Definition & Symptoms of OSTEOARTHRITIS

Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff

Osteoarthritis, sometimes called degenerative joint disease or osteoarthrosis, is the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage in your joints wears down over time.

Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in your body, though it most commonly affects joints in your hands, hips, knees and spine. Osteoarthritis typically affects just one joint, though in some cases, such as with finger arthritis, several joints can be affected.

Osteoarthritis gradually worsens with time, and no cure exists. But osteoarthritis treatments can relieve pain and help you remain active. Taking steps to actively manage your osteoarthritis may help you gain control over your osteoarthritis pain.


Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff

Osteoarthritis of the spine

Osteoarthritis of the hip


Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

Pain in a joint during or after use, or after a period of inactivity

Tenderness in the joint when you apply light pressure

Stiffness in a joint, that may be most noticeable when you wake up in the morning or after a period of inactivity

Loss of flexibility may make it difficult to use the joint

Grating sensation when you use the joint

Bone spurs, which appear as hard lumps, may form around the affected joint

Swelling in some cases

Osteoarthritis symptoms most commonly affect the hands, hips, knees and spine. Unless you've been injured or placed unusual stress on a joint, it's uncommon for osteoarthritis symptoms to affect your jaw, shoulder, elbows, wrists or ankles.


http://mayoclinic.com/health/osteoarthritis/DS00019

Tender Points of FIBROMYALGIA

Unfortunetly, I haven't mastered the art of Posting Images on my Blog as yet, lolol....but as soon as I get the help to do so.....I will put up the Chart that shows the Tender Points.


Tender points

The 18 tender points associated with fibromyalgia occur in symmetrical pairs from the back of your head to your inner knees.


I HAVE All of the POINTS they speak of......OoooKayyy!!!

Symptoms of FIBROMYALGIA

These Articles come from the Mayo Clinic (a very well known Clinic).


Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff

Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary, depending on the weather, stress, physical activity or even the time of day.


Widespread pain and tender points

The pain associated with fibromyalgia is described as a constant dull ache, typically arising from muscles. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by additional pain when firm pressure is applied to specific areas of your body, called tender points. Tender point locations include:

Back of the head
Between shoulder blades
Top of shoulders
Front sides of neck
Upper chest
Outer elbows
Upper hips
Sides of hips
Inner knees


Fatigue and sleep disturbances

People with fibromyalgia often awaken tired, even though they seem to get plenty of sleep. Experts believe that these people rarely reach the deep restorative stage of sleep. Sleep disorders that have been linked to fibromyalgia include restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea.


Co-existing conditions

Many people who have fibromyalgia also may have:

Chronic fatigue syndrome
Depression
Endometriosis
Headaches
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Lupus
Osteoarthritis
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Restless legs syndrome
Rheumatoid arthritis



Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff


Doctors don't know what causes fibromyalgia, but it most likely involves a variety of factors working together. These may include:

Genetics.
Because fibromyalgia tends to run in families, there may be certain genetic mutations that may make you more susceptible to developing the disorder.

Infections.
Some illnesses appear to trigger or aggravate fibromyalgia.

Physical or emotional trauma.
Post-traumatic stress disorder has been linked to fibromyalgia.

Why does it hurt?
Current thinking centers around a theory called central sensitization. This theory states that people with fibromyalgia have a lower threshold for pain because of increased sensitivity in the brain to pain signals.

Researchers believe repeated nerve stimulation causes the brains of people with fibromyalgia to change. This change involves an abnormal increase in levels of certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain (neurotransmitters). In addition, the brain's pain receptors seem to develop a sort of memory of the pain and become more sensitive, meaning they can overreact to pain signals.



Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staff


Tender points
The American College of Rheumatology has established two criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia:

Widespread pain lasting at least three months

At least 11 positive tender points — out of a total possible of 18


Tender points
During your physical exam, your doctor may check specific places on your body for tenderness. The amount of pressure used during this exam is usually just enough to whiten the doctor's fingernail bed. These 18 tender points are a hallmark for fibromyalgia.

Blood tests
While there is no lab test to confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, your doctor may want to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms. Blood tests may include:

Complete blood count
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Thyroid function tests


These were just a Few things posted about FIBROMYALGIA.....if you want to read more about this Condition, click on the link below:

http://mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079

I AM MORE CONFUSED THAN I WAS BEFORE!!!

Confused is an understatement.....!!!

My doctor just called me back (at 10pm)....and he is telling me that the Osteoarthritis has NOTHING to do with the Sarky (that it is possibly some Hereditary thing).....and that My ACE Levels look Great........Whatttttt!!!!!

So why am I in ALL THIS PAIN, and going through ALL THESE SYMPTOMS!!!!!

Well HE tells me that He is SURE that it is from the Fibromyalgia......and we will talk more about That when I go to see him next week.

Now tell me, wouldn't you be at your Wits End right about now!!!

When he told me about the Fibromyalgia last week, I looked it up on the computer and surprisingly so....I basically "hit the mark" for All the symptoms.....So maybe IT IS Fibromyalgia.....and Maybe Sarky IS in Remission......Wowwwww.


I almost burst into tears when he told me that My ACE Levels looked Great, and that the Osteoarthritis had Nothing to do with Sarky.....but what is he talking about, Arthritis is One of the Symptoms of Sarky....so why wouldn't the Osteoarthritis be from Sarky.....aaaauuuggghhh!!!!

I prayed for some Concrete Results.....and I DID get some answers.....the Diagnoses of the Fibromyalgia is a NEW THING, so I guess my prayers were answered.
I was sooo stuck on getting back some answers stating that Sarky is behind All of this...but maybe it is really the Fibromyalgia doing all this damage.....hhmmmm.


Sooo, should I change the name of this Blog to...."Living with Sarcoidosis AND Fibromyalgia", lololol.
It's good that I can find a sense of Humor out of all of this.....Right.

Got a Call from My Doctor Yesterday

My doctor called me yesterday (on a Sunday), but I wasn't able to get the call....and he left a message stating that the Results of the X-rays of my hips & knees showed that I have Osteoarthritis in them.....uummm, I already knew that....well I knew I had Arthritis in them....but not the "Osteo" part.
So basically, he didn't really tell me anything New.

I called his office back and left a message for him to call me.....I want to ask WHY do I have the Osteoarthritis....is it from Sarky, Or something else.
Also, WHAT are the Results of the Blood Work....I wasn't going to find any of this out till I went in to see him on the 1st of May, but since HE CALLED Me first...I figured I want to know EVERYTHING!!!!


I will post more later, after he calls me back....."IF" he calls me back that is.