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[MAXNJ]

YESTERDAY I GOT THE X RAY RESULT OF MY LUrabAR SPINE THE LOWEST DISC I THINKS ITS L-5 HAS ALMOST NO JOINTSPACE, A MONTH AGO I FOUND OUT THAT MY NECK HAS ARTHRITIS. 2 MONTHS BEFORE THAT LOOSE BODIES WERE FOUND IN MY KNEES. THE OCCASIONAL POP IN MY HIP AND SHOULDER I HAVE DECIDED TO HOLD OFF GETTING X RAYS ON. SO I HAVE MILD SYMPTOMS, CLICKING, POPPING, A STIFF NECK ONCE IN A WHILE. WHY IN SO MANY PLACES> MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO GET ONLY ONE OR TWO AREAS, SEEMS LIKE ALL OF MY JOINTS ARE GETTING IT. IM A 43 YEAR OLD MALE. i GO IN AND OUT OF MOORAB THAT TELL ME IM IN BIG SCARY TROUBLE, AND I WILL BE CRIPPLED AND IN PAIN SOON. OTHER TIMES I THINK IM CARRYING ON TOO MUCH, IF 20 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE ARTHRITS, MINE DOESNT HAVE TO BE AMONG THE SEVERE. ARE THERE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE MILD SYMPTOMS FOR ALONG TIME, DEAL WITH IT AND DONT NEED ALL KINRAB OF SURGERIES AND DONT SUFFER MUCH? THERE MUST BE.

 

[Baybreeze]

Hi Max, yes, there are many people out there with mild symptoms of arthritis and some never get worse. The thing is, like others have posted, people who usually post on these boarRAB have more severe problems. Ones that dont arent generally on the boarRAB so you dont often hear about them. I've always been told popping joints dont mean anything, so I dont know. But it seems almost every joint in my body pops! Even my sternum area does, which is weird. When my joints flare up, they wont pop and it feels very pressurized. It's only when the flare goes away that they pop again, tho I have no clue if that means anything. I personally dont worry about it unless I have pain. I just turned 39 but my joint problems started around 20 and my spine problems started around 33-34. I have problems in my ankles, knees (tho not very often), hips, spine, neck, left shoulder, and hanRAB. Everyone is differnt & it also depenRAB on what kind of arthritis one has....there are way over 100 differnt kinRAB, caused by different things.

I see you had an x-ray, but what about an MRI? Xrays cant show discs or soft tissues. But if the x-ray shows almost no space left between those vertebrae, you might have a herniation there. Only an MRI would show that, though. What did your doctor say about the x-ray results? Did they mention any further testing or what it might be? Or give any ideas as to possible treatments, etc?

 

[Justoneofus]

Hi Max. Unfortunately you in the crowd of the over 40 (which is not age exclusive really). Our bodies are no longer "young" feeling and we begin to feel the effects of aging. You were very honest in your feeling ups and downs with your body having issues and causing you pain. It's very normal to feel that way. You can take the posture of self-pity (counterproductive entirely) or feel it's part of life, this is what's going on with you (it is what it is, you deal with it and go on).

I've done both as most on here have. I may do both again. But most often I lean on the side of being in a progressive state of .. "okay, I have this..now I have to get this in control as best as I can, so I can carry on with life". I have one brother that has suffered from severe depression most of his life, and I have seen what he missed out on by living in that state. So I chose to be as balanced as I can and try and get whatever joy and happiness I can out of life and "be in life" rather than just "existing" in it or letting it pass me by.

Off the soapbox now.

Most people have pains of varying degrees with all sorts of problems to include, arthritis and such, and do not require any surgery at all, or choose not to have it even if offered. It is more the less that have severe issues that require vast medical intervention to include surgery.

And there are plenty of people that are healthy throughout their lives and never have any significant pain or health issues. (Wouldnt it be nice if we could all be this way.. this is where individuality can fly out the window if you ask me. hehehe)

Keep posting and let us know how you are doing.

 

[Moldova]

Max,
I understand your concern. I want to share with you my experiense and I hope it will help u with your questions.

As we all know arthrities, DDD, stenosis, etc. starts to develop in our bodies as early as 25 (if you lucky, there are childhood severe reumatoid arthrities out there and many kiRAB get diagnosed as early as 5-6 years old).
So all problems come "with the territory". And it's really does not matter how much you excercise, what you eat. Thin, trim body and healthy life style is good to have, but does not mean it's the key to avoid arthrities.
Most of us have and leave with clicking of the knees, shoulders, pains and aches all over our bodies.
I am one of them. I had cortisone shots in every joint of my body, but this is just temp relieve of symptoms (wouldn't do it again). I used to excecise a lot, runner, heathy eater, but still a lot of joint problems.

How did I help myself? Periodically (when it gets out of control) i go on anti-flammatory drugs, I do stretches twice a day (at least 15-20 min each time). I help myself with warm water tub, and than massage in a joint area creams made with Hot pepper (grate warm sensation, I love it, but be careful).Relaxation and meditaion helps a lot too: body-mind works together.

Best of luck to you, I hope you will feel better!