Strange Sympoms: Itchy rash, Hives, Pain?

[goingtobeok]

Hi I am a healthy 26 year old woman.  About three months ago, I had an itchy rash on my chest area, shoulders and back.  My doctor diagnosed it as pityariasis.  I had a biopsy of the rash and it showed that it could be a type of dermatitis or something viral.  I took a medrol dose pack to get ride of the rash along with some ointment.

About a week or two later, I developed hives on my back.  They were flat and slightly raised.  They were not large and circular like typical hives and did not appear to be a rash.  They would go away and come back if I itched my back or came back on their own.  I take Zyrtec to take away the hives, I still have a small amount of itching on my back and throughout my body, however, the Zyrtec took away the hives.  

About a week or two after this happened my right knee starting hurting, then my left knee, writsts, front and back of thighs, underarm, groin, mouth, feet and hands (all over my body)was in pain.  I had a slight swelling above my knee.  I had an MRI on this knee which showed a bony lesion.  I had a full body bone scan done and it picked up the right knee.  It is begnin lesion that the bone scan picked up.


I had excrutaiting pain in both of my knees. The pain jumped all over my body throughout the day. My CBC looked good.  White blood count was low, red blood cells were high.  I was tested for lyme, which came back negative.  The Dr. put me on Adoxa (doxcicytriclene) 300 mg a day for 4-6 wks and I am going to repeat the lyme test.

I went to a rheumatologist, allergist and an orthopedic doctor.  I tested (low) postitive for ANA, the titer was 80 which is a low neg. result.  I tested negative for lupus anticagulent and a host of other rhemultalogic diseases.    

It seems that since I am taking the Adoxa the pain is  primarly in my hands and feet and thighs, although it migrates to other places (i.e. mouth/jaw, arm, back, underarms and groin).  Sometimes it migrates other places as well. Prior to going onto the Adoxa the pain was much worse.  The rhematologist told me that the Adoxa has an anti-inflamatory factor that is helping to subside the pain.

These symptoms are pretty strange and I am not sure what is going on.  Itchy rash, hives and pain all over that migrates.  My tempature ranges from a 98.4-99.4, which I have been told by several doctors this is not a fever.  Is there a doctor or someonelese that can help with these symptoms?

[kiki10]

I am interested to see what info is posted for you.  My young daughter is experiencing similar symptoms and has been to the emergency room twice because of  hives and swelling.  They treat her with benadryl and steroids and send her home.  We are seeing an allergist today.   Last night she started complaining about her knee and was dragging her leg around and couldn't walk.  
This is the 3rd instance of the hives, itchy rash.  

[hanapoo]

I don't know for sure but you both may want to have testing for many types of autoimmune diseases..they can present a variety  of symptoms and are often hard to diagnose...Lupus, yes that is one, thyroid diseases another,  (be sure to ALSO check for the antibodies).....hormonal problems can also cause a host of strange and hard to diagnose problems....lyme disease as well.....food algeries can also casue rashes and though may not be an alergy (allergy) food sensitivies can also be a problem....also neurological problems.....maybe a good and full blood workup is the best to save some time....sometimes hard to get docs to go for this though.....

[birdie112]

Just curious as to whether or not your doctors gave you a test for Sjögren's Syndrome?  Or Fibromyalgia?  Whatever the case, be persistent with your doctors and do not stop in your search for answers.  It seems that you are doing a great job looking for answers.  Good luck to you.

[loricheda]

OMG, I have been trying to find the same answers. In august of 2007, I broke out in a rash on my legs and arms, then the doctor told me it was Scabies, gave me a lotion - it was'nt scabies. 2 weeks later I developed hives, swelling, itchy palms and feet. Then I started getting joint pain in my right knee and leg (could not sleep at night). I went to every doctor, including the hospital. Dermatologist, Skin Specialist, Immunologist, Allergist, Family Doctor and Fracture Specialist. My full blood work, urine tested negative to everything Cancer, Auto Immune, Thyroid, Hepatitis, Diabetes, Lyme,  Just everything. The unknowing cause me to feel disturbed and depressed. I have two small children and thought I was dying. I am starting to think that this is a virus that doctors are not even aware of. My hives come and go day by day. I get headaches and my leg and knee pain goes away and then comes back. It's really crazy. Right now as I speak, I have an ice pack on my knee to ease the pain I am feeling. My hives came out this morning as well. I am really starting to think it's viral. We are not alone, another girl at my work has the same symptoms.

