severe burning generalized???

[shazzy123]

Doc,
I have been having generalized burning all over my face,nose, ears  ,hands ,feet.it has started to get quite severe in the last week.It initially started about 2 months ago with pain in the elbows and knees-went to the neuro and the EMG results were all fine.Just did a blood test and the ANA is 184.The neurologist thought that i should follow up for further blood work with my PCP.Since it is generalized i cannot pin point the locations
and it is accompanied by tingling , numbness in my hands at first then went down into the feet(the pins and needles in my feet are only mild),burning around the  nose,lips.It is affecting my work at this point-i almost feel i need to go to an emergency room!please help with any suggestions of any extra tests i may need to do!what do you think that this is??  


This discussion is related to skin burning sensation, slightly high ANA 1:40, stress?.

[Sometindied]

for past 20 months, been unable to consume any food or beverage besides water without erupting (within 3-5mins) in burning-swelling-rashing-drying skin.  seen 50+ doctors, all still remain perplexed... claim never heard of such a thing before.  Countless test, including food allergy testing... all of which doctors say are clean.  Tried over 60 lotions, creams and bathing solutions only to find they worsen my skin.  For the longest time I wasn't even able to sit down without feeling on fire.  I've been stuck on a diet of fatty red meats, olive and canola oil, flaxseed, and freshwater fish, because these foods are the least triggering, though they still induce burning pain.  

I've also been unable to exercise, sweat, shower or endure physical pressure without making myself worse... a lot worse.  Tried countless over-the-counter and prescription drugs (antihestimines and painkillers), and not one helps an ounce.

Every doctor I turn to for help ends up saying that it's not their problem and rushing me out the door.  Frustrating to say the least.  I'm confused on who exactly I'm supposed to turn to next.

[melodylamour]

I haven't seen anyone suggest Fibromyalgia. It takes about 2 years of tests out the wazoo where they all tell you all your tests are normal. Then they tell you it is all in your head. So they have a shrink talk with you. After the shrink says this person seems fine to me, then finally someone will finally say must be fibromyalgia. Right now I am on lyrica but my primary doctor says she won't say it is fibromyalgia because it holds a stigma, in that some doctors say fibromyalgia isn't real, it is because you are depressed or some such nonsense. So here I am taking lyrica, which is for fibromyalgia, but I'm not being diagnosed with anything yet. It's been past 2 years now and I'm still waiting for someone to put their big fat college/doctor knowledge to work for me. I'd say it is because I'm on Medicaid and therefore sub-human, but that would be unfair. See, even people with real insurance get the same run around when it comes to disease and conditions that the doctors don't deal with on a normal basis.

[txsilver]

Hi, first I have to say, I am not a doctor, you have posted in the patient forum.  There is an ask a doc forum on the right hand side of the forums page.  
One patient to another, do get back to your PCP and get the additional blood work run for autoimmune screening.  An elevated ANA can be indicative of several autoimmune diseases - but not always.  If it comes back positive (again) and if any other tests come back positive, get to a rheumatologist for more detailed tests, diagnosis and treatment. Your PCP will likely refer you to one.