On Jan 1, 2007 all of a sudden I started feeling very sick - I had
fatigue, nausea, anorexia, insomnia and extreme shortness of breath
(there was no wheezing, and my oxygen saturation levels were always
100%). I would also get these strange attacks in my chest where all of
a sudden all the ribs muscles would go into a spasm and it would be
hard to breath. After about a week of this I developed costochondritis.
After two months of having costochondritis, the inflammation spread to
every single other joint in my body (including the sacroiliac, jaw,
neck, the ribs joints, achille's tendons, and my spine was affected in
3 places). None of my joints ever had any swelling, however the
stiffness in my hands was so bad that I could barely hold a glass. The
pain was unbearable and seemed like it wasn't only in my joints, but
all around them too.
I've seen two rheumatologists who cannot give me a diagnosis. I've
been tested for lyme disease, rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP, ANA, ENA,
HLA-b27 - it was all negative. Even my sedimentation rate never went
over 16. Only my CRP was elevated - 24 at some point.
I have not been able to work for the past year or do anything else
really. It is only in the last two months that the systemic symptoms
went away, however the pain stilll remains. It's not in the joints
anymore but in the fibrous tissues surrounding them.
Has anyone experienced anything like this? Should I expect this to ever go away? What could this be?
what about fibromyalgia with myofascial pain syndrome? and my rheumatologist says he doesn't care WHAT the sed rate is- he goes by the symptomatology of the patient
Try taking two advils.. if you feel 100% better within 30 -40 minutes, then it is probably a form of arthritis... It sure sounds like it anyway.. I have the same ongoing problems and have been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and osteoporosis.... If you do have it,, PLease listen to your doc when he tells you to do daily exercises.... You do not want your spine or ribs to grow together... Also your neck and head... exercise,,don't slouch,,, try to be active.... and if it gets bad,,, rhuemy will put you on biologics and NSAID's drugs which will help slow down the process... I have heard that starchy foods can make symptoms worse and there are times I do beleive that.. however, this is not the cause of it.... It is genetic and we all have to live with it.. I am 31 with my lower spine fused... Not much lower back pain happens since the fusion... I limit myself,, don't do anything strenuaous like lifting... BUt main thing is keep active,,, if you sit around, you will hurt worse... Meds will help you feel better and you may gain weight if you sit around too... ALOT of weight,, I use to weigh 145 and now 190.. I am guessig it is the meds making me feel better and have more appetite... Get a good rhuemy..
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