knee situation?(shoulder too)?

Rheumatic diseases are the result of a defective gene and collagen inflammation, often from a chronic infection. Collagen is present throughout the body, from the eyes, skin and joints to the heart. Hence, the multiplicity of symptoms, depending on the location of the most affected internal organs or body parts.

I have had seronegative rheumatoid arthritis for 27 years. The telling signs of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis are the following:

- Joint pain in the feet (or cracking ankles) in the early 20's or late teens;

- Fatigue, especially after a moderate exercise like a 30 minute walk;

- Blood test showing a negative or low level of Rheumatoid factor;

- Joint deformities of the fingers, over time, a specific sign of rheumatoid arthritis;

- Consecutive X-Rays showing bone erosion, a consequence of rheumatoid arthritis;

- Generalized arthritis, involving the whole body;

- Elevated levels of C-Reactive protein and Sedimentation rate, as evidenced in blood tests.

NSAIDs like Voltaren, COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex, acetaminophen like Tylenol, and codeine are all used to control inflammation and relieve the pain of arthritis.

Regular exercise like walking, biking and swimming is also helpful for most patients. Make sure that your friend is not overweight as carrying too much weight can only increase the pain of arthritis in the supporting joints of the hips, knees, ankles and feet.

For any form of arthritis, your friend should consult an Orthopaedist who will order blood tests, joint scans and X-Rays to better diagnose the type of arthritis from which he suffers.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (http://www.aaos.org)/ maintains a public online directory where you can find the address and phone number of orthopaedists who belong to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Orthopaedists are listed by geographic location and family name, inside the USA and in most countries.

The membership directory of the AAOS is located at:

http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm

Lyme disease could be a possibility. Ask the doctor to test your friend for the bacteria causing Lyme disease.

Are there any other cases of arthritis or rheumatic diseases among your friend's relatives? Chronic forms of arthritis are usually prevalent in families where a defective gene is passed on by parents to their children.

There are a few hundred types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. The good news is that science is progressing rapidly in its understanding of rheumatic diseases.

Antibiotics are now used to achieve full remissions for at least 40%, if not 65% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. For more info, please ask your friend to join our group at:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/antibio

you must describe symptoms,age,injuries and lots of detail for even a Doctor to guess.......Go see a specialist in this field....a board certified orthopaedic surgeon.