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Hives and Severe Joint Pain

My son 15, had hives last week.  Severe hives moving from one part of his body to another.  He was on a medication just prior to this called Solodyn (for acne).  (We stopped the Solodyn about a week ago when the rash first appeared.)  The doctors aren't sure if that is what triggered this.  The hives a week later have slowed up but we are now having severe joint pain.  The joint pain also moves daily from one area of his body to the other.  One day it is on the right side affecting his hands and feet mostly, then the next day it is on the other side.  Sparadically it become so severe he can't walk on that foot or write with that hand.  He is on Clarinex and Allegra now due to the rash. It does help but occassionally that rash will reappear for a few hours then gone again.  I am truly concerned about the joint pain, because it isn't minor, it is debilitating for him.  Please let me know if there is something that we are overlooking.  I have found individuals on the internet that have these same problems but no way to ask them what the cure was.  Please help.  
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Avatar universal
I am experiencing all the same symptoms and am currently taking dapsone (for inflammation of the joints), Zyrtec (2 in am 2 in pm), singular n something else else n it is not working bcus my body is getting immune to them..., it's very painful to walk or write sometimes. I am going to doc next week to learn about a shot tho. Will update after I find out wat it is.
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Avatar universal
Hi, I don't know if this helps but years ago when my daughter was 16, she is 29 now, she spiked a very high fever. I was putting her in cool baths and giving her the Target brand of Tylenol. Nothing was bringing it down. I finally went up to the store and picked up the name brand Tylenol and gave it to her. Her fever broke!! After that she came down with rashes and severe joint pain. Through our search for answers, we finally found a competant doctor who explained to me that sometimes when children experience high temps there bodies will trigger Psoriasis! She was tested and that was it. So, along with the Psoriasis comes Psoratic Arthritis. Bingo!!! She was put on Enbrel shots and was on them for several years. After she married she decided to go off. She is doing good. The joint pain is better although there and the psoriasis try's to rear its ugly head but she is able to keep it under control.
So sometimes high fever may cause Psoratic Arthritis!
It was so painful for her years ago. She couldn't walk! She was on crutches, kids belittled her saying she was faking. I am so glad we found a doctor who knew. I hope this helps.
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Avatar universal
My daughter is almost 20 and has had the same traveling joint pain for about 2 years. She also had low blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia).  

They were treating her for a while like she had Lupus, but she doesn't have any other of the symptoms indicative of Lupus.  Her pain has been debilitating at times, which made her first year if college a HUGE challenge.

She tried steroids, but they only helped a little but made her get urinary tract infections that were extreme and miserable.

We are going to try an elimination diet next.

She did use acne meds around the onset of these symptoms. I am not sure which ones. I will definitely look into THAT!
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Avatar universal
You guys need to google lone star tick,  I am going to be tested for this myself as I am experiencing in order of appearance....itching, hives, severe joint pain (both thumbs, 1 elbow, 1 wrist, 1 knee, both feet/ankles/heels)......... if you have ever had a tick bite, even years ago you might have now developed Alpha Gall allergy...which is an allergy to any mammal meat and even possibly dairy. I had probably around 4 times more mammal meat than I normally do on regular basis this week.    I had been sick prior to this....3rd week in June I was on a zpack and prednisone, 4th week of June I was on amoxicillin for a sinus infection.  

Today I am currently taking a Medrol dose pack, zantac, benedry, and cetrilezine.  This just started on Thursday.  

