sudden joint pain and stiffness
Joint swelling and pain, stiffness and fatigue, but not lupus or rheumatoid arthritis What is it??
I am a woman of 34, and I have suffered from attacks of severe, unexplained, joint pain and sudden swelling in my mid 20s. Outbreaks occur a couple a few times year, and usually affects the wrists, elbows, fingers, feet or ankles. I also experienced in the hips and neck. Outbreaks are usually resolved quickly when treated with steroids. However, the joints of the arms and hands are almost always tender now. Recently, I've been losing hair at an alarming rate. I have tried everything from Lupus to RA, and am told I am negative for everything. My mom (now 66) suffers from the same condition, and had also been diagnosed since the 20's. We are told that, on paper, are the picture of health. If I'm so healthy, why do I feel like shit?
I was then diagnosed undiagnosed during years. I have arthritis spondylos. It is difficult to diagnose these autoimmune diseases because it is a process of elimination. Keep your complaint rhuematologist. Keep a record outbreaks and what body parts they affect. It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. Although not really a definitive diagnosis of RA me until finally the thought I might be working for him (blood was elevated, but not serious). After a miserable holiday was spent mostly in the bed, I went to rhuemy with a list that covers the front of a scrapbook page. Finally, I started on plaquenil, Voltaren, and sulfasalazine. It took almost 5 months for drugs to kick in, but now I'm about 90% better. Good luck to you. You may need to find a different doctor. Best wishes.
