I'm a 21 year old female and I have had pronounced night time joint pain since I was 5 years old. I come from a family that always used homemade remedies to make things better. When the night time pain became so bad I would wake my mother crying. We went to our primary care physicians and he said it was growing pain. As I headed into my teens I walked for miles in order to relieve the pain. Sitting in a classroom was okay until I had to get up and shake off the stiffness. This pain and stiffness prevented me from doing sports, dance, most activities as the pain would be extremely pronounced at night time after hard activity.
There would be minor swelling. I still have it, I get inflammation of my wrists, hands, knees, stiffness all over my body. I want to work in the outdoors and give tours but I simply can't because of night time pain. The only activity that made it better without night time pain was swimming.
I can't live with this anymore. I keep thinking I'm making this up. Doctor's keep telling me that its just some minor pain and I don't feel they believe me. What should I do? Who should I see? I can't live my life with this kind of pain at night.
Have you seen a rheumatologist yet? If not you should try to get one right away. You know the pain is real so keep searching until you get a diagnosis that makes sense.
Take care.
Pat
Hi and welcome to the forum. You live in an area where some of the finest doctors and facilities are located. Find a good internist and rheumatologist. Start off looking for rheumatology centers at the major universities (Columbia) and try and get an appt. You may need a referral from an internist. Usually if you go to an internist affiliated with the university group of rheumatologist you can get an appt. quicker. You need to get some relief and you need doctors that specialize. Please keep us posted. Take care. Lindy