What Causes Back Pain While Suffering From Bulged Disc?

I have an appointment with my doctor in a couple weeks. I've been getting treated for back problems - MRI's show "minor" stenosis, disc bulge, arthritis - a little of everything but not significant enough to require surgery (which I'm glad.) But my pain is chronic and interferes with daily activities. In the last two years, I've developed arthritis pain in my hands, wrists, hips, shoulders, neck, legs and feet. There is a family history on my dad's side of significant arthritis problems. Both rheumatoid and osteo. How do I know which one I have? I've been getting progressively worse. Most days I hurt all over, feel fatigued and now I'm getting depressed from the chronic pain. I also have bruising on my hands where no injury occurred and sometimes notice protruding blue veins while having significant pain. I have been trying to lose weight, joined a gym and anything else I can do to help myself. I am getting extremely frustrated and feel like a whiner and hypochondriac - neither of which I ever considered myself before. I feel I have a high tolerance to pain, but the consistency of it is wearing me down.