I'm just curious if anyone has gotten any answers since this has been posted.
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14065644 tn?1432742879
I have suffered the exact same symptoms now for 2 years. My GP has sent me to a gynecologist, a dermatologist, an allergist, and a Rheumatologist. so far my diagnosis include in order of the physicians listed: old age (I saw him the day I turned 40, lol), chronic hives, (and this one is the best) one in five million with auto-allergy (allergic to self) (she told me to buy a bubble) or maybe leukemia (come back when I get better insurance to cover a bone marrow test), and edema (really?) with possible fibromyalgia. They, well mostly me with trial and error, have identified over 40 foods that I am allergic to now (foods I have eaten my entire life), along with a host of environmental allergens, meds, and common household items, many are anaphylactic (as I've learned the hard way), and by avoiding these things the hives aren't as bad as they have been. So I say, but a no-see-um bit me outside the other day and I was covered in lesion-like hives within minutes. However, your dr may be onto something with Lupus. Sun exposure causes me to have extreme breakouts, migraine, unbelievable fatigue, and the swelling and joint pain increase, along with a giant red welty butterfly rash on my chest. However, I'm testing neg for Lupus and RA at this point, and when they hear I have gained weight instead of losing it they immediately dismiss Lupus (they forget about the frequent doses of Prednisone they have had me on for the last 2 years), but I believe that is what it is. A lady who is a friend of my aunt has the same symptoms, right down to the multitude of allergies, many the same ones, and her dr diagnosed her even though her blood tests were neg, and the meds are helping her. I'm waiting on another dr to decide if he wants to take me on, and if so, I hope he has some answers. I didn't realize this was such a common issue. To hear all the specialists I've seen talk, I am an anomaly.
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Did you ever get any answers? I am experiencing all the same and this has been going on for 6 months. I am at my wits end!
Avatar universal
When my sister was 12 she got really sick. My mom said that she almost died.  The dr had no clue on what was wrong with her, but she came out of it with JRA (Jr Rheumatoid Arthritis) and still has it now. She is so bad that she is a candidate to have every joint in her body replaced twice.
I hope your child doesn't have this - it's very debilitating, but you can fight it some with diet and exercise.  She has found that if she eats berries and stays away from any kind of soda, the inflammation stays down.

Good luck
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Avatar universal
I have had this as well for about 3 weeks now. All of a sudden, i had hives and everyday i would take benedryl to supress the histamines. The third day, i got angioedema from advil (NSAID). When the histamines are active in your body, NSAIDs can cause angiedema. Anyways, my tongue began to swell and i went to the ER where i got a prednisone drip. Doc gave me an Px for epi-pen and10 day supply of prednisone, which was tapered. Anyways, went to my primary physician that day and had blood drawn. 2 days later, doc said i was not allergic to anything. Went to an allergist about 2 weeks later, all the while ive been getting hives when the benedryl ran low in my system. Allergist/immunologist immediately diagnosed me with dermographism after hearing my story and seeing pictures of my hives. He said that it can last up to a year and that most cases he's seen only last for 6 months- 1 year, while 1 or two last forever. He said as long as i take 1-2 zyrtec daily, it will control the hives. So its been 3 weeks as of now since the hives started and im not currently taking prednisone anymore (hated it!), my right knee joint began to hurt with sharp pain, but then went away. Not sure if Doc diagnosed it properly, or its something more severe? The zyrtec is controlling the hives well, but if i wait too long in between doses, the hives return all over(only at night time). I have always been healtyh and considered myself to have a strong immune system. Not sure why this onset was so sudden. My blood work came back that i was VIT D deficient and B12 was in low range of 300 (normal is 200-1000). Doc also gave me VIT D Px so we will see what happens. Did your doc get back to you?
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Avatar universal
Please tell us what was the cause ? my 13 year old daughter has the same problems. Please send to ***@****
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Avatar universal
i have had chronic hives covering my entire body.. and also swelling of legs hands and face and even my lips.. i have lost my voice a few times.. they have had me on vistril, benydryl,zyrtec and ellegra. ellegra is the only thing that keeps it at bay for a few hours. i am going to see a demratoligist tomorrow.. i was very interested in your post because arthritis also runs in my family.. if you have any ideas please help please feel free to contact me at my email address at ***@****
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Avatar universal
Our 14 year old son took amoxicillin for 4 days for a sinus infection, then broke out in hives.  Doctor gave him a steroid shot for the hives.  Hives have begun slowly disappearing over the last 48 hours, though not completely gone yet.  Now his joints are stiffening up and have a purplish shade to them.
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Avatar universal
I've had the hives, knots, and stiffness for the past week and have come to the conclusion that it is a Sulfa allergy. I got mine from giving my horse Trimethoprim/sulfa and might not have figured it out if my husband didn't know about his sulfa allergy already. It started with hives and puffy eyelids (presumebly from hives), and pain in my elbow I thought was from having it in the same position at work all day. I also had a half dozen huge bug bites with 1/8 pus filled tops. I then started getting knots (which I thought were also bug bites at first). My other joints seized up and I got more knots. I finally figured out that it was either flys eating my horses medication in her food and biting me or mosquitos biting her and then me that probably caused the nasty bug bites, and may or may not have been all of it. I might have breathed or ingested some of her medication while I was giving it to her for a week.  Apparently sulfa is also in some generic prescriptions so let pharmacy as well as the doctor know this might be the issue.

This is a list of stuff that will set off sulfa allergies.

