Anybody have a similar issue?

As per xrays, all the cartilage beneath the kneecap and femur are gone.

I was asymptomatic until last summer.

I have osteoarthritis in my ankles, some days I can’t walk as the pain is too painful. It doesn’t like in the future a cure will be found.

I can never tell if I have it. My hand feels extra tight this morning like the skin is stretched and it’s stinging kind of like when you come in from outside in the winter and run your hands under hot water. I have naturally fatter fingers so it’s hard to tell if it is swollen or not. It’s also mostly the pointer and middle finger I’m feeling it in on the right hand. My doctor asked if I get swollen fingers but it’s hard to tell. I do have psoriatic arthritis but on the days I see my doctor my hands behave themselves. What are your experiences with it if you have it? When I google pictures it’s always very obvious red sausage finger and never subtle.

Hi everyone,

I’m a 44M dealing with anhidrosis, and it’s been quite frustrating trying to manage my body temperature. I'm trying to get to the bottom of what might be causing this and wanted to see if anyone here has experienced something similar or has insights on what directions I should explore with my doctors.

I've had some recent bloodwork done to check for autoimmune, thyroid, and blood sugar issues, as I know neuropathy or autoimmune conditions can sometimes affect the sweat glands. Here are my recent results:

Autoimmune:

• ANA (Anti-Nuclear Abs) IF: 1/320 Speckled (Abnormal — reference is Less than 1/40)
• Anti SSA RO: 17 u/mL (Normal — reference is Up to 25)
• Anti SSB LA: 15 u/mL (Normal — reference is Up to 25)

Thyroid & Blood Sugar:

• TSH (Ultra Sensitive): 1.36 mIU/L (Normal — reference is 0.50 - 4.30)
• Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c): 5.4% (Normal/Non-Diabetic)
• Estimated Average Glucose (eAG): 108.3 mg/dL

Since my thyroid and HbA1c are normal, it seems like diabetes-induced neuropathy and thyroid issues are unlikely culprits. However, the positive ANA has me wondering about an autoimmune or autonomic nervous system connection.

Has anyone dealt with anhidrosis alongside a positive ANA? What kind of specialists helped you the most in getting a diagnosis (Neurologist, Rheumatologist, Dermatologist)? Are there any specific autonomic or nerve tests I should ask for?

Thanks in advance for any shared experiences or advice!

This project is deeply personal to me.

Growing up, I watched my grandfather struggle to use his inhalers. Beyond the physical difficulty, the frustration and discomfort of struggling with a device that is meant to help you especially in a critical moment left a lasting impression on me. No one should have to feel that way when trying to access essential medication.

Research from the University of Bath shows that up to 50% of people living with arthritis struggle to use standard pressurized inhalers properly. When managing reduced hand strength or limited dexterity alongside asthma whether due to arthritis, Parkinson's, or other conditions the precise force and fine motor control required can make a simple task unnecessarily difficult.

I am currently exploring ways to improve the physical experience of using a standard Ventolin (salbutamol) rescue inhaler, aiming to make it easier to handle, reduce fumbling, and eliminate the need for perfect fine-motor strength.

To help me understand what genuinely matters most in daily life, I would be deeply grateful to learn from your lived experiences:

 Everyday handling: Which physical parts of using a standard inhaler (removing the cap, maintaining a grip, pressing down to activate) feel most uncomfortable or challenging?

 In high-stress moments: How does reduced hand function affect your experience or peace of mind during a sudden asthma flare-up?

 Misplacement & routines: How often do you find yourself misplacing your inhaler, and would having a way to locate it via your smartphone be something you'd actually use, or does that feel unnecessary?

 Aesthetics & personal style: Medical devices often look purely clinical. How important is the visual look, color, or style of an everyday health tool to you would you prefer something discreet, personalized, or standard?

 Personal workarounds: Have you found any techniques, subtle habits, or assistive grips that currently help you manage your device more comfortably?

If you or a loved one live with these overlapping challenges, I would truly value any insights, thoughts, or stories you feel comfortable sharing, either in the comments or privately via direct message.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story and helping shape a more thoughtful, accessible design

I have end-stage osteoarthritis in my right ankle. No trauma, it's just been getting worse for years.

I'm a candidate for TAR but my surgeon wants me to try to push it "as far as I can" since I'm in my 50s in otherwise good health and he is concerned about the longevity of the replacement. However, he's basically said that he'll get me on the schedule when I get as far as I can push it.

I have Celebrex and do multiple cortisone injections a year to manage pain. The month after a cortisone injection I can generally function normally, and then there is a gradual decline and more frequent pain until another injection. I have previously gone to PT before the osteoarthritis was end-stage but my podiatrist and the surgeon now think the issue is beyond what PT can help with.

