Migrating Joint & Muscle Pain

[Ta2edredhead]

For about the last year to year and a half, I have had pain in my joints and muscles.  It occurs about once every week and a half to two weeks, and lasts pretty much all day.  The pain "jumps" from area to area in my body, effecting my elbow joints, knee joints, wrist joints, ankle joints, calves, and fingers.  It's never just one area.  On minute my knee throbs, then stops.  A minute or two later, I feel the throbbing in my calf muscle, or fingers, etc.  OTC medications do not elevate the pain.  I do not have any swelling at the joints or anywhere else.  The pain is not debilitating, but it definitely makes me aware of its presence.

I am 35, and in generally good health.  I've had some heart issues in the past two years (unusual heart flutters), but that doesn't seem to be connected with this pain.  

I've tried to research the symptoms on the net, and the results always seem to either be lupus or fibromyalgia.  I was wondering if the symptoms I am describing sound familiar to anyone?

Thanks in advance!

Pepper

[SoulFeather]

Sounds like the diagnosis of Fibro. I have all the same symptoms you mentioned. look for my post on other post (SoulFeather). I put my life history on there. My symptoms are:
1. Insomnia; 2. extreme shoulder and back pain; 3. problems with movement on entire right side caused by reaction to ciprofloxinn but exacerbated by fibro; 4. difficulty walking sometimes and grasping things with right hand; 5.brain fog; 6. difficultly writing with right hand; 7. tired to the bone at end of day but can't sleep at night; 8. irritable; 9. chest pain in middle that lasts up to an hour; 10. random shooting pains throughout my body; 11. hand and feet swelling from time to time; 12. can't stand to be touched by anyone; 13 new sensitivity to clothing and bed covers; 14. horrible spasms when I sleep that repeatedly wake me up. Some are so bad they lift me off the bed....and probably more that I can't think of right now.

I was in total denial for months and even told the rhuematologist that I didn't want that diagnosis and to take it back. I am on Elavil and tramadol and robaxin, plus percocet as needed for my most intense pain. I asked others on the other post what did they think about me seeing a nuerologist next. None of the meds really help. They help for a week or two then suddenly stop helping at all. I also had trigger point injections for Chronic Myofacial Pain -sholders and back and that made the spasms worse. I have a degenerating disc in my neck and had injections for that and didn't help either. I am currently seeing a pain management specialist who doesn't want to see me again for four months (he did injections). So I guess I just have to suffer.....

[cortex_toom]

i have the same problem and i developed this suddenly but before i had occasional muscle pain in my tights, i saw many doctors including a neurologist, who did reflex exam and ordered an emg, both neurological examination and emg came back negavite, which means clean, i had a cbc test and also was clean... i don't know what to do next, all i am doing is now accepting that the pain is from anxiety.., i have occasional headaches, but usually it's the shoulders hands and knees that ache i used to have paresthesia and i still have but it subsided, i don't have disturbed sleep but often the sleep isn't fuillfilled and i feel the need i want to sleep more, the back of my head hurts constantly i mean where the head and neck meet. i don't have seizures so i shouldn't worry it's something serious right?... i have pain behind my eyes and i describe it likes somone is trying to pull my eyes...I heard that eye pain is a symptom of fibro...but is there a med that can alleviate this pain? does the pain subside by time? the parts that hurt most are the eyes, the back of my head, neck , collarbone, knee, elbow, upper spine, other than that i am healthy, i can run but not lift, if i lift i get achy muscles, joints don't ache usually and bones neight but muscles and nerves feel like so bad
please i want some advices from people who have those similar symptoms i've been carrying this pain for six months even more i can't take it anymore...i have been to many specialist and doctors name it... i have done emg and cbc...but no mri

[ruby525]

Try Cymbalta.  It has really helped me--i still live with pain but it is much milder and has a much shorter life span.  Because I know this, I don't dwell on the pain and live a much fuller life, which makes my body stronger.

