Pain in knees, elbow and joints w/o arthritis?

[OneLove2019]

I know I am sarcoid but arthritis has been ruled out--so why do I have increasing pain in my wrist, knees, finger joints and ankles. I am also currently on MTX--can it actually cause these kinds of symptoms? I was also on a heavy dose of prednisone for months. Thanks guys.

[PMRpro]

MTX has joint and muscle aches and pains listed as an adverse effect! I tried it for a month in the hope it might be a steroid sparer - I felt worse than I used to feel with untreated polymyalgia rheumatics!

[OneLove2019 in reply to PMRpro]

Oh my goodness, really? Right now I'm on Advil, children's Advil, I don't want to take too much while on MTX. But yeah, I was surprised because I would think that MTX would not cause pain that wasn't there before to just pop-up. Yikes.

[A00000000012]

Have you been tested specifically for lupus. The joint pain in extremeties such as ankles, knees, hands, wrists and elbows is classic lupus.

[OneLove2019 in reply to A00000000012]

Yes, a Rheumi said that I was only one point away from being diagnosed with classic lupus. She had the anca, I believe it was called, panel done. And that was roughly 6mos ago . So I don't know maybe we could do it again. Cuz I didn't have that kind of pain at the time just iritis. I do know that when I do get testing for inflammation it's always very high.

[Piscesdreamer in reply to OneLove2019]

I also had the pain you are describing. I did not have enough symptoms to have the diagnosis of Lupus so I was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease by the Mayo Clinic. I also tested triple positive for APS. I was placed on Plaquenil 200 mg once a day. This was prescribed to help prevent the APS and UCTD from evolving into Lupus. Within one month my pain went away and my fatigue was 80% gone. I am now 9 months into plaquenil and am feeling great. Plaquenil was a game changer that gave me my life back.

[OneLove2019 in reply to Piscesdreamer]

I may speak to her about that--this MTX suuuucks. I cannot take too much more of it. I know it has worked for others but even, as I write this the iritis in my eye, seems to be coming back. I see her Thursday but I am at my wit's end. Taking Advil for pain.

[KeepingUpBeat in reply to A00000000012]

I have pain in all those areas minus elbows but also in the feet, knees, shoulders and neck. The last rheumatologist I saw at my hospital clinic visit told me and wrote in the visit summary sent to my GP, the pain in these areas had nothing to do with SLE because my bloods did not show signs of inflammation. His opinion dismissed the views of five previous dermatologists and rheumatologist seen since diagnosis????

[OneLove2019 in reply to KeepingUpBeat]

What? That is insane... what would it be then? Form what I can glean in the boards testing can be hit or miss... worrisome how up and down it is. Can you get a second opinion?

[Piscesdreamer in reply to KeepingUpBeat]

Fyi - my blood work showed zero inflammatory markers too. I went to the Mayo Clinic and I was diagnosed with Undifferentiated connective tissue disease. Which means I did not fulfill all the criteria for lupus but had many symptoms. They call it "pre-lupus" or "latent lupus" they put me on generic plaquenil to prevent it from turning into lupus. Within a month I felt much better.

See my other post above.

[OneLove2019 in reply to Piscesdreamer]

Saw My rheumy yesterday--she is putting me on Humira with the MTX and prednisone super pack due to the inflammation and the fact my iritis returned as welll... Never-ending cycle isn't it?