For the last 2.5 months, I have had general fatigue and weakness in both arms and hands. Also, both wrists and all of my 10 fingers hurt – 24×7. Some days the pain is worse than other days. There is a lot of stiffness after I type for sometime. Also, I feel like popping my fingers all the time…to feel some relief.

All blood tests (ESR, Mono, Lyme, Rheumatoid Factor) came negative. X-rays show nothing abnormal. MRI shows a tear in TFCC in the right wrist, a small cyst in the right wrist, and some fluid build up in the left wrist.

The Ortho surgeon said that the tear is most likely due to overuse (I have an 18-month old who I lift etc). Otherwise, he did not know what to conclude regarding the pain in ALL fingers. He said I should see if the pain level changes in the next couple of months, and then come back.

I am a 30 year old female, and Arthritis runs in my mother’s side of the family. A cousin got diagnosed of Psoriatic Arthritis at the age of 30 (she had a long history of Psoriasis, I don’t have any).

Can these issues that MRI showed cause all this pain? Do you think I could have Arthritis? What else (other than blood tests, X-rays and MRI) is required to diagnose Arthritis? Please share similar stories if any….

I have had chronic rib pain for two years and need a diagnosis and treatment? While playing basketball about 18 months ago I received a sharp blow to my lower left back (ribs) which seemingly caused some sort of soft/connective tissue damage to the ribs but on the front side (I am guessing they protruded forward from the force of the blow, causing the damage). X-rays and CT were both clear but the pain still persists 28 months later! Anti-inflammatories have helped at times (I’ve take mobic with some fleeting success and taking Advil now), but the pain isn’t really subsiding much and has stayed fairly constant for the past year (though it only hurts when I am seated). The other complicating factor is that I have psoriasis, which raises the question as to whether this could be Psoriatic Arthritis.

The chiropractor I have worked with says I have intercostal neuritis and said that a few treatments should be able to address the problem but I don’t see much about intercostal neuritis from the MD world. Potential therapies I’ve read about include nerve blocks, anti-inflammatories, remicade).

Does anyone have a recommendation as to what type of health care professional I should see next (in order of likelihood of successful treatment)? My options are: Rheumatologist, Orthopaedist, physiatrist, acupuncturist. Aside from intercostal nueritis or psoriatic arthritis, I suppose I could have Forestier’s disease. Further thoughts?
6 months ago (Tiebreaker)

Additional Details
The pain is in the lowest two sets of ribs on the front left side. It probably isn’t costochondritis since that is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum) which is in the middle of the best.

I have had physical pain for at least 5 years now. I was in an abusive relationship at one time, so I figured it was injuries from this. I have recently told my doctor about these symptoms. She checked for Arthritis by blood testing and x-rays-found nothing. In my hands and wrists, it is often shooting pain, and throbbing, they other ares of my body are aches and pains. I am only 27, what gives?

when i was 3 i was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (jra) i am now 13 and am in the 8th grade and i have missed over a month of school. doctors cant figure out whats wrong with me at first they thought it was just my jra i have done x-rays,MRIs (magnetic resonance Imaging), and have been put on every drug you can think of! Now i don’t know what to think……will they ever figure this out will i have to repeat the 8th grade!?!?!

Can I take 100mg of ibuprofen everyday for a few months or so to help my knee pain. X-rays showed early signs of arthritis int he knees.

It started in July of ’06 and got to the point of not being able to stand upright, with shooting pains down my left side down to my knees..Doc said after mri’s and x-rays that I have Degenerative Disk Disease, arthritis, and multiple bulging disks. I went through facet joint blocks, discogram, myelogram, 2 months of physical therapy, and ended up getting a spinal fluid leak from the procedures, which I ended up getting a blood patch(blood drawn out of my arm and injected into my spinal cord) to stop the migraines. I since stopped being a guinnea pig and went to a chiropractor who said I don’t have any of those things, just out of alignment. But after getting adjusted for 4 months now, I still have no relief, not a day goes by that I don’t have this nasty pain! I ended up quitting a job after almost 5 years because it caused too much pain on my back. My question is, where do I go next?!! It’s rather depressing and driving me absolutely insane!! I want to play with my kids!!!

I have been athletic all my life. Yet have never injured this knee. After X-rays and mri’s my doctor tells me it is arthritis. He gave me ULTRAM but it doesnt seam to help. He suggests physical therapy but i used to have to do that after injuries like sprains or pulls. I dont care about the pills(they dont work) i just wanna be able to play basketball again. what will work?

For a year now, I have had extreme foot pain, and feel tingling when I rub the tops. Prolonged standing/walking is painful, even after as little as 30 minutes. My foot X-rays do not show much arthritis or osteoporsis. I just had a blood test and am borderline low in B 12 and wondered if there was some connection there. I am a female, age 55, and very active until this condition started. The only other symtom I have noted in the past year is more frequent diarrhea. I don’t fit into any of the normal paramaters of foot pain sources, and so far, my podiatrist has not been able to provide much relief. Part of the problem is that I am unable to take the best NSAIDS, in 3 days I have severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. I do wear custom fitted orthotics, and they help, but I still can barely walk sometimes. Other times there is no pain at all, and there does not seem to be any pattern, except they are way worse when I am on my feet a lot.

I’ve been having pain in my knee for awhile(since I started playing tennis).Neck problems since I was 15.Anyway,wondering about the pain I had x-rays done on both my neck and right knee.Apparently I have arthritis in both.I am pissed because I know there’s no cure and medication will put me to sleep so no point of even taking it.I can still play tennis but not as well as I use to.I’ve put on 12 pounds since the pain started.I just can’t stand the pain while playing tennis or anything else.I hate that a year ago I was okay’d to play football by the same doctor(I didn’t play though).Okay question,like I said I don’t care too much for medication but if you have arthritis anywhere will any of the muscle ointment work for you?Icy hot,bengay,equate etc.I usually put a hot towel on it or a ice pak and lay down.Another question is instead of getting a job should I try to get diability?I don’t really won’t to but a few people told me I should if the pain is real bad.Thanks in advance.long,sorry

horse info
-9 years
-17.2 hands(maybe higher)

we have had x-rays done and he has arthritis in his hock. he is a retired race horse and this is probly why he has arthritis. i know there are going to be people saying i cant do anyting…so if that is you dont say anything. i will do anything for a treatment for his arthritis. it does not matter if it is pricey or not. or where it would have to be done but pleas if you know of anything or anyone who can treat artthritis then tell me
he is also a jumper right now and he loves it. and i know he would not want to just sit in a pasture or change to a light riding horse or anything like that. so i would love for him to still be a jumper