Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

RA? Osteo?

I have been having achesin my joints for the past two years that have gotten worse. I first noticed this when I changed my thyroid medication.   I was feeling tired prior to this and thought maybe changing my thyroid medicine would help. My doctor prescribed tirosint and put me in a state of hyper thyroidism. We switch back to Synthroid. And my TSH was below 1.   My free T3 and free T4 showed more of a normal to hypo range.  II have the aches and my knees hips and one of my ankles in addition sometimes my neck and shoulder hurt. I am a 47-year-old woman and have been on avid weightlifter and runner all my life.  I have extreme stiffness in the morning and I seem to respond to exercise. If I get going I feel better but sometimes pay for it at the end of the day.  I have no pain in my finger joints and blood tests have not shown any elevated blood levels in inflammatory markers. Could this be osteoarthritis? Or Ra?  I have been taking anti-inflammatories and I seem to respond well. In other words it takes away any pain.  I am planning on seeing a rheumatologist soon. Please advise! Thank you!
34 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
1530171 tn?1448129593
"Arthritic peptide, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, is an endogenous molecule associated with joints. This cytoplasmic enzyme catalyzes the second step of glycolysis and is found at low levels in serum. Arthritic peptide can stimulate KRN T cells when processed and presented by antigen presenting cells.
Antibodies Appear in:
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis"
----Source: Cyrex Labs (for Health Professionals)----

FYI,Cyrex Labs is a high-complexity clinical laboratory offering innovative tests designed to detect and monitor autoimmune reactivities and their possible triggers.

From an older post of mine in regards to bone density, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis:
"BMD ( bone mineral density) may be easy to measure, but it is not particularly predictive of fractures and other problems, which is the outcome most patients care about.
One very overlooked and yet equally important factor
( even perhaps of greater importance ) is bone flexibility.
Collagen levels, B- vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin K2  along with osteocalcin status make up the collagen matrix that supports the mineral composition.

So do not be overly concerned with the BMD level. This is just one out of many parameters regarding bone health."

Magnesium is a very important mineral for the development of bone and is required for the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and the antioxidant glutathione.
Magnesium is a cofactor in more than 300 enzyme systems that regulate diverse biochemical reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation [1-3]. Magnesium is required for energy production, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycolysis.
Magnesium also plays a role in the active transport of calcium and potassium ions across cell membranes, a process that is important to nerve impulse conduction, muscle contraction, and normal heart rhythm,
according to the fact sheet for professionals, from NIH.

Most people are deficient in tissue magnesium (bones and soft tissue levels), which cannot be assessed correctly by serum testing.

My opinion is to do transdermal "magnesium oil" treatments-I already mentioned this to you Gzismo and you're probably doing it by now-

Hope this helps.
Niko



Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Did your blood work reflect autoimmune disease right away?  My main problem is the muscle and joint pains. Nothing else really. I feel like I dislocated something or strained a different muscle every couple of months.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oh I forgot to ask if osteoperosis presents itself like this? Pain and stiffness?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, just wanted to give everyone an update on my situation. My ana was a weak positive. Dr said theANA panel was negative---did not show any patterns worrisome for any particular disease.  Ok, so I have had this random ankle swelling as one of my symptoms. Had xray radioligist said fractured and ortho ankle specialist said perfectly healthy. He suggested seeing a rheumy. No signs of fracture, arthritis, osteoperosis!  So maybe this is a soft tissue problem?  Ready to ask for an mri.  I can't figure this out. I feel ok aside from this pain and stiffness I get in my knees, hips and now one ankle with swelling. I am still active but not to the degree I was before It feels like my body is falling apart. I respond very well to NSAIDs  it's like I feel like I have to take a few through the week and things calm down for a few days. Also, can't get into rheumy until April.  Any ideas are welcome.
Helpful - 0
1530171 tn?1448129593
If it's a low grade infection of some sort, it's probably hiding from the immune system somewhere in the tissues after all this time and usually antibiotics won't be able to do much, specially if it is a pathogen without a cell wall,a viral agent or mycoplasma.
The antibiotics have only bactreriostatic (ability to arrest bacteria) action on these types-not bactericidal (ability to destroy bacteria).
Many of these pathogens disguise themselves in cellular membrane they take from the host cells, which makes their eradication even more challenging.
You can get tons of info form Dr. Garth Nicolson on this-he's a real nice and intelligent man , I've learnt a great deal of specifics regarding this field from him- he's part time here at medhelp and also the world's top expert in pathogenic infectious diseases like mycoplasma, babesia, bartonella , ehrichia etc. Just do search here in medhelp under his name.
If you want info on recommended antibiotic treatments, he's the authority.

You don't seem to fit the profile for Lyme's and Lupus usually has a much wider spectrum of symptoms than what you have, but having said this anything is possible, I guess.
Did you consider switching to NDT or looking further into the adrenals?
Cortisol regulates the immune cells in our gut so when cortisol is depleted those cells become dysregulated, making us more susceptible to pathogens like bacteria, yeast, and parasites.
For details  look into the "GI Pathogen Screen", which is a test recommended  if your cortisol levels come back low after you have the Adrenal Stress profile done.

And you're welcome!

Cheers.
Niko
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks Niko!  I am planning on get ting the Boswellia tomorrow. I think I am going to try to find a quality one at the vitamin shoppe. I sometimes think I have some kind of infection. I would think in the 2 years of this nightmare would have had high WBC counts or fevers.  I have been nested for Lyme disease but as I understand this is difficult to diagnose. I have a md that is pretty open to things and I thought about being treated with antibioticsto see if symptoms get better.  I still am concerned about lupus. I got that rash down my leg. It doesn't look like the lupus rash though.  Niko, thanks for your help!  
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Arthritis Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Could it be something you ate? Lack of sleep? Here are 11 migraine triggers to look out for.
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Here are 10 ways to stop headaches before they start.
Tips and moves to ease backaches