Chronic Pains in Shoulders and Hip

[JC]

Present symptoms (March 2001):

Aching shoulders, and between shoulder blades. Right shoulder is stiff, achy and “snaps” when arm is raised. Left shoulder “grinds” when moved backwards – excessive movements causes pain at the shoulder, aching down left arm, and “buzzing” in left hand.

Aching hips, with referral pains down the legs during periods of acute pain or after sitting for a prolonged period of time. Pain is most acute at the top and sides of the buttocks. Aching worst when in sitting position. On-and-off pins and needles in left foot.

Tingling across forehead and temples, light headed feeling (severity changes from day to day).

History:

Generally very healthy and active until 9 months ago.

9 months ago, experienced numbness in the left hand (most acute at the end of the index finger), followed by cramp pain and aching of the left arm and shoulder. Mobility of left shoulder was reduced. Also pains and stiffness in the neck. Severe light-headedness, numbness across fore-head, and fatigue. Pins and needles in legs and feet.

Neurologist examination confirmed some weakness on left side of body, but nothing obviously wrong. MRI scans of head and neck, were normal, except for slight narrowing of C7 disc.

Left hand numbness subsided after about a month, and pain gradually improved. Although some of the symptoms still persists.

4 months ago, for about a week there was acute pain at right shoulder and between shoulder blades. Pain subsided but left shoulder stiff, aching and with reduced mobility (when raising arm). Symptoms still persists, with no real improvements for 4 months.

3 months ago, problems with right hip began. Initially acute pain at the side of the buttock, followed by constant aching, somedays pain is so acute as to make it impossible to sit for more than a few minutes. 1 months ago, pain and aching also began at the left hip. Referral pains down the legs during periods of acute pain or after sitting for a prolonged period of time.

Blood tests carried out- Blood count, Bio-Chem profile and Auto-immune antibodies, were all normal.

I am 37 years old, no history of any illness and a non-smoker. Despite repeated visits to my doctor, he is still unable to diagnose what the problem is. Please help.

[CCF Neuro[P]-M.D.-RPS]

Dear JC:

I am sorry to hear about your aches and pains.  Your symptoms are so generalized, with the exception of the left sided weakness, that it is difficult to give you an etiology for your symptoms.  If you have documented left sided weakness, then I think you ought to pursue why.  First, I would repeat theneurological examination just to make sure that it wasn't just a transitory finding.  If there remains a deficit in muscle strength, then depending on the focality within the left side of the body, I would pursue possibilities.  True focal lesions are usually not difficult to begin the process of figuring out.  Since the MRI of the brain and cervical spine were normal the lesion must be peripheral.  One might repeat some blood work, even consider an EMG.

The generalized symptoms are more difficult to figure out.  I would think that some sort of systemic problem is going on and would revisit some laboratory testings such as sedimentation rate, B12/folate/ rheumatoid factor, ANA, etc.  Might be that your developing fibromylagia (fibromyalgia), but a visit to the rheumatologist might be helpful.

Sorry, I am not much help.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[tab]

I have been browsing to see if anyone had shoulder and hip and leg pain.  This is one of the first.  I had a multi level lumbar and sacrum fusions with hardware..and cage...out of the blue I started getting large hip pain..shoulder..and above the knee pain..with weakness mostly on my left leg....I have had meylogram..ct scan...and it looks like the left lowest screw has trunkated...and has caused nerve damage....I am looking for anyone anywhere that has had this happen...the left side has also gotten lower than the right....they are giving me mega meds...and want injections...but state that surgery might follow.....have you doc check out the sacro area.....also if anyone else has what ive detailed pls let me know....thanx

[JC]

tab

I had ax X-ray of the lower spine - but the doctor said that there were no obvious abnormalities from the X-ray. Do you have any back pains? One thing that I have been spared so far is lower-back pain. I am seeing an spinal surgeon on 29 March. If he finds anything, I will post the findings.

[triplel]

I too am trying, with not much luck to figure out my shoulder and hip symptoms. Mine started with severe weakness in my left hip. This lasted for about 6 months and now I have loss of range of motion. It moved on to my left shoulder, then on to my right hip. Now just this week it is moving into my right shoulder and right knee. It is very painful when it sets in. The unbearable pain goes away and then I just have a constant pain and the loss of the range of motion. I have had a X-ray on that first hip and it showed nothing. I keep asking doctors what they think, they all seem puzzeled. I have had therapy on it with no results.
I have been exposed to stacybotrys mold????(I have no idea if it fits into the picture at all).

Any help would be great!!!