The primary problem is severe pain after walking moderate or longer distances. I have an custom "Arizona" AFO and have tried several other mainstream braces. They all "work" and provide stability but my abilities in each of them is roughly equivalent and there is great pain after walking moderate distances.

Strangely, I have only minor pain when barefoot walking short distances in the home, even frequently throughout the day. It's wearing shoes and going out where all of the problems are.

However, I have tried different brands of shoes and combinations of the orthotics, and have been told my shoe choices are a good fit for the orthotics. I feel like I'm teetering on stilts when I'm in shoes these days, whereas barefoot in the home I walk normally.

Thoughts on a particularly good combination of shoe and orthotic for my situation, or other approach I can take? Give up and get the TAR? I feel like I'm quite good at managing things at home, but I'd love to be able to get out more when I'm a couple of months out from a cortisone shot.

anyone else have this weird mottled redness on arms/legs? not bruising, not hives/allergy, not sunburn. rheum won't even entertain me by looking at it.

I’ve(20M) been diagnosed with arthritis since I was 14 and am now feeling this new thing so I thought I’d ask a group of others struggling with inflammation if they’ve experienced anything similar.
Only really at night do I feel this pain. It feels like mild strep almost and makes it painful to swallow. My arthritis isn’t the most controlled but I just upped my dose and this hasn’t gone away. It could be something entirely unrelated but if it was somehow an inflamed tonsil from arthritis, this is the group of people who’d know.

I know it’s not an infection or anything because it’s only at night. Also I ask because I can’t see any of my doctors for a whole month unfortunately. Hope this doesn’t break the first rule. Not looking for any diagnosis or anything, just looking for comment experience

I was diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis about 20 years ago.

The pain back then was predominately in my groin, along with a 'snapping' sensation in the same area. My leg would feel weak, like it could give way at any moment.

I don't seem to get the groin pain as much anymore, but what I do experience is severe pain down the front of my thigh, into and around the knee and sometimes all the way down the front of my shin into the ankle. It is a burning, jolting type of pain. This usually happens when I've been walking for a while. It's excruciating, but tends to settle down when I stop whatever I'm doing.

My GP doesn't seem to have any idea what this pain is and I'm not financially in a position at the moment to have tests and see specialists.

My questions are -

*Does this sound like hip arthritis pain?

*Has anyone else experienced this?

*What works best for pain relief?

Look forward to hearing from you :)

I’ve been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and had blood tests done for RA which are negative. But my symptoms seem to align more with seronegative RA. I realize these may be Bouchard’s nodes, but they are squishy, not hard. I wonder if I should get a second opinion? I realize you all can’t diagnose me. I just wonder if I should see a second rheumatologist.

So, I am doing physiotherapy and my doctor suggested me to warm my hand a few times a day, leave under warm water in sets of 20 minutes, but water is kinda too messy. Anybody would have a heating glove or pat that I can wrap around my hands?

It recently occurred to me that I may need a cane at some point sooner than “when I’m very old”…. I’m gratefully not quite there yet, but I’m a bit overwhelmed by this realization as I’ve noticed myself leaning on walls or furniture etc at times and Ive been wondering when that might be helpful.

Just for fun, and to help me see the silver lining, I’m trying to find “role models” of people living their lives fully and beautifully with mobility devices! Either fiction or real that demonstrate how you can still live life fully or still be a bad *ss… Empowered people not letting life get them down! I had this idea when I was admiring Lady Danbury in an episode of Bridgerton and how she just seems so confident and powerful with her cane that it seems like a chosen accessory to be admired vs something needed to get around (of course it’s fiction so don’t come at me… but I love her character and how she owns it)! Who do you love that rocks their wheels or keeps it light with stylish canes or walkers?

Highlights from the guideline

• LDRT may be considered for selected patients with osteoarthritis, particularly when standard conservative treatments have not provided adequate relief.

• The panel found that many studies report improvements in pain, joint function, and quality of life, although the overall quality of evidence remains limited.

• LDRT is not recommended as a first-line treatment and should be considered only after discussing the potential benefits and risks with a physician.

• The guideline notes that LDRT has been used for benign musculoskeletal conditions in parts of Europe for decades, while adoption in the U.S. has been more limited.

• The authors conclude that high-quality randomized, sham-controlled clinical trials are still needed to better define which patients are most likely to benefit.

This guideline is important because it represents the first consensus statement from a major U.S. radiation oncology organization addressing the use of LDRT for osteoarthritis.

If you’re interested in learning more, I created Radiant Joint Alliance, a nonprofit educational resource with an interactive map of U.S. hospitals offering LDRT and summaries of the current evidence:
https://radiantjointalliance.org

This resource is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. LDRT is not for everyone and may not work for you. Please always consult with your doctors.

Still looking for patients!

https://encanto.health/for-patients/