[KATIE885]

hello everyone my name is katie. im a teenager and having some of the same symptoms. for about 2-3 months now I have had progressively worse hives. I don't think that I have a food allergy but I still need to go to the allergist. I have tested negative for anything to do with my thyroids. Anyone suggest anything else I should do to find out what it might be?  

[cmcbrown]

I'm a 37 y/o male, every athletic and looking for answers.  I have some of the same symptoms ie: itchy rashes on one arm that go away with steriod gel.  Pain in extremities ie fingers and feet.  I've learned to deal with the pain by changing how I interact with people, whether it's not shaking peoples hands or taping up everything prior to playing basket ball etc.

Searching for answers.
Chris

[seeit360]

I'm a 42 year old healthy man. My similar symptoms started about 6 months ago. I suffered from occasional headaches probably from dehydration from a love of coffee, so I began taking Excedrin Migraine formula about a year ago. This would knock the headache right out. I discovered I got a bit of a performance boost in my job, (call center) when I was taking the Excedrin Migraine formula and it became part of my daily ritual.

6 months and about 500 Tablets later I began to get severe itching in my feet and joint pain swelling, heat and redness in my toes, and the balls of my feet. The areas affected stayed this way for about 48 hours and then subsided. It felt like someone had hit these parts of my body with a hammer. Hives begain to appear on my tailbone, buttocks, thighs, arms, backs of my hands, neck, chin, forehead and elbows about a bean size to a quarters size in diameter. This was 'self diagnosed' as Gout and I made some dietary changes and I completely stopped using Excedrin Migraine formula and the symptoms subsided.

3 months ago, I began to get a rash in my groin and thought it was jock itch. I treated it with Lamisil but it just kept getting worse and spreading then severely begain to weep and would not heal. This rash then appeared in my armpits and the hives came back, but this time quarter to fist size. I have never felt ill or sick during any of the attacks but my neck is stiff, probably from the stress of all these painful and unbearable issues taking place all over my skin.

I'm adding my 10 cents here in hope that others might see a similarity. My first doctors appointment is this Friday. Not expecting to get any help except to try some medications... Which is what got me here in the first place.

[bobbybear]

i woke up this morning with extreme itching on my palms, toes, underarms and inner thighs. i scratched like crazy and looked and saw what looked like lots of mosquito bites then they just started appearing all over! i rubbed an antihistamine cream all over and got minor itching relief but the bumps are almost all over me. the only thing i've done differently is i bought a different brand of tomato juice a couple days ago. i'm going to buy some benadryl. this is driving me crazy with itching and looks so weird. i've never had anything like this in my life...

[bobbybear]

well to follow up, the benadryl made most everything clear up after knocking me out for a few hours. i still have itchy blisters on my feet and toes. i'm assuming it was an allergy to the juice i drank before bed. i sure panicked because i've never seen this before. after reading many forums like this, i feel better realizing it must be hives and is not uncommon and i'm not dying (LOL)

[tdk451]

Have you been tested for Lyme's disease?

[angiematt]

