Pain in joints. Feel depressed

harry01

I've been getting unpleasant pains in my knees. It's really depressing. I've given up on doctors. It's really hard living like this. 

woodbine

hi @harry01 sorry you're not feeling well, it's difficult when you've given up on Doctors, have you ever asked to be refered to a pain clinic?

janer1967

Sorry for your pain @harry01 and that it is getting you down . 

harry01

@woodbine they referred me to a persistent pain clinic where they said they would look at every cause. They said that in April or May if I can even remember. 

harry01

I am seeing the doctor on Friday. In the meantime I'm thinking of anything I'm not doing or doing that's causing the increased pain in joints. Then there is the pain in side. 

I'm trying to think of everything. Could you obsessively attempt to clean your teeth so much with fluoride toothpaste that it gives you pain in your joints. Is it lack of sunlight? Low vitamin D. It feels like I'm not absorbing my food when I eat. I grunt when I eat. 

Does this relate to anything? I'm trying to think of anything that's causing these pains. It wasn't this bad three years prior. 

harry01

I don't even care if something I wrote sounds silly. I just want to feel a bit better than this. And I'm interested in environmental causes for pains that don't relate to injury/some mechanical thing. I'm interested in something might relate to a vitamin deficiency or absorption issue. Or even too much of something. Because I'm in pain it makes me very compulsive as I try and distract myself. For example I spent 2014-2017 attempting to brush my teeth for several hours. I stopped realising I was doing it. 

harry01

I couldn't stop myself doing it. 

harry01

Someone help me. Has anyone done this? 

Tori_Scope

Hi @harry01  

Sorry that you're still experiencing pain. I know that you've partially given up on seeking doctors' advice, but ultimately they're the ones who'll be able to assess your situation most effectively, and are most likely to help you to find a way forward. Unfortunately, many medical services and treatments have been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, which could be why your pain hasn't been fully investigated yet. I'm really glad that you're seeing someone on Friday, and that you're having a think beforehand about what might be causing the pain.

I remember you saying that you had a plan to increase the amount of vitamin D you were getting, has that worked at all? 

Could you elaborate on what you mean when you say that you couldn't stop yourself from brushing your teeth a bit more? 

harry01

I take the supplements. Two a day. 800 IU I think it is. There was a bit of sun out yesterday. I got out in it for 30 minutes. I went out today and it's all cloud cover. I miss a lot of the daylight because I often get up in the afternoon.

Oh those were rituals I followed. It's because you're stressed. 

Tori_Scope

What's stopping you from getting up earlier do you think @harry01? Are you having trouble sleeping? 

I see. Well I'm not sure if the amount of fluoride you consumed would have been enough to cause the pain, but perhaps it's more likely that the repetitive motion could have worsened the pain? What are your brushing habits like at the moment? This could all be worth bringing up to your doctor, just in case.

harry01

With sleep it's usually pain that keeps me up and stops me sleeping. I dunno, I also don't feel there is anything getting up for. I don't enjoy living really. 

Tori_Scope

I know that you've expressed these thoughts on here before, so I'm sorry that you're still feeling this way @harry01. I can understand that you've been unhappy with previous mental health diagnoses you've received, but do you think it could be worth getting some more support for your mental health alongside getting treatment for your physical pains? 

chiarieds

Hi @harry01 - I'm sorry your knees are painful at the moment, & I can sympathize, as I have pain due to osteoarthrosis which affects my knees. With us nearly being at the shortest day there's not much sun about unfortunately, but we'll be heading in the right direction from next Monday onwards. Anyway, getting out & about a little outside is good for your joints, & try & avoid sitting for too long when you get back home. Keep getting up & moving around for a few minutes as often as you can.

I'm not sure how old you are, but we all experience a little wear & tear on our joints as we get older, which can cause discomfort/pain. I hope you get some answers when you see your Dr on Friday. Is this your GP?

So in the meantime just keep as active as possible as that might help.

harry01

Hi, I'm 36. I don't think it could relate to 'wear and tear' as I'm not excessively doing anything/ misusing something. I think it's from a deficiency. But I don't fully understand why. It doesn't make sense to me as I'm sure I e been taking these vitaminD supplements. 1000 IU a day. 

I find it hard to think clearly. I am seeing GP on Friday but they never get anything done immediately. It always comes with a wait until X date and suffer and let's 'help' you with your mental health when it was dependent on this anyway. They're foolish and it's a mindset. 

harry01

I've only lost 31 years with this rubbish. I was 'would have been' have to say really good at sport. I would have enjoyed living. They don't care about that. All they care about is satisfying the condition that your blood pressure is good and then you're fine. If you have pain they'd rather assume it's genetic even if it isn't. They'd rather not think if it requires thinking. They'd rather do nothing. They'd rather blame it on your mental health and assume that's genetic too. They're idiots. 

harry01

I quite literally know I wouldn't have these more recent pains if I didn't have all this crap that happened in the last 6 years. I know that much. I might still have the more basic pains, who knows but I would not be as bad as this. 

The assume so much about me and how I think. They don't know anything about me. 

Ross_Scope

Hi @harry01

Sorry that you've been made to feel like this by those around you, it's a shame that any specialists or your GP haven't been able to help you as much as you'd like. I'm not sure if you've mentioned before if you've tried a pain clinic? Might that be something worth exploring for you? 

Hopefully the community can offer a safe space for you to come and talk about how you feel, don't hesitate to post on here if you ever need support.

We sent you an email earlier today, it would be lovely if you could give it a read and drop us a reply.