27 with.. arthritis?

llaurenmarie

I've been having lumbar pain on and off for a year or so since I started doing yoga. (I've stopped the backbends, they always triggered it).

After lumbar x-rays I got a very strange call at 9pm last night from whoever the messenger is at the primary doctor I went to. She said "Yeah we looked at your x-rays, you have arthritis and there's nothing we can do for that" I was like "..What, can you elaborate a bit" and they said I can just take ibuprofen every day.

Does anyone know if exercise (specifically cycling) can make this worse? or even help?
I really don't want to take ibuprofen all the time and I may get a second opinion. It just seemed very unprofessional.

StaciMarie1974

I'd try to get a face to face with the doctor, rather than a phone call with someone who was instructed to deliver a message. You should have the opportunity to ask questions, get answers. And then a 2nd opinion.

Personally I had/have some arthritis like pangs in my knees and ankles from a car accident (2003) where I broke both legs. It used to bother me greatly, especially if it was cold AND rainy or if I did any significant amount of activity. (Back then I was very inactive.) Now that I am more active, walking and/or running daily, my knees and ankles rarely bother me. Sometimes still if it is cold AND rainy but rarely for being active. And I now run several times a week, get 12-15k steps most days, etc. So my personal experience: being active makes the body work better.

llaurenmarie

StaciMarie1974 wrote: »

I'd try to get a face to face with the doctor, rather than a phone call with someone who was instructed to deliver a message. You should have the opportunity to ask questions, get answers. And then a 2nd opinion.

Personally I had/have some arthritis like pangs in my knees and ankles from a car accident (2003) where I broke both legs. It used to bother me greatly, especially if it was cold AND rainy or if I did any significant amount of activity. (Back then I was very inactive.) Now that I am more active, walking and/or running daily, my knees and ankles rarely bother me. Sometimes still if it is cold AND rainy but rarely for being active. And I now run several times a week, get 12-15k steps most days, etc. So my personal experience: being active makes the body work better.

Thanks so much for your insight! I do find it hurts more when I sit, probably because I can concentrate on it more. I'm going to try and just keep being active and tell my chiro not to "crack" me anymore.

yellingkimber

Hi. 22 with more-arthritis-than-average checking in. What your provider should have told you is that arthritis is normal and almost everyone has some degree of it, especially in the back. I would call back and ask what degree / how bad are we talking. If it's mild, just taking ibuprofen on days when it acts up is usually useful. I know I don't have to take it daily.

YvetteK2015

I've had arthritis since I was 25 in my back, ankles, knees, and hands. Not severe, but it's there. Exercise is good, but it can aggrivate it. I will sometimes push through it, but really, if it hurts, NSAIDs are the answer. Unless you have such a severe case that biologics are the course of treatment.
You can always see a rheumy and see what they say about your back and what you can do about it.

llaurenmarie

Thanks so much, I know it's a common thing, just surprised me. It's probably a good reason to get my food choices back in order and a regular exercise routine.

ladyreva78

I would definitely get a second opinion. If you do have arthritis, there's better adapted medications/treatments than 'take an ibuprofen every day'. The constipation from that alone makes me shudder without considering other long term problems with such an intake.

For exercise, probably look into getting a couple of sessions with a physiotherapist specialized in such cases (if it truly is that). From what I understand, it's important to increase gradually and listen to your body.

I have hyper-mobility in my back that was misdiagnosed as arthritis (it was causing inflammation along my spine) and the pain was exacerbated by doing extension and crunch exercises. So now most of those are off-limits for me but I've worked with an awesome new doctor who sent me to a specialized physiotherapist and I'm back in the gym as before and know exactly what I can and cannot do.

llaurenmarie

I definitely cannot do crunches, it feels like my spine has like a break in it when I do /:

For core strength I was trying planks but there is a very thin line I have to keep my back at to not feel it.

ladyreva78

Ouch. Poor thing that seriously sucks!

I'm building up my planks now, but thankfully the line is not quite so thin for me.

Sharon_C

Well that was seriously unprofessional of them. I have arthritis in both hips (well, one now. The other one was replaced) and in my lower back. Strengthening the muscles is imperative. A strong core will really, really help with the back pain. I started weightlifting (I went very, very slow with the back) and my stronger core has eliminated all my back pain.

