pain

[1kath]

I AM A 39 YEAR OLD F WITH PAIN AND STIFFNESS IN MY HANDS AND FEET.  I HAVE HAD LEFT SHOULDER PAIN FOR MANY YEARS THAT THE DOCTORS SAY COMES FROM STRESS.  I HAVE BEEN GETTING SEVERE HEADACHES AND AM HAVING A HARD TIME SEEING AT TIMES.  I HAD PNEMONIA SEVERAL TIMES LAST YEAR (ALONG WITH A COLAPSE OF THE LEFT LOWER LOBE)I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS BREATHING ESPECIALLY RUNNING OR GOING UP STEPS.  I FEEL AS IF MY BODY IS GIVING UP ON ME AT TIMES.  I HAVE EXTREME FATIGUE AND NEVER FEEL HEALTHY ANYMORE.  LATELY I HAVE BEEN PUTTING ON WEIGHT EVEN THOUGH MY DIET HAS NOT CHANGES AND I AM STILL WALKING 2-3 MILES A DAY.  WITHOUT ANY TESTING THE DOCTORS ALL CLAIM THAT THESE SYMPTOMS ARE PROBABLY FROM DEPRESSION, BEING THE MOTHER OF 4, AND OR MY AGE.  THE PAIN IN MY JOINTS (MOSTLY HANDS AND FEET) OCCURS MOSTLY IN THE MORNING AND SOMETIMES IN THE EVENING.  I HAVE BEEN AWAKEN A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR WITH CHEST TIGHTNESS. ALTHOUGH PAPUTATIONS OF THE CHEST ARE NOT UNUSUAL FOR ME IT SEEMS AS IF IT HAS BEEN MORE SINCE I HAVE HAD PNEMONIA(SPELLING??) ANY HELP IN WHAT DIRECTION I SHOULD TAKE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU

[beebug]

I had some of the same symptoms you had, ie hurting hands and feet, back pain, fatigue. First of all I had hypothyroidism.I am on Symthroid for this and my fatigue and hurting hands and feet are much, much better.   I then went to a rheumatologist and he diagnosed me with osteoarthritis.  My back had been hurting for months.  My doctor sent me to a neurologist and he diagnosed sacroilliac joint dysfunction. I am to have a steroid injection into that joint Wednesday. My neurologist has scheduled a bone scan and xrays on Monday morning to see if my SI joint problem is due to arthritis. My doctor tells me I am a very difficult patient to diagnose because I don't have textbook symptoms.  My primary care doctor learned that years ago. Plus my primary care doctor is an agressive doctor.  That does make a difference. You do not need to suffer like this.  I have been down the same road. If this doctor doesn't find anything, find another doctor that will get to the bottom of your symptoms.  I have been down that road too. And please, let me know how you are doing!

[1kath]

I WENT TO THE DOCTOR THE OTHER DAY AND THE FIRST THING THEY GAVE ME WAS 2 SHEETS OF QUESTIONS.  ONE WAS FOR DEPRESSION AND THE OTHER WAS FOR ANXIETY.  THIS PARTICULAR DAY I WAS HAVING BACK PAIN HIP TO HIP SO THEY DID TEST MY URINE.  THE OTHER TEST THAT WERE FINALLY TAKEN WAS FOR SUGAR, THYROID, RA AND BLOOD COUNTS.  I DID HAVE A FEVER THIS DAY OF 101 AND THEY SAID MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS HIGH.  MY NORMAL TEMP IS AROUND 97 AND I USUALLY ALWAYS HAVE LOW BLOOD PRESSURE.  ALL OF THE BLOOD TEST CAME BACK NEGATIVE.  I AM TO WAIT AND SEE IF ANYTHING CHANGES AND CALL HIM IF IT DOES NOT.  THIS MORNING I WOKE WITH SWOLLEN PAINFUL HANDS, PAIN IN MY LOW BACK AND DOWN THE INSIDE OF MY CALF. NOTHINGS CHANGED.  IF ANYONE HAS DIRECTION FOR ME I WOULD APPRECIATE IT

[1kath]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.  I DO HAVE HEAL PAIN WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.  IT FEELS AS IF I AM WALKING ON GLASS.  I ALSO FAILED TO MENTION IN MY ORIGINAL COMMENTS THAT I HAVE A GROWTH UNDER THE SKIN AT THE FOREARM AND ON MY THIGH. THEY ARE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A WALNUT.  THEY ARE NOT USUALLY PAINFUL UNLESS I HAVE A FEVER OR I AM OVERLY TIRED.  I HAVE BEEN WAKING UP ABOUT 4 HOURS AFTER I GO TO SLEEP USUALLY WITH PAIN OF SOME SORT.  THE VISION PROBLEMS ARE USUALLY IN THE MORNING  THE BLURRYNESS IS AS IF THERE IS A WHITE FILM OVER MY EYES.

[mama2boysjj]

A suggestion for you would to see a Rheumatologist if you have not already.  It could be a form of arthritis perhaps a spondyloarthopathy.
The severity and range of symptoms vary greatly from one individual to another. Early accurate diagnosis and therapy may minimize years of pain and disability. The areas of the body where inflammation is most likely to develop are the central parts of the skeleton, i.e. the spine and pelvis. The major symptoms are pain and stiffness. The pain is usually first felt in the low back, but may eventually be present throughout the whole spine. Often there is pain which may be felt down the back of the buttocks and thighs (sciatic-like pain). Pain is worse in the morning and improving with exercise.  

*In a number of patients, however, spondylitis starts and progresses differently. Some people feel pain with little or no stiffening. In others, the disease also affects peripheral joints such as the shoulders, hips and knees.

*It is reported that the early symptoms in women may present differently than in men. Some women feel the pain and stiffness in the neck rather than the lower back.

Iritis  (inflammation of the eye): is the most common manifestation that occurs outside the skeleton. It can appear as the initial presentation of the disease years before any joints become inflamed.

Chest Pain: Adults with spondylitis often have chest pain that mimics the heavy chest pain of cardiac angina or pleurisy (the pain with deep breathing that occurs when the outer lining of the lung is inflamed). If you experience this symptom, talk to your doctor about the various ways to reduce the discomfort.

It is also common to have stiffness and aching in the small joints of the hands and feet.  Heel pain is also sometimes seen.

Fatigue is usually seen especially in times of acute inflammation.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

A young woman with recurrent pneumonia and what sounds like residual difficulty breathing is a bit concerning.  Although the primary problem may not be neurologic in nature, I would not chalk these symptoms up to stress. Find an internist who will order routine labs including white blood cell count, chest Xray, electrolytes and look into your immune system.  You do have some neurologic like symptoms, but the more pressing problems are the chest tightness, pneuomonia, shortness of breath, and palpitations.  If everything is ok, then pursue a neurologic workup for the headache and stiffness. Good luck.

[caynetina]

have you had your thyroid level tested lately?  some of your symptoms are consistent with hypothyroidism.  Symptoms include, lethargy, weight gain, increased sensitivity to cold, tingling and numbness in the hands and decreased heart rate.  Perhaps you should have your doctor run a blood test for this.  Good luck