Frequent, shooting joint pain. Where to begin?

[islandchic13]

I'm a 23 year old female, and have been experiencing terrible chronic pain for quite a few years. It has gotten to the point lately where new areas are starting to hurt, and it's becoming unbearable to do my day-to-day tasks.

I have plague Psoriasis and had blood work done by my dermatologist quite a few years back (maybe 7 yrs?). He explained that I was positive for ANA, and that he wanted to take a sample of a lesion on my skin to be sure it wasn't Lupus. The test came back negative, but he said he wanted to keep an eye on it. I lost my insurance about a year later, and didn't really think anything of it (I was young and didn't even know what ANA was, or that psoriasis had anything to do with the autoimmune system).

A couple years later, when someone told me psoriasis was much more than a simple skin condition, I started to do research. It was then that I learned what it, and ANA were all about. I had chronic joint pain in my knees (and sometimes my shoulders) at the time, and never thought that RA was even an option for me. Now, over the past several years, it has progressed into my wrists, upper/lower back, shoulders into my collar bone, and still in my knees. The pain is excruciating at times, and I am having a difficult time doing simple tasks. It doesn't just hurt at the joints, but shoots up or across my body in terrible pain.

About 3 years ago (before it was even this bad), I got a referral to a Rheumatologist to try and get some answers. They looked at my wrists and knees (about 5 seconds each) and said I didn't have it, then ordered some blood work (really not sure what). I got a call saying I was "fine".

Still, here I sit... In frequent pain every day. Fingers, toes, ribs, everyting just hurts. I am constantly exhausted, and have zero motivation to get up and do anything. I just want to sleep all day, but hurt when I lay in one spot for more than a few minutes. I have no clue where to begin. I feel like I should start anew and from square one again. But with who? Anybody have any suggestions? I'm 23 and feel like a 90 year old. I'm scared to death of how I will feel at 30. Am I going to be in a wheelchair before I even have kids?? HELP.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

get well soon!

[islandchic13]

Thanks!! Seriously, researching everything has been exhausting, it's nice to type my symptoms and hear from others, what may be possible conditions. I will copy these down, make an appointment with my regular doctor (I guess?) and see where I may be able to go from here, and what I may be able to do. I have undergone physical therapy in the past, and have been completely unresponsive to it. Maybe that, with a combination of treatment drugs will finally help! I will let you know when and if I find out anything more.

Again, MANY THANKS for your response! :)

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
What you have is in all probability psoriatic arthritis. Treatment involves a combination of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy. Other possibilities are SLE (probably ruled out in your case), fibromyalgia, polymayalgia rheumatica and chronic fatigue syndrome. Gout, though typically affects the great toe, can cause multiple joint pain with rash. Hashimotos Thyroiditis is another possibility. Hayfever and rheumatoid arthritis too should also be ruled out.
I think you should discuss these possibilities with your doctor. It is difficult to comment beyond this without examining. A comprehensive investigation is required keeping all the points in mind.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!