In constant joint pain for the past 8+ years

[bayaeric]

At the age of 33, one day I was fine, healthy etc. Went to bed and the next morning woke up with excruciating pain deep inside my r/knee area. Couldn't get out of bed or walk. That was the start of my (disease)? Went to an orthopedist. Got cortisone injection, gave me anti-inflammatories, sent me home told me to rest. Pain never went away, but it subsided a bit. Pain flared up again after about a month, ortho referred me to rheumatologist. More anit-inflammatories for a while. Pain disappeared for a bit but reappeared in the exact same area but the OPPOSITE  knee.
Same deal, more cortisone shots,etc. And just like that, pain has come and gone moving around different joints in my body. R/ elbow then L/elbow, hand, wrist, shoulder, toes. At the present time, I'm 41 and still in pain, still seeing rheumatologist. Diagnosed with RA. (have seen 4 drs. in the past 8 years). I have had all the blood tests which have been all in normal range. No RF present. Negative Anti-CCP. etc etc. The only thing that would be on the high side at times would be the CRP #'s. Which would come down with medication like prednisone. I've taken all kinds of meds, some to name a few: Naproxen, Vioxx, Celebrex, Diclofenac, Mobic, Sulfasalazine, Plaquenil, Clinoril, Lodine, Methotrexate, Neurontin, Methilprednisolone, Prednisone,  HUMIRA injections. (These are the ones I remember). My current regimen is Humira 1wk., Leflunomide 1day and tapering off of Prednisone. But guess what?? I'm still in a lot of pain in my L/elbow and some pain in R/hand and wrist. I have come to doubt I actually have RA. Perhaps I have some weird unknow disease not known to the medical community. HELP!!!!!!!

[meki]

Check for Lymes Disease and also check your Hepatitis Panel as well.

There are a ton of things that could be causing problems like this - but me - that's what I would check - because it took many years for a doc to check my Hep panel --- and I kept getting sicker and they checked EVERYTHING BUT the hep panel...

And I was HepC positive.

Helluva a year --- but better now.

So - do check that -- just in case.

Meki

[countryrose]

Hi,
I feel for you. Your story sounds almost identical to mine. Mine began after an rsi injury at work...I was on anti inflammatories and things went downhill from there. I was 34 when my issues of pain began. 7 years later, I still have no answers and am suspected of having anklyosing spondylisits but my markers are not there for that, so I don't believe I have it. Anyway, I am literally off all meds and occasional antiinflammatory. I decided to change my diet and look for food sensitivites that could cause my inflammation. My sed rate went to normal after 5 years of meds and no results. This is someting to think about. Maybe it could help you too. I also began youg

[smittygirl]

Same thing happened to me 4 years ago.  I was a marathon runner/triathlete and woke up one morning and could not move.  My toes, ankles, knees, wrists, hands were huge.  Long story short, I tested positive for the HLA-B27 gene and had had a UTI 2 weeks prior to the symptoms. My sed rate was 110.   I have Reactive Arthritis and have since been dx with Ankoylosing Spondylitis.  I have been on Enbrel for 14 weeks now, my knees still hurt but after the 12th week of injections I am so much better.  How long have you been on the Humira?

[bayaeric]

I have been on Humira for about 1 1/2 years. An injection every other week for about a year and my DR. up my dosage to once a week for the past 4 months or so. I'm still in pain though.

[Cindee56]

Is it possible that you are having muscle pain, not joint pain?  This could be fibromyalgia.  I thought I had RA also, but I did not test positive for any of the markers, even the sed rate.  There was no inflammation, that's why the anti-inflammatories don't work.  Could you have osteoarthritis in your knees?  I have that.  

Just a thought.  I haven't had too much relief from FM anyway, but just thought to mention it to you.

[countryrose]

Is it possible you may bursitis of the knee? I have been on the rollercoaster you describe with no  clues to the cause of my pain and lately I developed bursitis through an accident. However, I had similar pain in my knees years ago when I first was debilitated. I wonder if you may have bursitis. I don't think it necessarily shows up in blood markers.
Anyway, constant icing and elevation of my leg/knee helps with some physical therapy. I meant to share with you that Yoga stretching has helped me immensely. My pain reduced almost half with this. I managed to go from everyday anti-inflammtories to 5 -9 days per month or every 4-5 months. Hope this helps

take care