I was tested for Lyme and came back negative. My joints are still popping and getting worse. My back is hurting more from it now. If anyone has experienced these issues and found help, please share.
When your joints crackle, it signifies arthritis. So that can indicate osteoarthritis, or anything else that affects the joints.
One thing that you might want to ask for is a test for lymes. Not just any est will do. You need to get the IGENEX test for Lymes. The IGENEX test for Lymes actually looks for the DNA under darkfield staining AND it looks for the three different forms of Borrelia (mycoplasma/cystic/spirochete) This bacteria is so advanced it has surface proteins that can "attach" the antibodies that your body is trying to produce, so they don't circulate in your blood. hence, no antibody titres.
Lymes Symptoms
GENERAL: fatigue, headaches, fevers, muscle aches/pain
BRAIN: weakness/paralysis of limbs, loss of reflexes, tingling sensations of the extremities, severe headaches, stiff neck, meningitis, cranial nerve involvement (eg. change in smell/taste; difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking; hoarseness; facial paralysis - Bell's palsy; dizziness/fainting; drooping shoulders; inability to turn head; light or sound sensitivity; chang in hearing; deviation of eyeball, drooping eyelid), stroke, abnormal brain waves or seizures, sleep disorders, cognitive changes (memory problems, difficulty in word finding, confusion, decresed concentration, problems w/ numbers) and behavioral changes (depression, personality changes).
Other psychiatric manifestations have been reported including: panic attacks, disorientation, hallucinations, extreme agitation, impulsive violence, manic or obsessive behavior, paranoia, schiziphrenic-like states, dementia, and eating disorders. Some patients have committed suicide.
EYES: vision changes (including blindness, retinal damage, optic atrophy, red eye, conjunctivitis, "spots" before eyes, inflammation of various parts of the eye, pain, double vision.
SKIN: rash not at the bite site - This skin discoloration varies in size and shape; usually has rings of varying shades, but can be uniformly discorored; may be hot to the touch or itch; ranges in color from reddish to purple to bruised-looking; and can be necrotic (crsty/oozy). The rash may develop a bull's-eye rash or target look. The shape may be circular, oval, triangular or a long-thin ragged line.
Other skin problems include: lymphocytoma (a benign nodule or tumor) and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (a discoloration/degeneration usually of the hands or feet).
HEART AND BLOOD VESSELS: Irregular beats, heart block, myocarditis, chest pain, vasculitis.
JOINTS: pain (intermittent or chronic, usually not symmetrical), sometimes w/ swelling, TMJ-like pain in jaw.
LIVER: mild liver function abnormalities
LUNGS: difficulty breathing, pneumonia
MUSCLE: pain, inflammation, cramps, loss of tone
STOMACH AND INTESTINES: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, anorexia
SPLEEN: tenderness, enlargement
PREGNANCY: miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, and neonatal deaths (rare).
karajo,
I've never had swelling and they appear normal (no disfiguration). My hands do get warm at times when they are hurting. They also get ice cold at times in what I would consider normal room temperature at work (73-75 degrees). I had my thyroid and hormone levels checked, and those tests came back normal as well. The major issue I'm having at the moment is the popping in the wrists, shoulders, jaw, and neck (sometimes). Can inflammation causing popping?
I've been getting about 6 1/2 hours a sleep at night, so one thing I'm about to change is trying to get more rest.
If I could I would like to ask a few questions. Does your joints turn red and swell and is there any disfiguring of the joints? Keep your head up and stay positive. That really does go a long way. ~Kara
Thanks trixie. I appreciate the response.
Hello there! Sounds like you are having a rough time of it trying to remedy all of your ailments. I must say that I don't have any advice for you, I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in your suffering. As soon as I turned 50, it seems like one diagnosis uncovers another, then another and so on. At least you are attempting to do positive things regarding your diet and lifestyle. I commend you on that! I hope you are able to make it to the Mayo clinic. Maybe you will find answers there. It's hard to express to the drs what your body is going through and get proper treatment. I wish you luck. Stay positive! Trixie