Arthritis and P.A

[Suesue246]

Today the g.p. has told me that the mri I had shows arthritis in my upper back and neck. He says its likely to be osteoarthritis rather than rheumatoid arthritis. I told him I have pain every day and it's bad. I also have pain in my hip, elbow and hands. He said to have more blood tests and see the physio tomorrow. I have an appointment booked with a private rheumatologist soon, recommended by a consultant who helped with my P.A.

Is osteoarthritis linked to P.A?

Could degeneration be caused by P.A. and not osteoarthritis? I feel so let down by the nhs being told re my pain to meditate or take painkillers and that I am at low risk for arthritis when I've queried it previously. Also an mri last year was taken on the wrong area of my back, but when I said this, I was told the results did indeed cover the right area. It didn't and when I showed a private physio she confirmed this, leading to the recent mri.

I'm wondering if there's a connection to my P.A. or if it's unconnected. Today's phone appointment wasn't even a firm diagnosis of osteoarthritis anyway.

It all comes back to having to work things out ourselves again doesn't it?

Any insights gratefully received.

[Jillymo]

I was diagnosed many years before my B12 deficency with Osteo Arthritis. We have to remember Pernicious Anemia is a autoimmune condition in fact I were diagnosed only yesterday with another autoimmune condition which is a Rheumatic illness. It isn't one I had heard of before but yet something else for me to contend with. I found this on the net which might be of interest..........

Osteoarthritis is not. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body's immune system attacks healthy cells. That's exactly what happens with rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is caused by the wearing down of the cartilage that cushions the joints and keeps your bones from rubbing uncomfortably together.

Pernicious anemia, which is caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency, may occur more often in people with other autoimmune diseases, including psoriatic arthritis. The condition needs to be treated with vitamin B12 to prevent serious complications.

I know you feel let down but hang in there and get a firm diagnosis before fretting. 😘

I'm off to investigate my own new found misery. ☹

[Suesue246 in reply to Jillymo]

Thank you. Wishing you well.

[Gobbozoid in reply to Jillymo]

I developed Psoriatic arthritis 15 years ago age 30. I’ve now just found out I have pernicious anaemia by going private as my gp was useless. I really don’t feel like I can deal with it all. I have to inject for the arthritis already now anaemia….

[Jillymo]

I was diagnosed many years ago with osteo arthritis and have various autoimmune conditions. I often wonder how I cope with it all but somehow we do. Only yesterday I were diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica !

Isn't life just grand ? NOT 😢

[Bellabab in reply to Jillymo]

I am now trying to sort out with a good GP whether I have osteo arthritis or Pagets or Gout. It seems very tied in with PA. My problem is the surgery has no system where I can regularly meet that GP.

[Jillymo in reply to Bellabab]

I am not sure I agree that it is tied in with PA. I have suffered with osteo arthritis for many years long before my low B12 was spotted.

PA is an autoimmune condition so we have to expect other conditions to manifest. Our bodies are being attacked by our antibodies.

[Suesue246 in reply to Jillymo]

Does anything help your pain from the osteoarthritis? It's very daunting to imagine pain forever alongside all the P.A. stuff.

[Jillymo in reply to Suesue246]

I find flarin helps but due to my other condtions I have had to resorted to hemp oil or morphine.

If just a normal flare of arthritis I would sometimes use an ice pack and pain relief gel which is prescribed me.

You might find this of help.........

Self-care: Lose weight, if needed; switch from high-impact activities, like running, to low-impact ones, like walking or swimming; avoid movements, like lunges and squats, that could make the condition worse. Apply ice or heat for pain, and talk to a doctor about taking NSAIDs

I didn't manage the lose weight bit. 🤔

[Bellabab in reply to Jillymo]

Osteo, gout and Pagets are also auto immune diseases.

[Jillymo in reply to Bellabab]

Osteo arthritis isn't autoimmune it is degenerative, where as Gout is an inflammatory condition caused by too much uric acid. There is still a question mark over pagets they are not sure if autoimmune or not. 🤔

[jaybirdxNHM in reply to Jillymo]

I was diagnosed with inflammatory,generalised osteo. 16/17 yrs ago, at the then called Arthritis Hosp at Crowborough. They gave me steroid injections in many joints. This made a fantastic difference to pain in several, but not all of the joints. Very recently I am experiencing reoccurring pain . 🤐My PA was diagnosed about 20 yrs before ,but only treated with jabs for a few yrs. About 4 yrs ago a new GP reinstated jabs 😄, but now I supply and do EOD myself. Surgery can't afford them.🤐

I think more accurate monitoring of symptoms and diagnosis may find more genuinely related problems.

[Jillymo in reply to jaybirdxNHM]

I have had the Steriod injections in my feet and ankles, knees and thumbs and my wrists, your right they do help. I was given an epidural in my spine which eased the pain considerably. On Monday my Gp diagnosed me with something called Pollymyalgia Rheumatica! He is going to put me on steriod tablets. ☹

When you have many overlapping conditions it is dificult to determine what is doing what.

[Myoldcat in reply to Jillymo]

Oh dear, yet another thing to deal with! I know a couple of people who have had this, and it was treated successfully and completely resolved. Hope this is the case for you 🙏

[Jillymo in reply to Myoldcat]

You and me both but it will mean being on steriods for a couple of years.

I shall end up looking like looking like a telly tubby. 🤔 I most certainly have more than my fair share that's for sure. 😘

[Myoldcat in reply to Jillymo]

Wishing you a good recovery and hopefully in a shorter time xx

[Hockey_player]

Degeneration of the spinal chord can be caused by B12 deficiency. Which is one of the many reasons it is so appalling that many people with PA are misdiagnosed for a long time and/or are undertreated. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK5...

[Nackapan in reply to Hockey_player]

Link wouldn't open for me?

[Hockey_player in reply to Nackapan]

I managed to open the link after a redirect. Here is some text from the article you could google:

Subacute combined degeneration, or combined systems disease, is a neurological complication of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency. This condition arises from various causes such as nutritional deficiency, altered gastrointestinal anatomy or function, or certain drug intake. Subacute combined degeneration is characterized by demyelination, resulting in degeneration of the spinal cord's dorsal and lateral columns. Common symptoms include sensory deficits, paresthesia, weakness, ataxia, and gait disturbance. Diagnosis involves assessing macrocytosis, hyper-segmented neutrophils, and mean corpuscular volume, with additional tests like plasma homocysteine and methylmalonic acid levels supporting diagnosis if serum B12 levels are borderline. A thorough neurological examination is also important to institute.

In this activity, participants explore the evaluation, treatment, and management of subacute combined degeneration. Initiating prompt treatment to reverse alarming neurological deficits is highlighted, particularly in cases of pernicious anemia. Interprofessional team communication and collaboration in enhancing patient care emphasizes the roles of neurologists, internal medicine specialists, therapists, and other healthcare professionals.

[Suesue246 in reply to Hockey_player]

Link wouldn't open. Do you know if mri can differentiate between osteoarthritis and sub acute degeneration caused by P.A.? I've just been told I have osteoarthritis showing on my scan and I don't understand if my back pain is caused by that or if its to do with P.A. or muscular/postural as physio has said. I mean does virtually everyone show some osteoarthritis as they get older? It's not necessarily the cause of the pain is it? You never seem to get to the bottom of things by asking medical professionals.

[Hockey_player in reply to Suesue246]

No idea! But every other day injections of B12 will do no harm and would do a ton of good if you have PA and it has progressed so far to cause spine damage.