My doctors are stumped!

[thanksforlistening]

I am a 28 year old female in good shape.  Medical history, May (2007) I gave birth to a healthy baby.  In July (2007) I had bad food poisoning while in China, & got post-infection IBS, which is pretty much better due to pro-biotics from GI, although I continue to have loose stools. I had a flu shot and Hep A and B last year.

Last December (2007) I woke up (the day after a pedicure -maybe coincidental) with stiff painful feet (I was limping).  A week later the pain progresed up legs (bilateraly) and to hands.  4 weeks later the pain had moved into my back & head.  I also had flares from onset of fatigue & disorientation, not always acompanied by the pain.   Symptoms come and go quickly.  Some days I feel fine, some days very bad.  I have seen neurologist and rheumatologists.

The follwing tests were within normal limits:
CBC, Basic Metabolic, Differential, B12 and folate, ANA, Prothein Electrophoresis, T4, T3 total, Sjogrens, CSF cell count / glucose and protein, lyme, ESR, MRI (brain and cervical spine), EMG (legs), LP, Myelin Basic Protein, Hepatic Function Panel, Heavy Metals, HIV and STD, IgA, IgG Synthesis Rate / Index, Ova + Parasite culture, Urinalysis

Lately the pain now occasionally affects my hip joints, but x-rays and ultrasound of my hips were normal.  I still have flares of the non-pain symptoms (disorientation and fatigue) on an almost daily basis.  


Doctors have suggested treating the pain with neurontin or celebrex (even though they ruled out fibromyalgia).  

I haven't taken anything but ibuprofen.  I'm afraid that by masking a problem that seems to be either
(1) undiagnosable
(2) early-state
(3) subclinical
that I might end up delaying diagnosis.  

I'd love to find and treat the underlying problem, but I don't know what direction to look in.  
If you have any suggestions on a type of specialist, disease to rule out, or test to request, that would be great...

Thanks for listening.

[hava]

Do this and you will start to notice improvements in your health in 7 days.The body knows the problem and this will help the body to fix it.
You need to help your body to build up your immune system.The breathing exercises - pranayam is a holistic approach creating extra oxygen supply in the body and will slowly help with the health problem.Do the pranayam to see the benefits.If you feel tired or dizzy stop and resume after 1 minute.Build up your timing slowly and after two weeks at the suggested duration you will start to notice benefits.

Bhastrika - Take a long deep breath into the lungs(chest not tummy) via the nose and then completely breathe out through the nose.Duration upto 5 minutes.

Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for upto 30 minutes twice a day.(Max 60 min/day) Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

Anulom Vilom - Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30  minutes twice a day(maximum 60 minutes in one day).
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.


Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 10 times
----
Only by doing you will benefit and will feel good that you can do something to help the body.Copy and print this to master the technique.This is  simplified pranayam for everyone and you do not have to go to classes to learn. This is for life unlike short term classes where you do it in the class then stop when classes are over.  

[dazedmom]

Has anybody suggested  you might have picked up something weird in China?  I ask because my daughter spent two weeks there in March, and by June was having lots of very strange symptoms which are so far undiagnosed.  Like you, all the test are normal.  Except her symptoms seem to be more just one leg, and her back.  And major major fatigue.

?

dazed mom

[Kevin Pho, MD]

There has clearly been a comprehensive evaluation done, and it would be unlikely that I can come up with something new over the internet.  

Many of the possible neurological and rheumatological diseases would have been found with the tests already.  I cannot recommend anything else.

One option for you would be to seek another opinion at a major academic medical center.  I would start with another neurology and rheumatology opinion.  

If the cause cannot be found, then the management would shift towards pain management, and an appropriate referral should be made to manage to symptoms.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com