Sudden Symptoms/Point me in the right direction?

[Wafflegirl]

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.  



        

[Kevin Pho, MD]

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_

[Wafflegirl]

I should also say that I've had some weird symptoms before but with no real frequency so I did'nt really put too much tought into them. Many of these started when I was a teen.
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

[Wafflegirl]

My ANA and RH just came back neg.

[StephieBee]

Since you said you had tests run that came back neg. I would look into fibromyalgia.

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.

[Wafflegirl]

Did your symptoms also come on suddenly and how long have they lasted?  Do you have fibromyalgia if so how did you get diagnosed?

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

[StephieBee]

Yes I do have fibromyalgia.  Im 26...I was diagnosed at 20 in Feb of 2001 but had symptoms since 18 (1998).

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

[StephieBee]

Actually I was just on another Fibro board where someone posted about their knees being purplish and swollen.  They too, happen to be this particular person's weakest joints.

[Wafflegirl]

Thank you, this website has been has played a huge role in keeping me sane through this!
I'll check out those 18 points too.  
Someone gave me the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine
and it has a great section about fibromyalgia and what sort of dietary things you can to help. I may just try them out and see if it helps while I'm waiting to be seen. It's worth a shot.  

[dpblonde]

I had a very similar thing that happened beginning Feb....woke up one day achy, red blotches on my upper legs to just below my knees a little on the upper back arms....but mostly pain and joing stiffness, no fever....but got worse, sed rate elevated, liver enzymes elevated, but no on knew what it was...went to a RA Dr., who diagnosed prednisone 60mg, which is ALOT, so over the last month or so, I've been weening myself off, back to 10mg....fatigues started a couple days ago, today pain and stiffness......where to now, any suggestions?  ANYONE, I'm really frustrated, the spots on my legs have remained although they have faded, they are still obvious.

[kevinswife]

wow! It feels nice to have someone with all of these symptoms, as much as I have them, although nice isn't really the meaning.

I'm 31 with a 3 1/2 yr old and a 6 mo old, my symptoms came on out of know where 6 weeks ago, I had CBC came back normal.  I saw a neurologist and my b12 folate came back kinda low, ANA was 1:80 positive with speckled pattern and my MRI came back normal, so she ruled out MS.  And referred me to a rheumatolgist, which is 5/10.  The neuro. gave me a b12 supplement and to take (2) aleve twice a day for pain, the b12 has helped with my fatigue and my pain isn't as chronic,.but the aleve has now given me bloody stools (yuk).  And I'm back to tylenol arthritis (which doens't do much)  So after you see the neuro and get your ANA back, please let me know what was said.

If your like me, I'm very emotional and thinking bad thoughts of my children being motherless.  With some advice, don't be afraid to ask for medicine from your primary dr, atleast to get you through this emotionally.

[Looking4Hcg]

In what part of the country do all you people live?  I have the same symptoms that also started about 6-8 weeks ago.  I'm wondering now if something got 'dumped' on us or some 'bad product' got placed in the marketplace.

I have a previous history of Rheumatoid Arthritis, so I thought I was just having a terrible flair up, but now my muscles are hurting as well as my joints!

[Karibabe]

I have fibromyalgia but also suffer from partial seizures - is this is a symptom of fibro?  The Doc wants to send me for EEG in case of epilipsy but I'd like to find out more before I spend all that money.  ALSO, my family has a history of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Im very concerned that fibro is the beginning stages of R.A.  Please can anyone give advice.  Thanks