migrating from joint to joint

My arthritis started with both hands and knees hurting.  Then as time moved on my hands started feeling better but my feet started hurting.  Now, my hands are hurting again and my ankles are driving me nuts.

Has anyone had joint pain like this, that seems to migrate?  I'm going to see someone about RA in few weeks, hope that helps but I'm not sure that's my problem.  It always includes both joints, it's never one side or another, which I guess  is a sign of RA.

[txsilver]

There are several different types of arthritis that can effect both sides of your body.  There are also types that seem to migrate around the body.  RA effects joints on both sides of your body.  I have it and while I may have a flare in one location or another, it does not migrate.  When your pain moves to your feet from your hands, do your hands feel 100% as they did before the pain?  Have you had any tests done?  Do you have any other symptoms or conditions?

[sheker]

I am with the same problems.
Initially 3.5 yrs ago pain started at neck,then wrist/hand,then knee,then foot/ankle then elbow..

Now almost i have everywhere on joints and bones.I have visited Rhuemetologist,he gave medication like trial and error nothing worked for me.Now i am on LYRICA which is giving only 10% relief.


Thanks
Sheker

[lrw53566]

I am a 22 year old female who, until recently, was extremely active and healthy. I was working out about six times a week and rotating between yoga, Pilates, cardio, and weight training.

Around January of 2010 I started experiencing horrible pain in my right knee. After taking some time off from the gym and still experiencing chronic pain, I made an appointment with an orthopedic knee specialist. I had x-rays done and was told that my knee looked beautiful (structure-wise I guess) and that I probably had something called Femoral Pain Syndrome or Runner’s Knee. He recommended physical therapy, a knee brace, and said I should be fine in a few weeks. He also prescribed me a six-day dose down anti-inflammatory pack, even though I told him no swelling had ever occurred.

I took my meds, went to physical therapy as instructed, and did my exercises religiously. I was also told to ice my knees as well. After about the first week of physical therapy, my right knee pain became worse and I called the physical therapist. He told me to cut down on the number of reps for my exercises and to continue icing my knee. After about two weeks of physical therapy, and still seeing no improvement, I began to experience the same exact pain in my left knee.

This obviously confused me because I was pretty much inactive minus my PT exercises yet I was having the same horrible pain in my left knee now. I told my physical therapist who instructed me to now do the exercises on both my knees. About a week after that I was in such horrible pain I could barely walk. I spent an entire weekend on the couch with my legs propped up because for some reason, the knee pain was worse when my knees were bent. I couldn’t keep them perfectly straight either, so it was a tricky, annoying, and painful balance to get my knees feeling as best as they could.

After that, I went back to a different orthopedic knee doctor in the same practice to now get x-rays on my left knee as well. Once again, the x-rays showed up better than normal and I was told to continue PT. Right before the doctor left I told him my right elbow was starting to hurt a little bit and asked if I should be concerned. He checked it out briefly, said I was perfectly fine, and sent me on my way.

About two weeks later the pain in my right elbow, the same exact pain that I was experiencing in both my right and left knees, began to worsen. I was beginning to notice a trend and became very worried. I then had a blood test done by my primary care physician and my results showed that I had pretty high ANA levels. My doctor was very concerned and thought I may have Lupus or another connective tissue disease, so she sent me to a Rheumatologist to get more extensive blood work done. In the meantime, I was prescribed a different type of anti-inflammatory medication, just in case. It didn’t help at all.

The first Rheumatologist I went to asked me several questions, took my blood, and prescribed me yet another different kind of anti-inflammatory medication. Three weeks later, and still no better, I went back to the doctor to get my lab results. My blood work came back negative on everything, and I mean everything. The Rheumatologist went over pages and pages of my blood work and showed that everything was either negative or in normal range. Confused by my blood work, he wanted to test me again, and even tested me for rare diseases such as Lyme disease. Once again, all of my results came back fine. He did think I had hyper flexibility though, which may cause the pain, but didn’t say much more about it.

By this time it was the middle of April and my pain had now focused in on both my knees and both my elbows. A family friend suggested I see a sports medicine doctor, so I did just that. There I had x-rays taken yet again and was told, yet again, that my knee structure and elbow structure was in perfect condition. He seemed to believe that nothing was anatomically causing my problems and suggested I get a second opinion with a different Rheumatologist. Just to be certain though, he gave me a cortisone shot in my right knee and said I should feel much better in 4 to 5 days if it was injury or physiologically related. Much to my dismay, the cortisone shot didn’t help at all.

This led me back to another Rheumatologist who took my blood again. He agreed that I had hyper flexibility but thought that my pain was more physical than autoimmune, despite the fact that the anti-inflammatory medicines, cortisone shot, and physical therapy did nothing at all to help ease my pain. More so, I periodically take prescription pain medicine for my back (I have scoliosis) and the pain medicine also did not help my joint pain.

