Question
Hi,
In the last two, three years my knees are very stiff and painful during the night and especially in the morning.  Sometimes my knees feel like they are burning and get a little numb when I lay on my side with one knee resting on the other, which by the way is very uncomfortable as well.  The biggest problem I have is when I get down on my hands and knees.  I have to have help to get up, especially my left knee. It hurts a lot upon the getting up process and for a little while after the knee feels very funny especially behind the knee. I cannot scrub floors anymore as it hurts my knees too much.  Also my finger joints are very stiff and painful in the morning and if it is hot and humid they can feel swollen and painful most of the day until the weather lets up.  When I try to go for a walk I get pain from my left hip down to my knee. I also have a very painful elbow and my wrist gives me pain off and on as well, but usually pain in my wrist happens when I try to use a manual can opener or something of that nature. Does the above sound like any kind of arthritis or does it sound like problems I should see an orthopediac doctor for?  I am a 58 year old woman and am about 20 pounds overweight.  No diabetes or heart disease.  Had not heard of anyone in my family with arthritis.  Just remember my aunt talking about how stiff and painful her hands were in her older years.  Would appreciate any answer or help you might have.
PS:  My fingers have some slight bumps on some of the joints.  Also, the majority of my pain and stiffness is in the morning or after I have rested.

Answer
Dear Mary,   This sounds more like either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis and not some you need to see an orthopedic for "yet".....

I suggest that you see your doctor an have him/her do a RF blood test (rheumatiod factor)....  If it is positive, then 9 chances out of 10 you have rheumatoid arthritis....  However, it is also possbile to have BOTH rheumatoid arthritis AND osteoarthritis....  Osteoarthritis can NOT be diagnosed with blood tests...  The only test for osteoarthritis is to have an x-ray, ct-scan or the more favorable MRI to diagnose osteoarthritis.....  When you have these tests done and IF the blood work and the MRI or ct-scans etc prove negative, then you may have to see an orthopedic....  However, based on your age, chores you do and any work you do or sports or exercise, this definately sounds more like some type of arthritis.....

Thank you,   karen