I can't believe I'm reading all these blogs about the same systems I have.  I have gone through so many diagnosis in my head but nothing seems to fit.  I get these rashes at all times of the day.  In the morning, at night right before bed, and sometimes in the middle of the day.  Mainly when I enter my house.  On rare occassions I will feel itchy outdoors or in my car but not like when I enter my home.  I have 5 other members of family that live with me with no problems so I'm not sure what it could be.  First I get itchy and within seconds I get hives - it could be on my wrist, my feet, my stomach, my buttock, my legs and my back.  They almost look like bites at first then just spread around the initial area.  I guess it could be food allergies but it's wierd that it happens at different times every day.  I know that this started just around September and hasn't stopped since.  It is very annoying and frustrating.  I also really don't have any pain in my body so I'm not sure if that is something that may come in time.  It sounds like eventually everyone starts feeling some sort of pain.  Hopefully someone could come up with some ideas.  I do drink wine, eat alot of eggs, drink coffee, and eat alot of tomato sauce lately so I'm not sure if one of these could be triggering the system.  I also take advil almost every day because of hip pain which I've had for years now so it shouldn't be associated with the hive symptoms.  Well, I hope this triggers someone else to come up with ideas about these symptoms.  I'll take any advice and try it.
Thanks

[GMAN401]

My son who is 8 years old woke up 6 days ago itching terribly.  That night he broke out with a itchy rash from head to toe that turns into hives when he has abdominal pain.  He almost explains the abdominal pain like contractions.  We've had him in the emergency room and he was admitted for two days to find out nothing.  They have run a lot of blood tests done an abdominal x-ray, sonogram etc.  We still have no answer they are calling it a "MEDICAL MYSTERY"   He to has been put on Benadryl, steroid and clariten.  Do you have any answers.???
  Sincerely, Medical mystery
                    

[loricheda]

Hi its me again. It's been way over a year and doctors still can't figure out what my problem is. I have finally changed to a new doctor to see what it goin on. Since my last symptoms I have now developed digestive problems, chest pain, coughing little blood and canker sores. To me it's all signs of lupus. Even though I have tested negative in my ANA blood work, CBC , urine and x-rays. The only other thing it could be is Fybromyalgia. I hope that's what it is.

[elibear]

Hi to all;

I live in the US and have not heard about anyone having similar symptoms here, but last week I was sent a package from a relative who lives in Canada.  About 1 week later, I broke out in hives for almost 48 hours straight.  This may be a coincidence, but read on.  The hives start like a bite and within minutes the entire affected area becomes swollen red and itchy - sometimes on an entire leg or arm.  When the hives appeared on one side of the body, they also appeared on the identical spot on the other side. Prior to the hives, I experienced lower back pain for many days, cramping pain, which was way worse in the morning before arising. There was also some abdominal pain at first in conjunction with the hives and then joint pain in both arms and elbows. On the second and third day, my eyes and face swelled terribly.  I have to say the symptoms are like a seafood allergy, but it does follow a viral pattern.  Fatigue and slight headache too. The following herbs were helpful: dandelion, burdock, milk thistle in combination and about 4 grams of vit. c in divided doses throughout the day - probably b/c these all boost the immune system. Cornstarch/baking soda baths for the itch and calamine lotion were helpful too.  After 4 days, the symptoms have pretty much subsided with a few hives here and there and joint pain is almost gone.  I later found out that the relative who sent me the package has had similar symptoms.    

[Drumdaddy41]

Hi,
First my wife had these symptoms: very painful joints then this was followed by a rash(her whole body covered in little red bumps). She could barely walk and then after a week or so it was gone.
Then a week later I have the exact same symptoms. Really painful joints, which I'm taking over otc pain meds and coffee to help me get through work. As for the rash claritin seems  to help some. The swelling of the whelps has went down some, but man the pain is in every major joint, from my neck,shoulders down to my elbows(the worst),wrist, knees and ankles!
So my thoughts are that it can't be anything other than a viral infection. Really, really weird!
      

[cyc1985]

Well in August of this year I broke out in hives wasn't sick or nothing like that just one morning I woke up covered in hives.So my primary care doctor sent me to an allergist who did the ANA titer test which came back neg for auto immune and thyroid. And according to the allegy test that was done i'm not allergic to anything But my white cell count was extremely high so over the course of months my white cell count was still high but it is now coming down but in the begining of all this my joints hurt really bad but that has pretty much went away but now I'm having really bad chest pain and pain under my arm.But I'm 23 female pretty healthy until this I just pray I get an answer soon and everything is okay I have 2 small children but my mother in law is a dr and we are going to go there for Christmas and she is going to run a bunch of test .

