Elmo333]

Hello everyone. Sorry, this is going to be a long post. Ok, anyone who has followed my post over the years will know that I was diagnosed with RA in 2014 due to +ve RF and +ve CCP (plus CRP/ESR. However, so far the manifestation has been palindromic ie short flare ups in different joints and ok in between with no joint damage. That’s the background. Now my knees are really bad and have been hurting for months, exacerbated anytime I try to go for little walks etc. I just presumed it was osteoarthritis because it is different from the short flare ups I’m used to getting and an X-ray I had a few years showed some mild OA in one knee. I’m just wondering whether my knee pain could be RA and that this is just development of the disease. It must sound very naive after all this time but do some of you have pain all the time or is it always short episodes? My rheumatologist said he will do scans in a couple of months. Thank you x

[Deeb1764]

I have a lot of issues with knees but x-rays showed all OA and bone on bone. However what I know now, I also get mini flares, as I have Fibromyalgia on top of the RA+. So if things are bad my knees set off which at first put to OA but in fact slightly different and I now recognise as Fibro.If worried ask GP for xrays of knees as be quicker and explain issue of not knowing if OA/RA getting worse or if something else I bet they will sort for you and they can cc rheum team on it as well.

[Hidden]

It’s a difficult one. I have OA in my right knee, RA, Fibro and Hyper-mobility. Trying to unpick it just gets my head in a knot. You can be prescribed some exercise by a MSK Physio, your GP can refer you. Building up the muscles will result in less wear on the joint, as the muscle will be doing more of the work. Allegedly 😎.

[oldtimer]

Personally I would get the GP involved as well. Although that depends on what service is available from the GP - I can see that other people are having great problems accessing GPs. At my surgery you would have and examination F2F, a walk-in X-ray form to take to the hospital, then a review with the result (possibly by phone) then if symptoms persist and diagnosis of OA has been made, an offer of steroid injection in to the knee capsule. This is what happened to my partner anyway and sounds like what should be happening.

[Emye343]

Hi,I was diagnosed with palindromic rheumatism in 2008, but in 2015, it morphed into full blown ra, unfortunately. I suddenly had pain up my arms and into my shoulders which didn’t let up and was so intense that it scared me. Very different from the short 3-4 day bursts I had been getting with the PR. I also have a lot of osteoarthritis running alongside but the pain from that is different, more of a deep, dull ache I suppose.

[Mmrr]

It is so difficult at times to know what is causing pain.I have seronegative RA and have been having a lot of pain in my feet and shoulders, the fatigue is overwhelming some days.I have severe OA back issues too. At a recent rheumatology appointment I was scanned, there were no signs of synovitis. I was told I had degenerative inflammitory OA alongside my RA.

I do have OA, have had for a long time, but saying the pain and fatigue is all OA is questionable. But what do you do ?