25 y/o otherwise completely healthy male w/ no family history of any arthritic dieseas.
About 2 months ago started feeling generalized pain/ache in DIP joints (joints closest to fingernails). Pain is in both hands, but not always symmetrical. NO swelling, redness, tenderness, nodules, etc. Just pain.
I am worried about RA, b/c of course everything you read online talks about RA and how bad it is, etc. But this doesn't sound like RA to me (RA doesn't involve DIP joints, usually has swelling, I am not in a risk group, etc.) What do you guys think?
I have not been to the doc yet, though am planning to go over the nex tmonth (difficult w/holidays coming up). My theory is copper deficiency is causing the JP. Went on Zinc supplements for no real reason 3+ months ago. Add that with a Multi-Vitamin I was taking, I was getting 65 mg of supplemental zinc..add that to dietary zinc and I was probably getting 80+mgs of zinc/day. WAYY TOO MUCH!
I've read where too much zinc over a period of time can cause a copper deficiency, which can lead to joint pain among other things. Any insight on that theory? How plausible does that sound? Will docs think I am crazy if I mention that to them? I trashed the zinc about a week ago, though I am still on the MV which has zinc in it. How long does it usually take to correct a Copper def. like that. Once corrected, will that fix my joint pain?
Thanks to ANY and EVERY bit of insight or info ANYONE can give me. Knowledge is power as they say!!