multiple joint pain

[ticketybooboo]

Hi i hope you can give me some advice. I am 25 and have pain in my knee's, ankles, hips, lower back, right shoulder  the right side of my ribs and now my hands. The pain started in my knee's during my early teens and i have never consulted a doctor for this. At 16 i went to the doctor about my lower back pain, i was sent for a scan on my kidneys which came back fine and no other tests or treatments were suggested. Since then the pain has spread. I have also lost almost 4 stone in weight in 6 months. I have not changed my eating habits or the amount or exercise i do.
I intend to consult my doctor about this problem (although as you can probably tell, i don't visit my doctor very often) but any advice would be welcomed.
Thanks

[txsilver]

I am glad the doc is taking a closer look at this and running tests again.  If she thinks it is not RA but fibro or something else, get a second opinion from another rheumy.  You might also ask (and make sure your insurance covers it) about a bone and joint scan (MRI with contrast that highlights inflammation)  That is what uncovered my conditions.  For me, this test identified that the problems I was reporting were real inspite of the barely high test results I was getting.

[Krissy698]

Epsom salt can really help with the daily pain associated with this debilitating condition.  I have been searching for a natural product to help relieve some of pain and finally found that epsom salt is my solution.  Soaking for 20-30 minutes a day helps to reduce the pain and makes it easier for me to get out of bed the next day.  As a result I have been able to try yoga and other low impact exercises which my doctor says will help my joints overall.  Just wanted to share this with everyone because it is an easy, inexpensive and natural remedy.

[ticketybooboo]

Yesterday i had an app with the rheumy doc who said she didn't think i had RA and that she thought i had rheumatic pain in the soft tissue. She is running another blood test and if that comes back normal then there is no reason for me to go in again. I don't understand why i would feel pain in my bones and joints if i had a soft tissue issue. Is anyone here familiar with this? The doc said yoga may help. I tried yoga a few years ago for about 10 months and stopped because it hurt my back and knees lol. Any advice would be appreciated.

[txsilver]

This can be normal protocol.  Especially since your symptoms contradict your test results.  You are a tougher cookie so they are sending you to a specialist.  This is a good thing.  Please let us know what you find out and, be sure to read the post at the top of the forum regarding rheumy appts.  The more prepared you are, the more bang you can get for your first appt buck.

[ticketybooboo]

I had my blood test and everything was normal so doctor is sending me to a rheumatologist. Is this normal as i have not had any physical exam just the blood test.

[txsilver]

I am glad to read you have gone to the doctor.  I also think justliveyalife is on the right track.  With weight loss, the age you started to have pain and the symptoms you are describing, I would suspect AS as a strong candidate.  Ask your doctor if you are HLA B27 positive.  If he/she did not check, ask for that test to be run.  That is an indicator for AS.  You can be positive and not have AS or negative and have it, but it does help the dx process along.  Keep us posted.

[ticketybooboo]

Thanks for replying. I went to the doctors today and i'm having a blood test tomorrow so i shall wait and see what the results say.

[TrudieC]

A number of auto-immune diseases can fit. Except for the weight loss (that would be a good thing for me) I have all the same symptoms and they are in the midst of finalizing a diagnosis of Lupus &/or RA.  Good luck.

[justliveyalife]

Look up ankylosing spondylitis and see if it fits. I have similiar symptoms