[margypops]

I have had Chronic Urticaria (Hives) since May  I havent had the pains in the joints that some of the other posts describe, but the other symptoms are the same I have been researching, where do you all live, as I live in southern CA and they do crop spraying hre on the Grape vines, and the Santa Anna winds blow all the dust around,  I have started to wonder if this at least triggered it , the other thing that happened to me was I had Dental work done that went wrong ,I  had Penicillin ,large doses of Advil and of course Lidocaine in the procedure and the material used in  2 root canals, plus other agents.Could there have been a falling of any toxic substance or from the spraying I wonder.

[aml74]

Has anyone found a reason for the joint pain and hives?  I have been dealing with the hives and joint paint for what seems like forever.  A couple weeks ago, my lips swelled up and the second day it did it, I got Benedryl and Predisone and the swelling went down, but then awhile later the other side of my swelled so I was given Epi which helped lots.  I still had remnents of the reaction the days following it.  I can't believe that with so many different people experiencing the same symptoms that it can't be figured out.  I go to a Allergy Doctor and he hasn't had answers, he wants me to go to a dermatologist because it might be Contact Dermatitis.  When I ask my Family Doctor they say got to the Allergist.  When I need the Epi, I was in a bigger town and at a Hospital I thought would have better tools for diagnosising what I had, but that didn't come true.  I am just in a holding pattern trying to figure what next.  I continue to take Allergra each morning and when I have reactions despite that, I take Benedryl.  This weekend the joint pain Shoulders, elbows, and hands were painful.  I finally took Celebrex, which is a risk because I could be reactive to it.  I found relief from the pain and figured it was worth it, I would just take Benedryl if I reacted and if that wasn't enough, make a visit to the ER.  So far so good.  I just had to take Benedryl last night before I went to bed and nothing else was needed.
Please if anyone has gotten a answer on what the hives and joint pain could be, please let me know.

[simplyme123]

I was diagnosed with a severe nickel allergy from food a few years back.  I had suffered from a severely itchy, hivy rash for 3 1/2 years before getting any answers.  I have to avoid many things - unfiltered water (including the water you cook with), nuts, shellfish, salmon, chocolate, wheat, oatmeal, tea, raspberries, legumes, tomatoes, anything in a can, anything acidic that is cooked in metal pan.  I also have be careful of medical procedures, instruments, vitamins, and medications that contain nickel.

I haven't had any joint pain, but perhaps a nickel free diet would help.

[ctblizzard]

Ive been researching this quickly arriving hive like reactions that come and go and resemble at times scratch marks or stretch marks. My closest find so far is a co-disease of Lyme which is rarely picked up in screening called Bartonella. I can be passed by ticks, fleas, cats and more. If you search for Bartonella Rash or rash that looks like scratches you will see more info. As it turns out there are so many different strains of it they have trouble testing for it and treatment is difficult but doable. In my case I had a sore throat, some antibiotics at the time then 2-3 weeks later developed the hives like scratch marks that come and go mainly in the evening. Still working on this problem and will post back if anyone wants to contact me its ***@****

[Nickie232]

I am a teacher and have the same itchiness that comes and goes along with joint pain in my knees that comes and goes.  The teacher right beside me has it and the teacher across the hall has it.  We are going crazy!  Makes me think that it is contagious at some point.  No one else in our building has it.  Yikes!!!!

[sandalwood1]

I have the same symptoms, Question? Do any of you live near or travel past arable fields? (which are sprayed at various times during the year) Either by car, train etc. Is your town/village surrounded by any farm land?

The reason I ask is that I observed a farmer spaying his crops up-wind a couple of weeks ago and the next day I broke into this persistent rash that is easily irritated, and I am exhausted.

Be great to hear your thoughts... yours Very itchy

[pinkstorm]

My 3 almost 4 year old daughter has similar symptoms. She has had hives for almost a month. Now her right legs hurts. She was screaming last night all night. Now she is limping on it today! I really need help!

[headred]

A related discussion, JWTK was started.