[VaBreeze]

"The pain "jumps" from area to area in my body, effecting my elbow joints, knee joints, wrist joints, ankle joints, calves, and fingers.  It's never just one area.  On minute my knee throbs, then stops.  A minute or two later, I feel the throbbing in my calf muscle, or fingers, etc."

Fibromyalgia doesn't typically jump around the body as you have described. If anything, it begins slowly, is persistent and last from weeks to months.  This doesn't mean you may not have it, but we must remember that all aches and pains can not be contributed to Fibromyalgia.  The best way to get a proper dx would be to seek a rheumatologist in your area or another physician who specializes in this illness.  They will know what to check for and rule out other possible causes.

Pain behind the eyes is also not typical of Fibromyalgia.  If you have any type of allergy problems, this can cause the pressure in your eyes as well as make your head, neck and upper back muscles ache.  Anxiety can cause many psychosomatic disorders.  If you realize that you have problems with anxiety, it would be beneficial to begin treating that area and see if some of the symptoms are relieved (ie. tension, headaches, muscle aches).  It may be a good idea to have an MRI done if your symptoms continue to rule out other illnesses that can cause similar type symptoms.

I with all of you the best and hope you can find some relief to your pain soon.  Please take care.

[Me967]

These post sound JUST like the way I feel and it last for months.  Unfortunately they are old post and these people have left the sight.  For me it used to be just a day here and there.  Then it went to weeks, and now these symptoms are lasting for months (mainly in the winter)  in the summer I get lightheaded very easy any more and can't take the heat.  

If you have to feel them all at once (for Fibro) and not in a fashion where they seem to be at random threw out the body; do you have any guesses on what they could be?  

I get severe headaches that are very strong but come and go as the pain does also (lasting only less than a minute....lol).  It makes me feel crazy telling people anymore but my whole body aches.  It just the matter of where is the next zap going to take place and how severe.  The only steady pain seems to be in my lower back and upper shoulder area.  The pains are threw out my body though daily.  The only difference with me is concerning my eyes.  They water like crazy in the morning and my face is puffy.

Sorry for asking on an old post; nevertheless,  the shoe fit.  LOL

I'm planning on seeing my (nurse practitioner) either in the middle of this month or next depending on when I get my thyroid levels checked again.  I take Levothyroxine and think I'm heading toward Hyper.  (not sleeping at night, HR is speeding up again, but temp. is still 72.4  lol)  NOTHING IS TEXTBOOK with ME!  grrr.. lol
Planning on asking once again for Vit. D test, FT3, Lyme Test and adrenal.  If she says no then I'm going to try to not chicken out and ask her about a set of fresh eyes.  Right now I'm shopping for a good internal medicine doctor.

Would love to hear any response.  Thank you in advance.  :-)  Amy.

[VaBreeze]

Lol...I don't think any of us are 'textbook' patients.

The symptoms and definition can vary, depending on what site you visit.  It is widespread, chronic pain.  Chronic meaning it is persistent and lasting.  Pain that jumps around the body minute-to-minute is not typically a symptom of fibromyalgia.  Most pain is described as gnawing, sore, throbbing, ultra-sensitive or stabbing within a joint that lasts for a period of time.  To be dx'd with fibro the usual test is through what they call tenderpoints.  One would present with a number of these tenderpoints when examined by a physician.  It's not necessairly something that has to be felt all over at one time.  Yet, there are days where, as you stated, the whole body is effected by being achy.  Now, muscle twitches would be common to describe as moving to other parts of the body, along with non-restorative sleep.  

Many people have had symptoms for decades without a proper dx.  I also have pain throughout my body that lasts for days, but it's persistent in the areas that do hurt...not waxing and waning in a matter of minutes.  Again, this does not mean that someone would not obtain a dx of fibromyalgia, but there are many other things that can result in aches and pains as well.  You commented about your shoulder area and back being the areas with steady pain, it could be fibro; it could be posture, mattress used for sleeping or the way one lifts an item.  If this pain has lasted for a period of months, it would be more along the line of FMS.  Not to dismiss the pain you feel at all, but to present other ideas about what can cause the same kind of pain.