Per doctor's instructions I am not allowed to do anything high impact. The elliptical is good as well as walking and swimming, no running (these are what my doctor told me, yours might say something different)

llaurenmarie

Sharon_C wrote: »

Well that was seriously unprofessional of them. I have arthritis in both hips (well, one now. The other one was replaced) and in my lower back. Strengthening the muscles is imperative. A strong core will really, really help with the back pain. I started weightlifting (I went very, very slow with the back) and my stronger core has eliminated all my back pain.

Per doctor's instructions I am not allowed to do anything high impact. The elliptical is good as well as walking and swimming, no running (these are what my doctor told me, yours might say something different)

Well apparently mine won't say anything! ha. It was my first time going there and I'm considering switching. I don't feel like I was listened to at all.

I really should get my strength up again, I have not been loyal to the gym and my body is letting me know I'm weak again

ellie_RN

I have progrsssive/chronic autoimmune arthritis...welcome to the club? Anyway that phone call was super unprofessional. I would get a second opinion and then to a rheumatologist for treatment. As my doctor told my mother today "it is best and always better to treat (the) arthritis than not due to the long term consequences on the body." I am so sorry you have to deal with this now If you have any questions or need support please don't hestiate to DM me. Gentle hugs!

CharlieBeansmomTracey

what kind of arthritis do you have? I have RA and what really helped for me was weight lifting. it helped me get stronger and have less pain. I dont need meds yet. I noticed a BIG difference in how much pain I was having after I started doing it for awhile. I know when I dont workout as much I have more pain.

Krby13

llaurenmarie wrote: »

I've been having lumbar pain on and off for a year or so since I started doing yoga. (I've stopped the backbends, they always triggered it).

After lumbar x-rays I got a very strange call at 9pm last night from whoever the messenger is at the primary doctor I went to. She said "Yeah we looked at your x-rays, you have arthritis and there's nothing we can do for that" I was like "..What, can you elaborate a bit" and they said I can just take ibuprofen every day.

Does anyone know if exercise (specifically cycling) can make this worse? or even help?
I really don't want to take ibuprofen all the time and I may get a second opinion. It just seemed very unprofessional.

Holy crap! This sounds like the same exact call I got from the nurse at my doctors office. I had been completely crippled by severe back pain for several days. I couldn't walk it was that bad. Every move was agony. They took X-rays and found arthritis in my spine. When she called she basically just said I'm going to have occasional flare ups with it and other than taking pain killers there's nothing they can do. However, my doctor did write me a prescription for physical therapy and it has worked wonders for me. I highly recommend it. Who knows what my back will be like long term, but for now I feel great and have learned a lot of what causes my back pain and how simple stretches and exercises can help so much. The other crazy thing is, I had to see a different doctor about something completely unrelated and he could not believe that I would have arthritis at my age (35). He kept commenting on it like my other Doctor must have made a mistake. But then when I asked him, "why? Should it not be possible at my age?" He agreed it could be possible, but very unlikely. But obviously he also didn't have the X-rays to look at so I don't know why then he felt the need to comment.

Mary_Anastasia

I've had osteoarthritis since age 28. I knew I had it, but never could get an appt with a rheumatologist. I finally got one and he said "you don't have arthritis" without doing anything. I blocked the door and demanded tests for rheumatoid arthritis, since I have 2 other autoimmune diseases, and if you have one it's easier to get others. He said "if you do have it it def wouldn't be rheumatoid, that is too incredibly rare" (oh, and osteo in your 20s is less rare?) but I wouldn't leave until he signed the lab work. My blood work came back positive for signs of rheumatoid, and my X-rays came back positive for osteo. He had his nurse call to tell me yes I do definitely have osteo in one foot, both knees, both hips, and both hands, but he thinks the blood work reflects rheumatoid symptoms due to my thyroid disease. He has never talked to me since, not referred me to get a bone density scan, ignores my calls, I just want copies of my X-rays, and he has never officially diagnosed me in my medical file. It's been such a pain.

canadianlbs

agree with others that at the very least you should be given some information about the source of it. and not just 'oh, you probably [fill in the blank ]' type guesswork. a diagnosis.

as far as cycling: i am not giving you medical advice, please be clear. but fwiw, i think you'd want to be careful to keep good form and have a strong core just as a best-practices thing. and get a bike properly fitted to you.

reason i say this is in 15 years of cycling as a person with r.a. i have learned that the lumbar spine and/or the thoraco-lumbar junction are the areas that are likely to 'give' with every pedalstroke, if your bike isn't well-suited for you. if you have some erosion already i could definitely see that being an exacerbator.

