What is wron with me? HELP ME PLEASE

I only know to tell it from the start, as strange as it sounds.
June, 1994, I went to bed and felt fine. When I awakened the next morning my right shoulder hurt worse then I could describe, but I wrote it off as having slept on it wrong. I smoke and the pain was so unbearable I could not raise my habd to my face. It was unbearable to be still, and any movement increased the pain 10 fold, to the point of tears. i was a bartender and was unable to work due to this, but they let me show up and do what I could. This continued for three days. On the third day the pain began to lessen and over a 45 min. period was completely gone.
     I thought at last it is over. About an hour later my left shoulder began getting sore and in no more than another hour the pain was back, only in a different joint. i went to the E.R. at the local hospital where the Dr on duty questioned me about a fall or injury. He said he believed I had dislocated my shoulder, due to the pain and inability to move the arm. I assured him this was not the case and asked him if dislocated shoulders moved, because three days ago it was my right shoulder like that. His response was "It doesn't do that". It does and has. He insisted on an x-ray and it showed nothing.
     I was in extreme pain and my BP was high so they began treating that with clonidine to no avail. Finally an older DR said his BP won't go down until you control his pain. They administered demorol, then some other things to get my BP back up, then sent me home. They never even noticed the leisions on my arms, or ulcers in my mouth.
Over the next few weeks the pain spread to every joint in my body, hands, elbows, knees hips feet and even finers and toes. Swelling was very eveident in my hands and toes, with my toes sometimes turning blackish or dark blue. I made numerous trips to the ER, sometimes being carried in by my Son because I was unable to walk. I am certain that the ER personel thought I was just another drugie, but I do not use illegal drugs.
From the lack of help I recieved from the hospital I began taking largr doses of motrin which did provide some relief.
On one of the many trips to the ER one Dr looked at my arms and asked what the leisions were. I responded with I guess they are insect bites. He assured me they were not and that I had an auto immune disorder and needed to see a specialist. I had no insurance so he helped get me into University Medical Center in Oklahoma city. I was put on Plaquinel, and some other meds. I had a pos. RA factor and a pos. ANA test.Iam running out of space. today my symptoms now include, painful joints and pain where there is no joint,Low grade fever,Skin leisions, Severe breathing problems, insomnia, depression, sometimes to the point of suicide, muscle spasms over my chest, stomache. ribs, hands and feet. The pain is worse with weather changes and is often accompanied by a sore throat, very sore and red but goes away without antibiodics. My ears ring constantly Help me

[Kevin Pho, MD]

It is difficult to say what it is without evaluation.

A positive RF and ANA test suggests a rheumatological disease, such as arthritis or lupus.  These diseases can also manifest as a rash.

The lesions can be further evaluated by a dermatologist and worked up with a skin biopsy.

As for possible treatment of the disease, steroids and immunomodulator therapy can be considered if the disease is rheumatological in nature.  

Referral to a physiatrist (rehabilitation physician) can be considered if the medical workup is non-revealing.

I would also treat the depression - if there is evidence of suicidal ideation, this needs to be addressed immediately.

These options should be discussed with your personal physician.

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_

[hoopdaddy]

