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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Stiffness/Joint Pain/Muscle Pain
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Stiffness/Joint Pain/Muscle Pain
by DannyFHJr, Jun 26, 2002 12:00AM
Good morning. For some time now I've been experiencing a variety of symptoms involving my joints, especially my knees and shoulders, and muscles in my neck and back. I'm 32, not in the greatest shape, but no history of serious medical problems.
My joints make cracking noises frequently, like the sound made when cracking knuckles. There are sharp pains which come and go. My neck gets really stiff and makes cracking noises if I turn my head, and my lower back has been extremely sore. Sometimes if I try to do any moderate to heavy lifting I'll feel the muscles in my shoulder blade or lower back spasm and it takes a day or two for them to loosen up again.
Could this just be a combination of stress and not being physically fit? I have a desk job so I am seated for most of the day and I commute by car for an hour, so there's a lot of time where I do nothing but sit. I had numerous sports-related injuries to my shoulders and knees when I was a teenager. Are they coming back to haunt me? I notice that the pain is particularly bad on humid or damp days.
Stretching and ibuprofen help but not enough. Any suggestions?
My joints make cracking noises frequently, like the sound made when cracking knuckles. There are sharp pains which come and go. My neck gets really stiff and makes cracking noises if I turn my head, and my lower back has been extremely sore. Sometimes if I try to do any moderate to heavy lifting I'll feel the muscles in my shoulder blade or lower back spasm and it takes a day or two for them to loosen up again.
Could this just be a combination of stress and not being physically fit? I have a desk job so I am seated for most of the day and I commute by car for an hour, so there's a lot of time where I do nothing but sit. I had numerous sports-related injuries to my shoulders and knees when I was a teenager. Are they coming back to haunt me? I notice that the pain is particularly bad on humid or damp days.
Stretching and ibuprofen help but not enough. Any suggestions?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Jun 28, 2002 12:00AM
Sounds like a primary rheumatological problem rather than a neurological one if the symptoms are primarily confined to the joints. Arthritis and degenerative joint disease are considerations. Other less common causes are autoimmune diseases such as lupus which can present with joint pain. Plain Xray films of the joints can help with the diagnosis. Talk to your primary care doc about stronger anti-inflammatory agents such as vioxx or celebrex as well as appropriate testing. A rheumatology consult may also be of help. Use common sense in your daily routine and exercise. There are special support materials for car seats that taxi drivers use for prolonged driving. This may be of some help. Good luck.