I can't speak about the headaches that last for a minute or so.  I had migraines when I was younger, but thank God I don't suffer from them any longer.  I think you have the best idea in seeing a physician about your symptoms and having further testing done that may be able to rule out any other illness that can be causing them.  I wouldn't wish FMS or CFS on anyone, but there are other serious conditions having like symptoms.  Obviously something is going on to cause you the pain and headaches you are having.  Your eyes watering and puffy face do sound more like an allergic type reaction.

I hope this has helped explain what my meaning was on the previous post.  I've had this illness for almost 40 yrs. now and it's no fun.  I'm praying you don't have this or anything else that is serious.  Please keep in touch and let us know how your testing turns out.  I hope you feel better soon.  

Take care.

[Me967]

I haven't really checked out much on this only what I have read on here and it seemed to touch base.   The pains in my lower back and upper shoulders are pretty constant.  The stabbing pains in my hands, elbows, knees, chest, hands/wrist, thighs, calf's, ankles and feet are mainly stabbing pains that last for months.  But; they are stabbing pains mainly.  
Now I know that there are "a lot" of issues that can cause this other than Fibro and CFS.  I'm just trying to look for anything because it is interfering alot with my life and I hate it so bad!  My stepmother has Fibro, and I was hoping that I did not being there is no cure.  I have to many negative diagnoses already and do not want anymore in my record.  I just want all of this pain to go away so bad!  It's been months now but, as I said mainly in the winter months.

Just curious if you had any thoughts on what this could be?  If not that ok too.  Thanks for your time.  You seem very educated in this matter.  If any thought comes to mind please let me know.  At least maybe I can rule this one out.  LOL  Take care,  :-)  

[karajo]

Could some of this possibly be a vitamin D deficiency?

Another possiblility might be lupus.  Do you sometimes have a rash on your face?  Sores in your mouth or nose?  Joint pain? w/swelling?

Also, check out www.puritan.com  They have a place you can click on health issues.  Their write-up on fibromyalgia was good.  Some things to think about concerning FMS.  

[slm166]

You sound like me.  Along with the short stabbing pains in the temple area, I also get similar pains in my upper gums/teeth, which occur at very random times.  Do you ever experience tooth aches that feel similar the the pain you experience in your head?  Look up Trigeminal neuralgia - It's the only term that I've found, which seems to accurately describe this phenomenon.

[Me967]

slm166  
No my pains that I get is usually toward the back center towards the top of my head.  (if that makes since).  My pains that bother me the most are in my back, knees, elbows, hands etc listed above.  They seem to be worse with temp. changes such as rainy and cold one day, then snow, then ice back and forth, around and round temp changes seem to drive me nuts.  Right now it's not to bad except for in my back and upper shoulder area along with just a few zinger pains.  
I do get pains in my mouth (jaw) but this for my is due to grinding my teeth.  My dentist gave me a mouth piece to wear at night years ago.  I have had TMJ since a child.  Now it's only every so often but not nearly as severe as it used to be.  The pains from my TMJ though make my temples hurt, teeth, and jaw sounds like it has fluid popping around or something when I open my mouth or eat.  It's a pain that if you have it you know it.  My husband teases me and say's It's like a someone running a chain saw all night.  LOL  

karajo
As mentioned above I don't know what my vitamin D level is.  Concerning Lupus (I hate to even think) my uncle had that.  I do get the very red cheeks, nose and forehead for days/weeks at a time sometimes but then other times it fades away.  So I don't think that is it.  I do get thrush (?) in my mouth sometimes.  Concerning swelling I have edema in my legs most all times.  The joints or areas that hurt never seem to swell though.  They just hurt.  If they looked different maybe people would understand.  They don't look different at all though, they just hurt bad.  The slightest thing I bump into or a bear hug will hurt.  I don't know.  I will check out the site though.  Thank you. ;-)