Fflpnari

I have chronic back pain. I don't have the diagnosis of arthritis. Over the past few years I've learned what exercises will trigger a flare or make the pain worse. Running will leave me in pain for weeks so I quit running. I avoid things thwt cause compression like box jumps. Weight lifting has helped a lot as long as I use good form and don't go crazy on reps or weight. Find something that doesn't make it worse.
I go to a chiro on a regular basis also, they told me I have an unstable SI joint.
I'm 23 btw.

canadianlbs

canadianlbs wrote: »

agree with others that at the very least you should be given some information about the source of it. and not just 'oh, you probably [fill in the blank ]' type guesswork. a diagnosis. osteoarthritis ic caused by mechanical stresses afaik, but rheumatoid comes from your own immune system getting confused and trying to 'help' you by eating your joints. so the management and damage control needs can be different.

as far as cycling: i am not giving you medical advice, please be clear. but fwiw, i think you'd want to be careful to keep good form and have a strong core just as a best-practices thing. and get a bike properly fitted to you.

reason i say this is in 15 years of cycling as a person with r.a. i have learned that the lumbar spine and/or the thoraco-lumbar junction are the areas that are likely to 'give' with every pedalstroke, if your bike isn't well-suited for you. if you have some erosion already i could definitely see that being an exacerbator.

croftie4

I do kettlebells daily and nearly all my pain has gone say 99% I took myself off the drugs as they were making me so ill.

I stay away from high impact sports but do a bit of cardio, like the gym machines but I'm so much better stronger with the kettlebells.

I had a terrible doctors and changed to a new practice and they were very supportive with self help attitude rather than pumping me with drugs

Krby13

croftie4 wrote: »

I do kettlebells daily and nearly all my pain has gone say 99% I took myself off the drugs as they were making me so ill.

I stay away from high impact sports but do a bit of cardio, like the gym machines but I'm so much better stronger with the kettlebells.

I had a terrible doctors and changed to a new practice and they were very supportive with self help attitude rather than pumping me with drugs

I think most doctors nowadays are kinda terrible. I haven't been able to find a doctor that seems to truly care or take the time to follow up with your progress like they used to. Even when I start at a new doctors office I feel like I'm treated as if I'm a patient in a walk in clinic, who won't ever be seen again or something. And it used to be you saw the same Doctor each time you went, now the office doesn't care who you see and you get a different Doctor every time.

BigGuy47

You need to see a rheumatologist to determine the type of arthritis you have. As Mary_Anastasia mentioned above, it could be an auto immune disorder. At your age chances are it's a form of rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. Osteoarthritis generally happens in older individuals. Find out the type of arthritis then you can figure out a routine for management.

I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis when I was 33, I'm 53 now. I use a minimal amount of.medication and strength training to manage my PA.

See a specialist instead of your PCP and move forward. I'm sorry to hear that you were diagnosed, but understand that it is manageable.

CharlieBeansmomTracey

BigGuy47 wrote: »

You need to see a rheumatologist to determine the type of arthritis you have. As Mary_Anastasia mentioned above, it could be an auto immune disorder. At your age chances are it's a form of rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. Osteoarthritis generally happens in older individuals. Find out the type of arthritis then you can figure out a routine for management.

I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis when I was 33, I'm 53 now. I use a minimal amount of.medication and strength training to manage my PA.

See a specialist instead of your PCP and move forward. I'm sorry to hear that you were diagnosed, but understand that it is manageable.

my sister who will be 38 was just diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the last year.so it does happen in younger people.There is also something called juvenile arthritis which can affect children.so for a dr to say a person doesnt have it without even doing anything needs their license taken away. OP see a rheumatologist,get testing done and see what health issues and what kind of arthritis you do have.keep going until you can find a dr who will listen out there and who will run tests.

mjudd1990

A lot of people can get arthritis in their back as early as their twenties for various reasons. If your pain is primarily localized to your back and doesn't radiate down either/both legs it's likely due to either lumbar facet arthritis or SI joint pain. PT and NSAIDs are a mainstay in treatment but I'd suggest seeing an interventional chronic pain doc as they can typically do either steroid injections or nerve blocks/ablations in the facet joints to help out with your pain.

llaurenmarie

Thank you all so much for your insight. I got back in the gym on Saturday and did some lifting and light cardio. I didn't 15 miles on my bike last night with seemingly no after effects. I'll continue to monitor it and probably contact a specialist.

