I had rheumatic fever when I was 10 yrs old. It came from strep also. I remember pain in my joints (mostly legs) for a mo. or so before I could not walk at all, one night I screamed until they call ed a dr. He made a house call at 6:A.M. I remember talking a lot of pills, I missed 6 weeks of school, which I made up later. It seams I never had much energy, but always tried to keep up with my farm chores. Now I`m 72 yrs old, we have 5 kids, we worked very hard all the time, @ the age of 23, I got a severe case of arthritis(could not pin a diaper or lift a pitcher of milk) I say get a new Doctor now! It shoulden`t take this long. I was in bed 3 months.