Sulfonamide Antibiotics:
sulfadiazine
sulfamethoxazole
sulfasalazine
sulfisoxazole
sulfacetamide
sulfanilamide
sulfathiazole
sulfabenzamide

Thiazide Diuretics:
hydrochlorothiazide
chlorthiazide
metolazone
chlorthalidone
indapamide
methyclothiazide

Loop Diuretics:
furosemide

Sulfonylureas:
chlorpropamide
tolbutamide
tolazamide
glipizide
glyburide

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors:
acetazolamide
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Avatar universal
Over the last two months I have experienced extreme joint pain. I was one Solodyn for a year and a half and a couple months ago, I started feeling a dull pain in my shoulders, then it trickled into my wrists and fingers, then eventually into my knees and my ankles are tight. I've had just about every kind of blood test and everything has come back negative, even arthritis.

How is your son? Did things clear up? Is there any kind of advice that you can give me? Or anything that I should expect?

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Avatar universal
I have the same problems as your son. I'm 35 and have been suffering for 8 months.  I get lumps in my feet and hands  For a day or two,sometimes longer. The pain in my joints have me thinking arthritis also. I'm currently on allegra 180mg once a day
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Avatar universal
I forgot to mention another ingredient I must avoid and that is any artificial sweetener. These are bad news for anyone and can cause all sorts of problems.
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Avatar universal
I recommend checking rx-list.com and looking up the antibiotics prescribed. Not only does it give side effects and such but all the ingredient-- including the inert ingredients. I find I react to the inert ingredients (thankfully I have not had hives or joint pain but I do get asthma attacks, a bloody nose and horrible migraines.) Inert ingredients I have learned to watch out for-- sodium laural(th) sulfate-- this is a powerful detergent and is used in labs to break down human skin cells to look at under the microscope, talc-- this is said not to be used as a powder because it can increase the likelihood of ovarian cancer, gluten, and any milk product.

I hope you get your answers,
achilles2
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Avatar universal
My daughter just broke out into hives today and has most of the swelling in her knee.  The hives are all over though.  She is at the end of an antibiotic, but I wasn't sure if that was it or an insect bite.  What was the result of your child's reaction?
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Avatar universal
well its just over a week since my last post, blood tests came back with no issues, flare tags were marjinally higher than normal but they didnt seem concerned. that was last friday i got the results.  back at the docs monday 28th nov after a terrible weekend.  went to a comedy club for my birthday sat night with my boyfriend but by the time i got home around 1am (sat most of the evening too) i could barely walk, couldnt drive without hunching over the wheel then laid ontop of the bed with my coat on as i couldnt move :( this is awful ;( saw a different doc mon, sent for blood tests tues 29th they are now testing for lupus among other conditions i cant remember i was in too much pain to take it in. been given a medication which is a muscle relaxant called amitriptyline.  the doc didnt say if to take it with the other meds, so i didnt, but i've taken one of the first tablets naproxen as im in agony tonight. had a hot bath with didnt work, im walking like a gorrilla as i can hardly bend my knees, my fingers hurt, shoulders, wrists and ankles :( to say im scared of getting no answers or cure is an understatement, i couldnt lift my 4 year old little girl out of the bath tonight my mum had to do it :(   I havent had any hives, i do seem to be going to the toilet tiddling a lot more but other than that its just this seizing up of nearly everywhere, with mild inflamation usually on the sides on my wrists and the paint with it all. it feels like carpal tunnel syndrome on my wrists, feels like a trapped tendon or muscle behind my knees and shoulders feel like they have something trapped, ankles usually just feel stiff and hard to move. i was fit and active before and not had any illness may be a tickly cough, no antibiotics lately or hives.  i had something simular around 10 years ago where they tested my wrists for carpal tunnel and never got to the bottom of why my hip felt seized up.  i moved back to derbyshire and it all stopped! does anyone else have these symptoms? a very sad and upset sazzle :( will post back soon even if to journal whats happening to me.
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Avatar universal
well, finally got into the docs this morning, 54 calls in 15mins each engaged tone, not impressed. got another appointment for blood tests 22nd nov 2011, one thing they will test for is celiac'ss disease and other flamitory disorders. i askes if i can have food/allergy skin tests but he said we'll start with the blood test.  yet celiacs is a food intollerance to gluten! anyhow prescribed naproxen which is better than ibroprophen and has a pain killer in it, but this causes stomache upset/acid so also have ranitidine to counteract it.  today the stiffness and pain has move to my shoulder again.  will post back again. sarah
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Avatar universal
hi all, well i've read everyone post from start to finish, and so many kids seem to have it which is awful.  im a 42 year old female with a 4 year old so usually have loads of energy, love diy and being active and now struck with this joint pain that moves every other day.  im in the uk, in a town, not much crop spraying here, I've not had hives, but absolutely horrendous pains, im trying to type then backspace to correct, my fingers on my left hand ache and move slowly, last night my right wrist was to painful to even turn to look at it as there was swelling at the side of my wrist bone, days before it was my ankle and last friday my shoulder felt dislocated, but a hot bath and ibruprophen seem to make it easier :( i know i had this once before when living near london, i then moved to the midlands and things got loads better, i put it down to chemicals in the water - honestly, because when i did buy a water filter while there it did seem to ease off. i've got it again and its feels bleek, i work in an office so fairly easy to sit and work, but keyboard work? im struggling. i've read everyone post and comments, im still trying to get an appointment at the docs after a week of they're full, in the meantime, im going to try as suggested the alergy of foods/chemicals tests, as in change or stop various ones in batches and see how i go.  i admit i like my biscuits and coffee and i do smoke, but i like heathly food, always running around, never usually sit still.  there is something that women get just before or during menopause, i didnt think i was quite there yet but the site showed the exact same places of pain and symptoms and occourance as i have.  Couple of days and it moves to somewhere else just as the other joint seems to get better.  primary hormones, estrogen and progesterone levels drop which some medics suggest may cause arthritic pain which moves.  they do say to try arctium, apis mellifica, actaea spicata, which im also going to re-search and will post on here any info.  they also point to lupus, lyme and chrones disease, i'll research it all first before i scare myself.  good luck to all you people too, sarah
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Avatar universal
Oh my gosh... I thought I was the only one with these symptoms!