The reason I went to a doctor this time was because I had nerve tingling down BOTH legs and feet. It really worried me since it wasn't like the sciatica I've had before. That was usually on the back of the leg and these nerves were on top and down the sides.

Sharon_C

CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »

BigGuy47 wrote: »

You need to see a rheumatologist to determine the type of arthritis you have. As Mary_Anastasia mentioned above, it could be an auto immune disorder. At your age chances are it's a form of rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. Osteoarthritis generally happens in older individuals. Find out the type of arthritis then you can figure out a routine for management.

I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis when I was 33, I'm 53 now. I use a minimal amount of.medication and strength training to manage my PA.

See a specialist instead of your PCP and move forward. I'm sorry to hear that you were diagnosed, but understand that it is manageable.

my sister who will be 38 was just diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the last year.so it does happen in younger people.There is also something called juvenile arthritis which can affect children.so for a dr to say a person doesnt have it without even doing anything needs their license taken away. OP see a rheumatologist,get testing done and see what health issues and what kind of arthritis you do have.keep going until you can find a dr who will listen out there and who will run tests.

Yup. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my thirties. Had my first hip replacement at 46. My other hip will need to be replaced at some point and of course the first hip will eventually wear out and need to be replaced again. I was my doctor's youngest patient.

llaurenmarie

Now that I've been googling it may be connected to my psoriasis.

yellingkimber

llaurenmarie wrote: »

Now that I've been googling it may be connected to my psoriasis.

I second the opinion about going back to the doctor just to rule out anything autoimmune. Autoimmune diseases tend to come in pairs and a quick google does show me- " The autoimmune disease most strongly associated with psoriasis was rheumatoid arthritis."

fishgutzy

llaurenmarie wrote: »

Now that I've been googling it may be connected to my psoriasis.

So it is a form of autoimmune arthritis. If your doctor has not already referred you to a rheumatologist, you may want to ask about it. There are medications targeted for immune related arthritis.
My wife has spondyloarthritis. All the doctors can do is treat the symptoms.
I have degenerative osteoarthritis in some joints. But my hands, where I have active eczema, i have occasional arthritis flare ups.
Autoimmune system can effect everything.
I swim as my primary aerobic exercise. It is also quite therapeutic for me as well. Keeps my lower spine flexible, and builds strength in the supporting muscles.

Chieflrg

llaurenmarie wrote: »

Now that I've been googling it may be connected to my psoriasis.

Heavy lifting is a great way to combat the autoimmune diseases such as RA or psoriasis.

DietPrada

Osteoarthritis is generally when you're older, rheumatoid is much more common when you're younger. My mum had arthritis in her neck when she was 30. My step daughter had a really bad flare up of rheumatoid arthritis when she was 15, but it's controlled now with medication. I'm 42 and I have pain in my left hip which my doctor is pretty sure is arthritis, I'm having some scans done next week. I don't believe the "there's nothing we can do about it" BS though. There are plenty of very effective medications for arthritis, in conjunction with physio and doing some physical activity to strengthen your body and the outcome is very good. I don't know what kind of medical professional would be so negative, and tell you just to take ibuprofen. Ridiculous.

CharlieBeansmomTracey

EbonyDahlia wrote: »

Osteoarthritis is generally when you're older, rheumatoid is much more common when you're younger. My mum had arthritis in her neck when she was 30. My step daughter had a really bad flare up of rheumatoid arthritis when she was 15, but it's controlled now with medication. I'm 42 and I have pain in my left hip which my doctor is pretty sure is arthritis, I'm having some scans done next week. I don't believe the "there's nothing we can do about it" BS though. There are plenty of very effective medications for arthritis, in conjunction with physio and doing some physical activity to strengthen your body and the outcome is very good. I don't know what kind of medical professional would be so negative, and tell you just to take ibuprofen. Ridiculous.

yes,it is known as being an issue with older individuals, but it can happen in those younger due to injuries/trauma. its also said to be genetic as well