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Chronic pain and other joint issues: Looking for answers

Posted by fletch312 @fletch312, Jun 5, 2022

Hi I’m in Canada looking To come to mayo.

Pain in hand radiates up arm. Starts in hand. It feels like a throbbing and feels like she can feel blood throbbing.

Can bend joints in hand. Can bend wrist without pain.

When press on fingers lower part it hurts. Pain in palm of hand.

Vacuuming then pain from holding vacuum. Maybe vibration.

Scrubbing definitely makes it worse.
Hands dont tend to cramp
Definite stiffness. Always feel need. To stretch hands

Pain in feet and legs are different than in hands.

Calves get Charlie horse cramping that you can visibly see. Muscle spasms.

Calves always feel tight.

Bottom of feet cramp spasm in bottom of feet and toes will cramp sometimes.

Stiffness from knees down.
Stiffness in morning or periods of being still.

Legs can be triggered by the wrong movements.

Pain is symmetric and little swelling. Recently have had some swelling in the hands

Had these symptoms for 4/12years. Have had pain all the time but it has gone in cycles. This time it has stayed. Started with getting very sick and was put on antibiotics. Never been the same since.

No shooting pain

Swelling very infrequent

Knees stiff.

Grey area symptoms may be related

Chronic anemia
Brain fog
Fatigue in cycles with the pain
Fatigue then get headaches
Definite cognitive impairment
Brain does not work the way it used to.
Heart palpitations

Doctors have done a lot of tests and have come up with nothing.

Thanks for any input

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ammaw52 | @ammaw52 | Jun 10, 2022

ammaw52. Does a very stiff knee and hard to walk now mean scar tissue in my knee from tkr? Dr wants to do a manipulation on June 17 2022. Has anyone had any success with one?

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jun 10, 2022
In reply to @ammaw52 "ammaw52. Does a very stiff knee and hard to walk now mean scar tissue in my..." + (show)
@ammaw52

ammaw52. Does a very stiff knee and hard to walk now mean scar tissue in my knee from tkr? Dr wants to do a manipulation on June 17 2022. Has anyone had any success with one?

Jump to this post

@ammaw52, I think scar tissue after a TKR can make the knee painful and stiff. There is another discussion on manipulation under anesthesia here -- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-had-my-manipulation-under-anesthesia-yesterday/.

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anne4u | @anne4u | Jun 11, 2022
In reply to @carolasc "Two things I recommend- Therapy (PT) in a warm water pool. It has amazing results. A..." + (show)
@carolasc

Two things I recommend-
Therapy (PT) in a warm water pool. It has amazing results.
A book called “Managing Your Pain Before it Manages You”. Available on Amazon. Both have helped me tremendously. Good luck!

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I do plan to start swim therapy. I’ve checked around and all the places that offer it have warm water pools. I’m seeing a new pain doctor who is helping me with withdrawal symptoms from stopping pain medication. He prescribed an anti-inflammatory which has helped tremendously with pain. I don’t plan to stay on it long but I need something right now to help get me moving. At my 1st appointment he sent me for updated x-rays of my neck to tail bone, my last one was 2 years old. I have nerve conduction studies and a nerve block scheduled. I know these procedures offer different results for different people, but I need something to aid in mobility and pain relief now. Then I’ll start therapy! A week after seeing him I’m already feeling better.
I have the book you mentioned, Managing Your Pain Before it Manages You. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2003 and got it shortly after. Good book! I know there is a 4th edition out, which I need to get!

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aspine | @aspine | Jun 11, 2022

Hi, fletch 312,
I'm not even close to an expert, but a lot of your symptoms sound like you could be dealing with Polymyalgia Rheumatica. You might look it up on line and see what you think. You could be dealing with more than one disease, too. Has anyone checked your CRP and ESR for inflammation? Although, sometimes those tests come up empty, and that can throw the diagnosis off. You might ask your doctor to give you a perscription for prednisone for a week, and see if it helps you. If it doesn't, then it's not PMR.

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sickofbeinsick1. AKA Tina | @sickofbeinsick1 | Jun 12, 2022
In reply to @sandysurf "I was accused of something I didn’t do from a pain management clinic over six months..." + (show)
@sandysurf

