Joint pain with locking and cracking

[bydand75]

For quite a few years now my joints have been painful and achy, they then started to 'lock' and I have to make them 'track's in order to briefly relieve the pain. It started I think in my knees but it affects my elbows, hips, wrists, fingers, thumbs and shoulder - I was seen by a consultant who operated on my ulner nerves and gave me steroid injections near my thumbs - this has made things a bit more comfortable and got rid of the pins and needles but not got rid of the locking or pain.

GP has referred me to Rheumatologist twice as she thought it was RA - The first time they briefly examined me and mentioned that I had Hypermobility (as they were practically shoving me out the door) - the 2nd time all they went on about was the fact that I don't seem to have visible swelling and that's mainly what they deal with!

Told them that the lack of swelling doesn't mean I'm not in pain.

Even walking or moving makes the joints crack and painful. I don't even get relief when I'm resting as they seem to 'lock' even more and I'm in agony.

I'm taking Tramadol and Paracetemol as I have Kidney problems, I also suffer with Raynauds. GP also diagnosed me as suffering from depression! My 'life' revolves around medication.

I'm only 40 and struggle with every day living - I feel like no one is taking me seriously and I don't know what to do - after all these people are supposed to know what they are doing.......right?

I know that there seem to be a lot of people in similar situations to me - I just want help and advice on how to get the help I need.

[rowantree]

The treatment for hypermobility syndrome is physio, exercise, bracing, pacing and pain medication. Look up HMSA for further information. They have a lot. But unfortunately, join the club! Many drs don't understand it as there's no inflammation.

[johnsmith]

You are not going to get the help you need from a medical consultant or GP. You will need to keep medical consultants and Gps in the loop because of benefit issues.

You are going to have to do your own research on yourself and study how your body responds to various stresses. In the process of your research note what is helpful and what is not so helpful. Then work on doing the helpful things making allowance for you have to do unhelpful things.

Things that will help in the process of doing research on yourself are mindfulness and meditation. There are many Buddhist groups who can teach you this for very low cost.

Alexander Teachers can be helpful as well as yoga teachers and McTimony chiropractors.

In are in the area where you need to learn about proprioceptors, spinal reflexes and muscle trains. This is an area where books cannot give you tactile feedback on how muscle behave. Nor can books give you tactile feedback on micro-cramps and non functioning proprioceptors.

Joints locking up is a muscle control problem. You are going to need to learn to use your mind to learn how to develop strategies to deal with the problem.

Hope this helps.