HomeAnswersOrthopedician and TraumatologyosteoarthritisI suspect of having osteoarthritis. Please help.

Do I have osteoarthritis?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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iCliniq medical review team

Published At May 27, 2016
Reviewed AtFebruary 16, 2024

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am a 24-year-old female. My BMI is normal. I am fairly active on my feet all day because of work and I used to walk instead of transport. I was a lot more active when I was younger. I used to dance for roughly 20 hours a week and swim five hours a week. Since I have got older and due to injury, I dance for two hours a week and swim when I get a chance. I was diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatters in both knees when I was 16 and had physio for a year. They used to swell drastically and I still have prominent bony lumps just below both the kneecaps. The only thing that really seemed to help is drastically cutting down exercise as it would become so painful that I could barely walk. The pain comes and goes after an active day at work such as cycling, swimming, driving a long distance, or sitting for a long period of time as I am 5 feet 10 inches, it is regular. I have also noticed recently that I have been getting neck and lower back pain as well as regularly feeling like I have strained my right shoulder. I have tried to pass it off as just pain, but it is becoming too often to be a coincidence, and cannot help thinking it is linked. I have looked online and read a bit about osteoarthritis and this seems to fit what I have been finding. But, I do not want to jump to a conclusion. Do you have any idea what this could be and whether it is linked? Is there anything that I can do to prevent it other than cold compression?

Answered by Dr. Sadaf Mustafa

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

It does seem like osteoarthritis, but I would suggest ruling out rheumatological diseases as well and check vitamin D and repeat it. For your shoulder I would like to know how much is your range of motion.

Thank you.

The Probable causes

1. Osteoarthritis. 2. Overuse injury. 3. Rheumatological diseases (less likely).

Investigations to be done

1. Complete blood count (CBC). 2. Antinuclear antibody (ANA). 3. X-ray of the shoulder with Y-view and x-ray of the cervical and lumbar region.

Differential diagnosis

1. Most likely degenerative joint disease (DJD).

2. Osteoarthritis of cervical and lumbar vertebrae and shoulder joint.

3. Less likely rotator cuff injury for the shoulder and nerve impingement of the lumbar (lower back) area.

Treatment plan

1. Ibuprofen 400-600 mg every eight hours as needed for pain. Should take the tablet with food and do not take it empty stomach. 2. Muscle relaxants like Cyclobenzaprine 10 mg every 12 hours on a needed basis. You should not drive while taking it.

Preventive measures

1. Minimize your exercise to three times a week and strengthening exercise is encouraged. 2. Use braces.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Sadaf Mustafa
Dr. Sadaf Mustafa

Internal Medicine

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