I was accused of something I didn’t do from a pain management clinic over six months ago. I’ll defend myself until the day that I die that I didn’t do what he accused, and dismissed, me about.
I now have a torn meniscus and other ligaments behind my knee. The pain is so terrible, I can hardly do anything. My knee won’t bend backwards at all. It takes me forever to get dressed or do anything that requires my knee to bend, which is just about everything.
The orthopedic doctor ordered an MRI, which showed the tears.
Whatever the past pain management doctor put in his “notes”, has put me on a “list”. There’s NO doctor, including the orthopedic doctor, my new primary doctor, the new pain management clinic I was referred to by the ortho doctor, will give me anything for this acute, debilitating pain. I don’t go into their office’s asking for anything. I tell them how much pain I have playing that stupid number 1-10 game. I have asked during my appointment for something for pain. It’s always “no”.
I have no recourse. I don’t know what to do. I sit alone every day because walking any distance is not possible. I want to be “legal”, but they’re not letting me! My depression is slipping back because of this. This, and “his” inaccurate reason for dismissal. I was in such shock when he told me he was getting rid of me. I cry constantly. Most are tears of anger, the rest are tears of pain, and the inability to live the way I used to. This “list” will follow me forever, and I’m totally worn out because it’s the only thing that I can think about. There’s no reason to call an attorney, because it wasn’t medical malpractice. But, I’ve been “labeled”, and I don’t know what for.

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Dr.’s are scared of giving ANY pain meds, I can totally relate. I’ve self medicated b4… 20 some odd years ago. Then I found a neurologist who treated migraines …he helped me for years, then I was released as a patient. It was like being fired for no reason! I know how you feel. I wish I had advice other than surgery or a pain clinic… some of those are a little hinky, but I know people who go cuz of the same reason…no help from “normal” dr.’s

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juneblond | @juneblond | Jun 28, 2022

I went to a new DR. after having the same one for 6 years who only believed in shots that don't work. That DR. did give me Hydrocodone which I've been on for 4 years at least, they don't do much for my pain. I have Osteoarthritis, Sciatica, Scoliosis, degenerative Disk Disease, and PAIN! The new DR. wants me off my Cholesterol med for 30 days & to stay on Hydrocodone, He wants to see if the cholesterol pill is causing pain. I'm really disappointed. Did he look at my x-rays and MRI's? I wonder. And I know my pain started before I went on
Rosuvastatin calcium 10mg. So now my cholesterol will go up and I am still in bad pain. Has anyone else had a DR. try this on them?

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betterway | @betterway | Jul 1, 2022

I hope you do find some relief and help with improving the quality of your life.
Half the battle is knowing what is causing the pain and other symptoms. The other half is all about you and what you do once you know. And how are you going to move forward.
Keep in mind that Doctors do not know everything and do not have instant cures for everything. Reality is life is more complex than 1/2 of what we have been able to comprehend.
I live with chronic pain from a hip and low back injury. In addition to having arthritis here and there. I have much life I still want to do and live and when I get in my own way it really pisses me off. I guess that is the hardest part learning to deal with oneself and the emotions. Otherwise, I break it down into smaller more manageable pieces. Yes, it takes longer than before. When, I do get tasks finished. I will get done. And the feeling of accomplishment is still good. Hang in thier :

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lizthebrit | @lizthebrit | Oct 16, 2023

I complained to my cardiologist that my whole body ached and I could not stand for more than a few minutes. I connected it to my ever increasing cholesterol meds. I now have a shot every 6 months instead of taking the pills. I see a huge difference in my body aches. It was well worth discussing.

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2 replies
delia74 | @delia74 | Oct 17, 2023
In reply to @lizthebrit "I complained to my cardiologist that my whole body ached and I could not stand for..." + (show)
@lizthebrit

I complained to my cardiologist that my whole body ached and I could not stand for more than a few minutes. I connected it to my ever increasing cholesterol meds. I now have a shot every 6 months instead of taking the pills. I see a huge difference in my body aches. It was well worth discussing.

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Can you clarify: A "shot" (injection) of a substitute for the cholesterol meds? And if so, please identify the injectable being used.
And if injectable, any side effects at all?

Cholesterol treated with statins can and do cause pains. I have not been able to tolerate any of them. Those body pains along with the fibromyalgia created an intolerable life for me. I've been advised about the injectables, but not possible with the cardiovascular and other issues that make up my medical history.

I look forward to reading your response.
Thanks.🌺

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1 reply
lizthebrit | @lizthebrit | Oct 17, 2023
In reply to @delia74 "Can you clarify: A "shot" (injection) of a substitute for the cholesterol meds? And if so,..." + (show)
@delia74

Can you clarify: A "shot" (injection) of a substitute for the cholesterol meds? And if so, please identify the injectable being used.
And if injectable, any side effects at all?

Cholesterol treated with statins can and do cause pains. I have not been able to tolerate any of them. Those body pains along with the fibromyalgia created an intolerable life for me. I've been advised about the injectables, but not possible with the cardiovascular and other issues that make up my medical history.

I look forward to reading your response.
Thanks.🌺

Jump to this post

The injection name is Leqvio. The first two injections are three months apart and every six months thereafter. I have no side effects from the first injection but a definite noticeable positive change in my body aches and pains. Obviously the injections are compatible with all my blood pressure meds as prescribed by my cardiologist.
The technician giving the injections at the infusion clinic discussed with me that her returning patients had seen low cholesterol readings almost immediately. I hope this note helps!

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