Today's doctor visit

[serene]

Well, at least we know a little more of the puzzle. Seems I have
arthritis in both knees, and slightly in one hip. This doesn't really
explain why both hips hurt like hell most days, but it's something to work
with. There's also an elevated level of C-Reactive Protein that may mean
something else is going on (perhaps some inflammatory and/or degenerative
muscle disease), but may not, so he'll check it again in a few weeks. He
gave me some Celebrex for the pain. It already seems to be working. He
set me up with an orthopedist and some physical therapy so that I can
prevent worsening. He says he trusts me and someotherguy to do
the exercises. ;-)

In better news, my cholesterol "couldn't be better", my severe anemia is
now barely borderline anemia, my B12 was slightly low so I got a shot
while I was there, the lump on my thigh is probably nothing, my thyroid
and all other numbers were great (except there were a few white blood
cells in my urine and some other minor things). He wants me to lose
weight, as most doctors do, but he has the sense not to harp on it, since
I'm in excellent health overall. He accepted my unwillingness to have a
flu shot (they make me sick for three days and I can't afford the time off
work right now; I'll do it in a couple of weeks when I'm not at Ikea any
more). And someotherguy's numbers were *great*, which makes me
very very happy.

Not too shabby. And knowing at least some of what's going on with the
joints gives me something to work with. That's always helpful when
you're, well, me.

Comments

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

I don't envy you the arthritis, but am trying not to envy you the Celebrex! My doctor won't prescribe it anymore. I hope it's as helpful for you as it was for me. (Like many similar drugs, some folks are helped a lot by it, some aren't at all. Also, some folks with mechanical arthritis get a lot of benefit from glucosamine/chondritin, some not at all. I'm in the latter, but you might try it.)

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Why won't he prescribe it? Do you want some of mine? Do you want me to get you in with my guy? How can I fix this??? :-)

[klwalton.livejournal.com]

You might be favoring the arthritic hip and putting more stress on the healthy one.

Both my knees *click* - typical of my family, all the women seem to get knee replacements at some point.

Loved loved loved your walking post. I wish I lived nearer to you, I'd love to walk with you. I have to be content with walking with my dog, but it's nice because he never argues with me and thinks I'm the wisest creature it's ever been his privilege to be near. ;-)

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

someotherguy and your dog are similar walking companions. :-)

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

[big geek=ON]

did he say osteoarthritis? that's what i'd guess, given your age and what he suggests for treatment. mary says glucosamine and chondritin, and allow me to heartily second that; it's supposed to be fabulous for people with osteo. (must remember to go get some, now that i have osteo myself!)

[big geek=OFF]

hurray for a diagnosis! woo!

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Without the intention to alarm you, it's in the same category as Vioxx and Bextra, neither of which worked for me, but both of which have been withdrawn from the market because of cardiac side effects. Celebrex only shows problematic side effects, so far, and huge doses, like what they give people in hospice to keep them comfortable and when they aren't worried about side effects so much, but my doctor has become quite concerned about it, just in case, and won't prescribe it anymore.

Enjoy it if it works for you. If it doesn't, I'll consider discussing ways you could dispose of the extra. But if it works, hang on to it!

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

someotherguy pulls at the leash?

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

I am aware of the vioxx connection, and suspected that was why, but wanted to make sure you didn't have some contraindications or something. My doc seems to think the risk is low enough to be in the "yes, and getting out of bed is a non-zero risk, too" category. I'm a little more concerned than he is, but I've decided that if the stuff gives me LOTS of relief, it's worth it. If it only gives me a little relief, I have always preferred to be as drug-free as I can (without getting ridiculous and choosing terrible pain or infection over medication).

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

That's how I feel about Celebrex. Distant risk of cardiac complications at high doses? when a moderate dose makes it so I can fasten my own pants, when I'm flaring? Well then. Hm.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Being the geek that *I* am, I have the radiology report right here. :-)

Bilateral knees: The medial and lateral joint compartments are maintained bilaterally without evidence for arthritis. There is mild patellofemoral osteoarthritis bilaterally.

Bilateral hips: The acetabular joints are maintained in stature bilaterally. There is very subtle marginal osteophytosis involving the inferior medial aspect of the right femoral head consistent with a very mild degree of right hip osteoarthritis.

I'll try the glucosamine/chondroitin once I've looked into side effects. Thanks!

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Right, exactly.

Not that I mind your pants' being unfastened, you understand. :-)

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

Being the geek that *I* am, I have the radiology report right here.

ohmigod. marry me?

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

In a heartbeat, pal. I haven't been on the other side of rebound romance before. ;-)

[artemii.livejournal.com]

my fibromyalgia is especially bad in my knees and hips. for me, PT has helped tremendously. my PT (who i just saw today, yay!) trained in feldenkrais and after seeing how much it helped people with fibro and various arthritises, as well as car-accident injuries, she started using it nearly exclusively. some days the exercises she's taught me make the difference between, say, being able to walk up a flight of stairs or not.

[lysana.livejournal.com]

I can anecdotally testify to gluc/chond for osteo. My husband and I both take it, and it does a lot of good. He had to walk with a cane if he was even mildly active on a given day. He now only needs it if he's doing heavy walking on concrete.

[loracs.livejournal.com]

From what I've heard/read glucosamine and chondritin is a YMMV drug and the only contraindication I've seen is for diabetics cause of the "glucos" part. I have some in my collection of meds. I haven't tried it yet cause I need to get my BG's down then I will experiment. Some diabetic friends have had no bump in Bg's with it and other have.

Glad you have some info - I'm of the "I need to know what I'm dealing with" school when it comes to health, even when it's scary.

[leback.livejournal.com]

Hooray for good health! It sounds like you're at least on the right track with regard to getting the hip problems figured out--I'm glad the meds are helping for now, and I hope still better help is right around the corner.

Boo on the doctor's superstitions about weight, though. I'm glad he's not been too annoying about it so far.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

This is good. Go, you.

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

I've been using Mobic for several years. it is a cousin to Vioxx and Celebrex, but a bit different. not that it may not carry some of the cardiac risks, but weighed against the efficacy for pain control, it's a no-brainer. having just had my 2nd joint replacement 18 days ago due to osteoarthritis, I consider myself fairly well informed ... and, everyone has to gather their own tools for their toolbox that feels right.

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

I agree about YMMV. I've used it on and off and the difference is subtle. but I wasn't paying attention to blood glucose then, so now I'm not sure where I'm at with it.

[tracytreefrog.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you have gotten some good feedback on your pains etc. My knees have been giving me fits for years. I am usually on high doses of Ibu and this year I started back on gluc/chond although they still hurt some it is much better with gluc/chond than without for me. I just went to the doctor last week for pain in my side and to get some blood tests done. I need to set up a return visit to get the results (keeping fingers toes and eyes crossed) *giggles*