tendons

i had chronic pains for 8 years. 5 years ago i paid to see a rheumatologist who diagnosed palindromic rheumatism. i was also told from the stroke clinic that i had pernicious anaemia.

8 years on, i moved house to wales and mt gp took me very seriously with me being crippled in my spine, my right hip and top of legs. He did RF test and ANA test. 5 years ago my RF test was 320-and they never did further tests-normal level is 14. The ANA test came back speckled and raised. He then went through all the problems that it could possibly be, and has agreed that I go to another rheumatologist and neurologist. However, I researched even more, and realised that my problems started 8 years ago whenas with many, many diabetics I was put on simvastatin. 6 years ago the GP doubled the dose, which they also did for many, many diabetics. My cholesterol was normal before going on the stains, and I argued against it as my husbands was higher and he wasn't put on them. I was put on them because I was diabetic.

10 days ago I stopped taking simvstatins. I have my life back. I have a little hip pain, but this is less than 5% of what I used to feel with it. My muscle pains in my legs have gone. My head is no longer confused, and I can thinks straight without making and doing and saying stupid things. I went to my GP 7 days ago and said what I had done. He could see even 3 days in how much better I was.
He tried to persuade me to take a water based statin instead of a fat based one, but I refused. I am now taking mega dose vitamin c and upped my intake of COQ10.I also take benecol butter and drinks and also plant sterol tablets to lower any bad cholesterol I may have. GP has agreed to test in 3 months to see if I can manage naturally, as I am that little bit older now.

I wonder if you are taking statins? Please be aware that our body does actually need cholesterol especially our brains. Statins can do awful damage if they do not agree with you.

Hi cwj,
This may be of help to you,

http://www.iddtinternational.org/health ... muscle.htm

Catherine.

RF test is Rheumatoid Factor which for an adult female should come in about 14......mine used to come in between 88 and 320.

From this test the GP can do a further test called ANA which is antinuclear anitbody test. This test comes back in tilter scales...normal is 1:20, and then it basically doubles the worse you are-mine came in at 1:160 and there is another subtest that comes back with it too, the test will either come back as rim, speckled or (3rd I can't remember). This led the GP and me to research, and the conclusion was reached that I had Rhabdyomyolis or drug induced lupus from the statins.

It was only my new GP that got so fed up of me complaining of pains that did these tests. The rheumatologist that I paid to see 5 years ago did nothing, and neither did any other specialist or GP.

These tests can lead to more blood tests depending on what results come back...for example a tilter of 1:320 and speckled effect would lead the GP or consultant down another route of illness.etc.

The nurse at my GP did not have a clue what vials to use, as she said she had never done an ANA test before. They are not widely carried out, and they should be for people that have pains in muscles/tendons. The nurse had to phone up the laboratory to find out what vials to use.

Worth checking to see if you have had an ANA test done. I asked my GP to have the ANA test, as I had spent months on the internet trying to find out what was wrong with me, as I felt as if I was dying. The ANA test is worth looking up for more details on the internet....

Hope this helps...Sha

That is a trully appauling story of events DD.

Like you I was put on statins "because I was diabetic" though with a total reading of 4.4 I was most indignant and my husband was much worse at the top end of the 5s. It is only now that I am putting together the timing of pins and needles in my little fingers and a constant ache in my arms that started up soon after. I have also only just realised that they disappeared when I chose to stop taking the statins.
I will be telling my GP and also the Endo who re-started me on a newer statin, which I subsequently stopped in under 3 weeks, of my observations. Today's news item on this forum on statins and a vague link to developing diabetes was food for thought. As a female with no history of heart problems and a reasonable cholesterol level I believe I was not a candidate for statins.
CJW I hope you get answers soon from your doctors.

I am not sure if this is relevant, but I had tendon trouble a few years ago in my thumb...I basically had trigger thumb. I was told that my previously badly controled diabetes was a factor, as it furred up the tendon. I had a small iperation on my thumb, where they loosened the sheath around the joint...and it was instantly cured. I realis ethough that hips are a different issue!

That's interesting. I've recently got trigger finger, about 2 yrs after GP switched me from atorvastatin to simvastatin to save money. I had poor diabetic control for many years, but have also been a typist/secretary for 26 years, so difficult to be sure of the cause or the relative contributions of each. Don't have the other symptoms you mention, but will bear them in mind, especially considering the implications for my work.

RF and ANA may not be well known to GPs but are routine in hospitals. Surprised the GP nurse didn't know what vial to use - that info's usually on the forms that accompany the sample - though whether they read it is another matter. If you need a repeat test try going to the 'blood room' at your local hospital, who probably process your GP's samples anyway. If your GP provided the request form they still get the result.