Chronic Joint pain...

[BigRed5150]

I have had chronic joint pain now for 2 and 1/2 years. It started with low back pain(severe ache, no sharp pains) and spread to my hip joints. I suspected arthritis of some sort, but after X-Rays, MRI's and seeing several different doctors(GP, Orthopedic dr., chiropractor's etc) they have no diagnosis. I can't stand up for more than 30-45 mins at a time because my hip joints will start hurting severely, I can't sit down for more than 30-45 mins at a time because my lower back will start hurting severely(even with good posture). Laying down flat on the floor or on my bed is the only way I can get consistent relief. I am not overweight(194 lbs, 11% bodyfat)and I exercise on a regular basis with proper form and I lift with my knees. Lately I have had muscle weakness and when I lay down at night and hear a sudden noise, a flash of light will show in the back of my eyelids like someone took my picture with the flash turned on(I think it's called sound phosphenes). I am developing more and more bizzare symptoms and it is really starting to scare me. I have no answers and the only solution the doctors have come up with is to send me to a pain management clinic to treat the pain. Please, someone help me...I want to know whats going on with my body.
Thank you

[BigRed5150]

Thank you for your reply. Next time I see the doctor I will ask to see a neurologist. Now that you mentioned MS another symptom popped into my head that I thought was not related. Sometimes when talking to people I have what I call a "twitch"in my jaw, where it will act almost like a stutter but alot more violent shifting my jaw from one position to another.When this happens, sometimes I will become weak for a brief moment. It comes and goes, but I have only had it since I was 19 or so(I am 22 now). I thought it was just related to anxiety or something. Maybe seeing a neurologist is the number one priority at this point. If you would, please exaggerate on the common warning signs of MS. I was adopted but was told that my birth mothers side of the family had a history of MS.
What kind of tests are performed to diagnose this disease?

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

The fact that you are familiar with 'sound phosphenes' tells me that you have done some research;  my understanding of that phenomenon is that it is associated with neurodegenerative conditions, specifically that involve nerves of the optic nerve or nerves in the retina.  With muscle weakness and the sound phosphenes, my primary concern would for MS.  I don't know if pain would fit, though.

The person missing is a neurologist-- maybe they have one at the pain clinic, but if they don't, you might consider seeing one.  If I was your doc I would want to see an MRI of the head and neck, and maybe to an LP for protein, oligoclonal bands, and the other 'usual' tests.  I would be particularly concerned if the weakness was 'migratory', meaning it came and went in different parts of the body.