SED Rate 129; negative RA result

[madewithlove22]

I have a SED rate of 129, negative RA result and am in pain beyond belief. My back, hips, neck feel so sore i can barely walk or move. My feet and hands are so swollen with inflammation that I cannot wear my rings and wearing shoes for too long hurt; however, no shoes leaves my heels feeling shatered with every step. I am 30 years old and have a 2 year old. Giving him a bath or lifting him onto the changing table is a daunting task. I feel paralyzed in my own body at times, and my lower back always feel as if there is a block stuck between it, no matter how i sit or lay. What could this be? The high level of my sed rate is what is scarying me the most. Can you have a really high sed rate of 129 and it be something simple? Any advice will help. I just want to feel excited to wake up and be active again. Thank you in advance.

[Ken_PA]

This is all very interesting so I'll put out some questions. You must have tried NSAIDs like ibuprofen, what was the benefit if any? (Though no one should want to take NSAIDS long term.)

Have you tried turmeric, ginger, fish oil etc?

Btw, I'd ask about joint flexibility because "connective tissue disorders" can be associated with immune dysfunction.

That was good thinking about Lyme, though Lyme arthritis is usually something that arrives years after initial infection.

Also, from what I've seen it's not unusual for someone who is very fit and active to develop a runaway immune problem - especially in females.

I'll keep an eye out for your replies.

[Ken_PA]

Good morning. Have you thought about fibromyalgia? That's sort of a diagnosis, but since it's not really known what it is, it's more in line with giving a name to a collection of symptoms.

Btw, good luck with your appointment this morning. Getting it do fast might be a beginning of good fortune for you.

[Ken_PA]

I just read this: "While the ESR is usually normal in patients with fibromyalgia", according to an authoritative site called Medscape.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/329838-workup

[Ken_PA]

Hi, as you probably know there are many conditions that cause inflammation. But there aren't as many that cause such a high SED rate. But still, I'm guessing that if it were a blood cancer like Multiple Myeloma or anything else very threatening in the short term then you would have already been diagnosed. So diagnosis might take a while because you probably have something more mysterious, possibly immune dysfunction. Not at all simple but not so threatening as a cancer.

Is it worse in the morning?
Do you happen to have very flexible joints or stretchy skin?
Was there anything that started this all off, like an infection or trauma?

I'd suggest that there are two things going on: the first is the inflammation which sets you up for the second which is injury to muscles and joints. Unfortunately, you aren't on a position to just take it easy so the repeated injuries to lower back etc just accumulate.

Meanwhile, you can probably invent various strategies to at least not feel so bad for now. Like a certain type of shoes, or something called "myofascial release", or... Well, I'll see if you reply before going on.

[madewithlove22]

Ken, Thank you so much. I literally was told this news today and have an appointment in the morning with the doctor. I was told around 11am and scheduled me an appointment for 9am the next day or 2pm next day, my choice. I picked 9, of course.

It is so bad in the mornings. I have to give myself at least 2 hours to wake up every day.
Nothing started it off besides extreme pain in my joints. I thought I had lyme. But what took me back to get another opinion was b/c I  collapsed while doing push-ups due to getting an extreme sharp pain though my elbow. for a few days after i could not even pick up a pack of paper without sharp extreme pain in elbow. (I was in sports for years n weigh 139 so i am or was extremely active if that helps understand how weird this collapsing was.
Now the sharp pains are in both elbows but still worse in one that happened first. That is when I got tested and then found out today my sed rate is 129.
I feel terrible. I cannot do a single thing that will take away the discomfort and pain in my lower back, legs, elbows. spine, neck, heels, HIPS!, kidney area...ugh.

No infection or trauma.

again, thank you so much for responding. I really appreciate your help and look forward to seeing your response.