I've had chronic hives for over a year and severe joint pain in my ankles and wrists/thumbs for about 8 months.  The pain comes and goes and I can go a week or so with none at all.  The hives on the other hand... the doctor informed me they were stress hives and has me on a low does anti-anxiety pill.  The hives stay away as long as I don't miss more than 2 days of the pill.  

The hives are usually at night and the joint pain all day and night.  

I'm trying to track the Kynatomine, but being as I am in New Zealand (Christchurch to be precise - earthquake city... which should explain the stress) drugs are hard to find under brand names and may not be allowed in at all.  :(
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Avatar universal
I've been reading all the posts about hives and joint pain bc i just broke out in hives a week ago with travelling joint pain.  But, can't seem to find anything conclusive.  Where should i start?  I'm taking antehistamine for the hives and advil for the joint pain.  I'm going to see a rheumatologist but it sounds like i'm going to be tested for a million things and still have no answer.  Help!!
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Avatar universal
I am 27 and have had hives for 4 weeks know. Along with severe joint pain that is so crippling at times I have to crawl to the couch because I can't stand to bear weight on my feet. Days I get up and have to go buy a wrist brace and wear it to work cause my wrist hurts so bad Id rather have broken it then feel the unexplained pain I am in. I have been to 2 different doctors. The allergist has tested me for mold, pollens, trees, grasses, foods, medications, he is now testing me for Lupus (although I don't believe this is it) I have been tested for RA, had a CBC, BMP, been tested for EBV, cytomegalovirus.. all tested... NOTHING NO ANSWERS. Just hives and pain.... If ANYONE has an actual answer out there... like a true diagnoses Id LOE to hear it... Im about to lose my kob over this crap cause I can't stand to walk to my mailbox, let alone 12 hours a day....
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Avatar universal
Hi Trishaconcernedmom,

I have a 7 1/2 year old daughter who has been through the same last week. This was the third time this happend to her. the first two times (sept 2010, and may 2011) she just had the hives, joint pain, swollen feet. The pediatrician diagnosed it as urticaria at that time. When it happened last week it was much more severe with 103.5F fever and hives all over her face, swollen lip, swollen eyelid. We just got her bloodwork done on Wed and are awaiting the test results. The pediatric rheumatologist ordered those tests and we will know the outcome only after two weeks. So it is an agonizing wait. The docs suspect Lupus and JRA as well.
I notice that you are in Bryan, TX. I am in SA, TX. I noticed that few others on this forum were also from a nearby area. Could environment be a factor? Or is it just a coincidence.
Please do post and let me know what the bood work shows. Thanks for sharing your experience. We sure can learn a lot from each other.
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535822 tn?1443976780
They have been doing a lot of spraying in from the sky..they are called chem trails I think you should look into the search engine and see what they are spraying ..Many folks have come down with rashes ...google chem trails
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