Losing hope. Please help (also posted on MH forum)

Hi. I'm losing my way here and am getting pretty down. Any thought appreciated.

I've been experiencing lots of joint/skeletal pain for about a year and a half. Started in a heel then went to the knees, one hip. At this point I began to change my lifestyle with healthier eating, stretching, more water and mineral supplements (including glucosamine). About two months ago I did an MCleanse and have just finished a parasite cleanse. So i know it's early days but in the time that I've tried to improve my situation things have actually got worse which has depressed me a little.

Whilst some of my back pain has subsided (a result!) I've gained a new pain in the 'great toe' joint which is the big one that bolts the big toe onto the foot. A physio told me that this was because of the way I've been walking and gave me some orthotics but this joint has worsened. Now here's what has really scared me: last week the second joint on my thumb was sore. Upon examination there seems to be a growth of bone around the joint that makes it about twice the size of the other hand thumb. So what's worrying me is that whilst most of my pain is in the lower extremity and has always been attributed to bad gait, this is the first expression of some arthitic involvement elsewhere. It's almost like something somehwere wants to come out and is doing so skeletally. I've tested negative for Rheumatoid and Ankylosing Spond.

I have a hard life raising kids on just my wage, the doctors seem bemused at my widespread joint trouble and suggest nothing but painkillers (don't they always?) and I'm so down that my improved lifestyle hasn't stopped the progress of this arthritis. I'm a man of 42 which is no age for this to happen. I'll be colon cleansing this week and then kidney and liver BUT I'm worried that my mental state will nullify any positive effects.

Thanks for any hands up

Adam

PS: Can i just say that Arthritis is a terrible thing and there seem to be no inspiring posts on the Arthritis Forum. Many just seem to want to sell a new quack potion and it disturbs me that so few people manage to halt the progression of cartilage destruction or indeed rebuild it naturally.