Chronic foot and hand pain all my life-told it’s growing pains

Posted by benisweniz @benisweniz, Oct 16 1:32am

Im currently 16 and ever since I was young like 4-5 I started getting these foot pains that would cause me to cry myself to sleep, to this day I still get these foot pains and they’ve continued to stay constant, they’re hasn’t been a time in my life where they really stopped hurting like this. As I got older around 10 it traveled to my hands and arms it’s the same exact pain that I have in my feet but it went to my hands too. The pain usually happens when I walk a lot in a day or I move or jump a lot, it also starts hurting when it gets cold. The pain starts and hurts the most in the middle of my feet but it’s like a pain you feel inside only and it spreads throughout my foot to my calf. Same with my hands and forearms. The only thing that makes it feel better is pressure and ibuprofen. A lot of doctors I’ve gone too tell me it’s growing pains but I’ve been dealing with it since I was little and I feel like it’s not normal. It is constantly an inconvenience sometimes the pain gets so bad I still cry myself to sleep , resulting to no sleep, especially when I’m not home and I’m not able to get to pain meds I suffer trying to even be comfortable. if it happens while I’m doing something too I won’t be able to focus on anything else when pain hits, especially when it’s both my hands and feet hurting at the same time. It brings discomfort to living honestly and even if I wanted to seriously get checked, healthcare is so out of my range now money wise, so I’d rather just live with it if I have been my whole life😔literally go through so many bottles of ibuprofen…

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

laura1970 | @laura1970 | Oct 16 12:19pm

Have you been evaluated for Achilles shortening. At its worst it causes tip toe walking with puts strain on the wrong part of the foot which causes pain. there are several treatments. This wouldn’t explain the pain in your hands though

benisweniz | @benisweniz | Oct 16 12:29pm

In reply to @laura1970 "Have you been evaluated for Achilles shortening. At its worst it causes tip toe walking with..." + (show)

@laura1970 Ive never looked into it but I’m not sure, I’ve never been a tip toe walker either but I do tend to walk pigeon toed which I think might make it worse , but that started a little later after the pain. I’m not sure whenever I get pain it’s like there’s no outside affects like redness or swelling it’s just immense pain that spread throughout. It could be a bone thing or something I’m not sure at all.

laura1970 | @laura1970 | Oct 16 1:00pm

What kinds of doctors have evaluated you? It may be time for a specialist

dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | Oct 17 6:56am

@benisweniz
I feel for you. My son is 16 and has some various health issues he has dealt with all of his life, too.

Have you been seen by a pediatric rheumatologist and neurologist? You should be checked for juvenile arthritis and tested for central/peripheral nervous system issues. You may need MRIs and X-rays of brain/spine/joints and EMG/nerve conduction studies of upper and lower limbs plus small fiber neuropathy skin punch biopsy. You may have small and large nerve fiber involvement affecting neuromuscular health and/or juvenile arthritis.

What types of doctors have you seen and what tests have been done? Have you had extensive bloodwork done?

dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | Oct 17 7:01am

In reply to @benisweniz "@laura1970 Ive never looked into it but I’m not sure, I’ve never been a tip toe..." + (show)

@benisweniz
I meant to also warn you about taking too much NSAIDs and ibuprofen. It can cause problems with taking too much for too long (caused me stomach pain due to erosions/gastritis/esophagitis).
Here is some information about juvenile arthritis:
https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/juvenile-arthritis
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374082
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10370-juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis
Juvenile Nerve Pain:
https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/conditions/peripheral-neuropathy
Musculoskeletal Pain:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17933-amplified-musculoskeletal-pain-syndrome-amps-in-children

fala | @fala | Oct 19 11:10am

I too also must warn you about taking too much NSAIDs and ibuprofen. It can cause problems with taking too much for too long or without food like I did! I ended up with a bleeding ulcer and in the hospital for two weeks!
Tylenol doesn't work well for me, just taking the edge off, but better than nothing! Good luck!