Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Arthritis (Expert Forum)
Sudden Symptoms/Point me in the right direction?
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD
Boston - MA
This forum is for questions and support regarding arthritis issues such as: Arthritis, Autoimmune Disease, Bursitis, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Myositis, Neuralgia, Osteoarthritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sciatica, Tendinitis, Vasculitis.
Sudden Symptoms/Point me in the right direction?
by Wafflegirl, Mar 05, 2007 12:00AM
Normally energetic 26y/o mom of a 16m/o. Rundown & achy for awhile with swollen glands in my head,neck,& groin. Lost weight, thought I had a virus.The 3days leading to 2/14 I had more pain,like pain fireworks in my joints and muscles.On the 14th my RT hip hurt& normal tasks made my muscles fatigued.I had trouble going up stairs,needed two arms for lt lifting.The next week I had an acceleration of symptoms.Most notiably random joint pain affecting, both hips,knees,elbows,wrists,all fingers,& now all joints.Symptoms in order of onset:fatigue/abdominal pain/heavy achy lungs/Raynaud's/nausea/pins&needles/left prickly headache/Occ left numbness on face,knee,groin/prickly shock pain w/movement&touch in extremities/low heat sense in feet/occ. spots in vision/occ.like looking through a yellow lens/mouth&tongue sores/mild stiff neck/arm pit pain/burning left calf/muscle twich.I had a norm/neg Thyroid,SED,CBC,UA, lyme,mono.I'm nicely hydrated though. Waiting for ANA,abdominal ultrasound results,& ref to a neuro.I take 50mg trazadone for insomnia after son was born.I live in smalltown Maine and am worried I might not get to the right specialist.I've had to fight to get people to take me seriously thus far.I'm in constant pain sometimes are better than others.I get daily attacks of a joint that lasts for a time & leaves it more sore and stiff than before.unsteady on my feet & I fell with my son.I've not worked in 3 weeks.We don't have insurance.Could someone point me in the right direction so we can avoid costly and un-needed tests or appts.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Mar 06, 2007 12:00AM
, Mar 06, 2007 12:00AM
I agree with the workup thus far. The symptoms you describe are non-specific and can be indicative of many diseases.
The ANA and neurology referral is recommended. I would also consider a rheumatoid factor as well.
Regarding the pins/needles, headache and numbness, I would consider further neurologic testing. This can include brain imaging with an MRI to rule out a mass, as well as electrodiagnostic testing to evaluate for nerve conduction diseases.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician, or in conjunction with a neurology referral.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
The ANA and neurology referral is recommended. I would also consider a rheumatoid factor as well.
Regarding the pins/needles, headache and numbness, I would consider further neurologic testing. This can include brain imaging with an MRI to rule out a mass, as well as electrodiagnostic testing to evaluate for nerve conduction diseases.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician, or in conjunction with a neurology referral.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
Insomnia
Hot swollen pointer and middle finger with cold
pinky and ring fingers
One or both legs and feet red hot and swollen very uncomfortable.
Occasional shooting crampy pain in arms/legs
RLS
Pins and needles in face,legs,arms,fingers
Sometimes I get a painful snap in my neck that causes a tingle that goes up in to my brain.
About a month ago I had a painful spot on my left leg that suddenly became very red and swollen and ichy then turned into to a deep purple bruise. I also was ichy all over and broke out in hives
I had chronic upper respitory infections my entire child hood and had sinus surgery at 16.
Because I get sick easily I take really go care of myself, I eat right,excercise,don't smoke,and rarely drink.
Don't know if it relates or not.
Thanks for listening,
Wafflegirl
It has no real rhyme or reason...it is like an umbrbrella of symptoms.
I am also 26 and I have most of the problems you do. You can see a Rheumetologist who can order blood tests to rule out arthritic diseases and lupus.
Hope this helps some.
I saw a nuerologist yesterday he felt strongly that I had some sort of "systemic disease" not a nuero problem and I should see a Rheumatoligist.
My joints are very weak and it's as if I could sprain them if I used them in the wrong way. The neuro also commmented on the purple mottled look of my knees, which are my weakest joints. I've also had some more itchy patches that then get broken blood vessles in the center
Does this also sound familiar to you?
Thanks,
Wafflegirl
Some of it sounds farmiliar. But all cases of Fibro are different... It wouldnt hurt to see a Rheumetologist and check into it still though.
Yes, fibro usually seems to appear out of nowhere. The intense pain usually doesnt start right away, but some kind of pain comes out of nowhere....but I wouldnt call it exactualy "nowhere". There is usually a trigger that sets it off I believe. In my case it was a car accident. The pain started off as just whiplash and aches and just got worse until it became what it is today.
Some believe that its emotional truama...some physical trauma...anything from an illness to a severe injury.
Most people are treated by Rheumetologists because Fibro is sort of an arthritis of the muscles.
You can get diagnosed by finding a Rheumy that deals with fibromyalgia. You will have a blood test to rule out all arthritic diseases and some rule out lupus. You may also want to rule out Lyme own your own too because it mimics many of these symptoms but it requires a seperate test...cant remember the name though. If all tests come back negative you are tested on the 18 tenderpoints that fibromyalgia displays on the body. You can look up "18 tender points" on the web to see where they are. If 11 of the 18 are very painful a diagnosis of fibromyalgia of given.
It can also seem to affect your joints although it does not cause perm. damage like arthritis. I know my joints are always twisted or pulled or cracking.
as far as the blotches go, I dont experience those so Im not sure.
Hope this helps!
Steph