Thank you for your comment DR. Unfortunately the answers are always the same amd the rhumitologists Never seem to do antyjing. I don't know how to decribe it other than on a good day I waske and hurt more than most people could ever imagine. On a bad day I lay in bed and cry. When I talk to the Dr.'s they seem more concerned with thier fees than with me. They run the same tests over and over, never tell me anything except that pain medicine won't help. They are wrong. Pain meds in conjunction with motrin makes my life bearable. I have never been prescribed more than 2 hydrocodone a day and they last the prescribed time, meanin I do not take more than they say. Still it is like pulling teeth to get an arthritus Dr to prescribe them.
     I know suicide is not the answer, but if an animal hurt like this they would put it to sleep and call it humane.I have been dealing with this since 1994 and I wonder some times what the medical comunity expects? When is enough enough. I do not purchase street drugs for help, I depend on Dr.'s to care and do the right thing, but they are dropping the ball, big time.
     Would they let one of thier family members suffer like this? I think not.
     Yes I am depressed. I hurt everyday, have these god aweful sores on my arms, can't spend time in the sun without these red things that look like blood blisters just under my skin and they break with only slight contact, leavin these sores. My lungs have gotten so bad that combined with all else I am close to losing my job, with which will go my health ins. and my medicine that I do still get, limited as it may be. Take away my medical care and my medicine for my breathing and I most likely have a slow death from suffocation from asthma/copd before I ever have a chance to obtain help from Social Security or Medicare.
     Tell me, Dr., were you in my position would you not be depressed? Would the thought of a quick death not seem more appealing than I have described? No more pain, no more being looked at like there is some hideious disease causeing your skin to do that, no more struggling to breathe, and last but not least, no more strugling to pay for Dr.'s who either can't or won't help.
     The saddest part is that you have spent more time talking to me than the Dr.'s I pay and I thank you for it, Sir, no matter how things go. Hoop

[Truthfinder]

Gosh, so sorry for your misery.  Your story is awfully familiar in many ways, though....

I found out after 20 years of symtpoms that I had Lyme Disease.  I had to figure it out as no doctors ever even mentioned it to me, and that includes the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

I'm certainly not telling you that you have Lyme Disease, but I am saying that it should be considered, especially in your case with the sudden onset of joint pain and the obvious mysterious "bites".  (Although less than 50% of people with Lyme ever remember a bite, a tick, or a rash.)

To be honest, you may need to see a special doctor, and if you need help finding one close to you, there is a section over at http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php to help you.  A lot of other good information is available on the website, as well.

If it is an option you have not considered, it might be worth looking into.

All the best,
Tracy

[hoopdaddy]

Tracy, thank you so much for the info. Unfortunately I have been checked for Lyme Disase as I live in the South and it happens mords than people thimk. The leisions on me never go away. they heal only to be replaced by new ones. Thae thing that gets me is I am so sensitive to the weather and every time my joints flare my throat gets sore. No one but me ever puts that together and the Dr.s seem to think it is unrelated. The only problem I have with that is after 10 years or so I think it being a cooincidence is a tad out odf the question.
    Thanks again for caring enought to write. I have been checked for so many things, hepatitis with letters I had never even heard of, of coarse aids, and every other std, psyriosis and all, including bone tuberculosis. Thanks again. Steve

[Truthfinder]

Steve, I don

[piikko]

Has anyone suggested RSD?

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), also known as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is a chronic, painful, and progressive neurological condition that affects skin, muscles, joints, and bones. The syndrome usually develops in an injured limb, such as a broken leg, or following surgery. However, many cases of RSD involve only a minor injury, such as a sprain. And in some cases, no precipitating event can be identified.

Pain may begin in one area or limb and then spread to other limbs. RSD/CRPS is characterized by various degrees of burning pain, excessive sweating, swelling, and sensitivity to touch. Symptoms of RSD/CRPS may recede for years and then reappear with a new injury.

http://www.neurologychannel.com/rsd/symptoms.shtml

[debadeb]

im having the same problems since i had soulder suegery.my left arm is on fire and it feels like electric currant. hot/cold. i cant stand the severe pain sometimes from the neck also i want to chop off my arm the pain mgmt. dr.thinks its psysosomatic where do i turn i think i have nerve damage no one is lisitening i see also a rheumy. not even oxyconton is helping where do i go next i think a neurologist do you agree

[debadeb]

im having the same problems since i had soulder suegery.my left arm is on fire and it feels like electric currant. hot/cold. i cant stand the severe pain sometimes from the neck also i want to chop off my arm the pain mgmt. dr.thinks its psysosomatic where do i turn i think i have nerve damage no one is lisitening i see also a rheumy. not even oxyconton is helping where do i go next i think a neurologist do you agree

[Dharlee]

Hoop, I am surprised that no one has mentioned Dermatamyositis. You might want to talk to someone about that?