My latest lab results came back fine and I have currently been on medication for Fibromyalgia. The pain is still very present and very painful and I am obviously more than frustrated and upset. I am 22 years old and I just want my normal, active life back.

To be clear, the pain I am experiencing is a chronic pain, hurts worse when bent, and is extremely sensitive to touch. I can pin-point exactly where the pain is (it moves around the knee and elbow joint) just by touching it. I can also feel a constant throbbing pain without even touching my knees or elbows.

I have not been responsive to icing it, physical therapy, several anti-inflammatory medications, a cortisone shot, prescription pain medication, and fibromyalgia medication (Lyrica). I have never experienced any sort of swelling nor do I feel stiff in my joints. It is just a constant, horrible, sometimes throbbing pain that will not go away. Also, the only change in my lifestyle or daily medications around the time my pain began was my birth control. I have no idea if this could be the cause of everything, but I switched from Tri Sprintec to Ocella about 3 to 4 weeks before my pain started. Could this be related at all?

I am begging for someone to help me. I need a Dr. House immediately to help solve this horrifying medical mystery. Please, if anyone has any advice, suggestions, or anything, please let me know. Thanks.

[TrudieC]

I'm sorry you're going through so much.  Your story is so similar to many of us.  It is unfortunatel that it takes such a journey to get to a diagnosis.  I had a high ANA once and then it was negative.  My pain was all over my body as well as in my hands.  My rheumatologist treated me with plaquenil (first line of defense with RA and Lupus) but my symptoms seem to be more Lupus.  It can take years for your bloodwork to show properly.  Keep going back for testing every few months.  You might want to talk to your doctor about trying Plaquenil.  It definitely sounds like you have something autoimmune going on.

I was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia and Lyrica and anti-depressants have helped me immensely.  Did they test your tender points to determine you do have fibro?  What dose are you on?  I found relief almost instantly after starting with 75 mg once a day and I gradually increased dose to 150 mg twice a day.  Everyone reacts differently to the fibromyalgia drugs.  If Lyrica doesn't do it then you should go back and see about trying something else.  

I also get relief by soaking in the tub and going twice a month to a massage therapist for myofascial release treatment.  Make sure you aren't low in B12 or vitamin D.  I take a very good multi, magnesium, selenium, fish oil, Vitamin D3 and the one that helps the most is D-Ribose powder.

I hope you can get some relief and answers soon.

[lrw53566]

TrudieC,

Thank you so much for your kind words and suggestions. I am going back to my Rheumatologist tomorrow morning for a follow up because I have been on Lyrica, (75mg twice a day) and have had no relief. In fact, it seems that the pain has only worsened.

The Rheumatologist did NOT however "test my tender points" as I have read in many forums and online posts on diagnosing Fibromyalgia, so it did surprise me that he did diagnose me with it without "properly" testing me for it.

Some doctors thought I might have Lupus, especially considering the high ANA's that once appeared in my blood work, but they have seemed to eliminate that option, I'm guessing because I don't have other symptoms of the disease? Not quite sure though.

I do take a multi-vitamin every day and occasionally take a B12 vitamin as well. Let me ask you though, does your pain in your joints seem to hurt more when they are bent? That is a huge pattern I've seen in my joint - that they hurt more went bent, i.e. sitting down in a chair or typing at a computer desk, so I was wondering if anyone else felt this same way...

Besides talking to my Rheumy about Plaquenil, do you have any other thoughts or suggestions? Thanks so much for your input and thanks in advance for any additional insight you may offer.

[gpak]

Hi, I was wondering how are you feeling now. Have you got rid of your problem and got back to your normal daily life. If so what treatment / medications you took - can you please advise - of late I am experiencing the same problems - Thanks

[helpear]

if any of you are having joint pains that move around from one joint to the other where the joint feels stiff or swollen and you cannot put your weight on it because it is so painful eg knees, then i would suggest that you have a blood test to see if you have any food allergies.

for several years i had what seemed like osteoarthritis and was told by doctors to just live with it as it is part of the wear and tear and aging process. the only things they could prescribe were anti inflammatory drugs.

after trying many things without much success i decided to have a blood test for food allergies. it turned out that i am allergic to egg, almonds and dairy products. i am now 90% better as long as i keep away from these foods. however with egg it is difficult as there is egg in a lot of items eg mayonnaise, cakes, biscuits, salad dressings, battered items just to name a few.

i hope this is helpful for some of you

[carolanivey]

Hi helpear, thank you for passing that info along! Food allergies can indeed be the culprit in some patients with joint pain, and some diagnosed RA patients find that certain foods can trigger flare-ups. I'm so glad you found your trigger and you're feeling better!

[helpear]

yes, thanks carolanivey. it has made such a difference! i no longer get the excruciating pain i used to in my knees and my finger joints are very much better.