Muscle pains in upper and lower arms & knee and terrible burning like pain in wrists & ankles.

[PersonalTAgnt]

Hi, I’ m a 59 year old female living in Scotland.

I’m wondering if anyone can throw any light on what I have going on pain wise. I’ve had pain for the past year in my upper arms, bicep muscles. Mostly when I go to bed, almost immediately as I lie down. It’s started worsening and happening in different parts of my body now. I’m on a low dose Sertraline and at first I though it was a side effect.

I have had problem the past couple of years with a gradual pain in my right hand and nodules developing on the index finger top joint. I can’t close my hand especially in the morning. I have a trigger finger in the same hand fourth finger that keeps sticking.

Over the past 5-6 months, I’ve had a gradual build up of pain in my ankles (a diff kind of pain, like someone injecting me with burning hot acid) and I feel like they will snap (even although I know that’s impossible!) if I try to walk down stairs. Mostly when I get up out of a lying down position.

My wrists burn with the same kind of pain. Both wrists. My arms have a different pain like deep aching.

2 weeks ago my right knee swelled up in bed during the night and caused unbelievable pain which woke me and made me sit up (not cramps at all). Pain, then I rubbed my knee and saw it was filled with fluid and felt like a memory foam pillow.

It went after two days.

I don’t know if it’s linked but I have 4 or 5 pea sized lumps in different places in my body. Under my left arm, in the bingo wing area if that makes sense!! Although I haven’t got a bingo wing!! 😁 one in my stomach are which just appeared a week ago along with a bruise and I don’t remember bashing it.

Also in my shoulder, had it 2 years.

I’ve also had major eye probs the last 6 months. PVD’s flashing lights - linked to detaching vitreous and diagnosed with dry eye syndrome. Poss not related to anything.

This morning I woke with a pain in the right side back of my head at the bottom. I touched it and it felt sore as if I’d banged into a door! But I hadn’t.

I’ve had a pain running from

My right hip down through my calf, which feels like sciatic, although I’ve never had sciatica. Again might not be linked. It comes and goes, mostly comes when I drive, sit at my desk or lie down in my bed.

Phew!! I think that’s it mostly.

Oh and I can’t make myself get out of bed until 11 or 12. And I can’t sleep u til 3 or sometimes later.

I also get a hot flush that raises my heart level to 120-150 in seconds and I can’t move I feel drained like a spider has sucked the life out of an insect. Sorry but that’s the only description I can think of!! It lasts a few seconds and the only thing I run for is a drink of cold water or milk and it seems to take it away instantly. Doc said that’s something to do with my vagus nerve.

Ok, that’s it now I think!!!

My doc has done various blood tests that have come back negative. A different doc I hadn’t spoken to before just read my notes while I was on a phone call to her and said she’s diagnosing me with Fibromyalgia.

I also just spoke with a friend I know who has that and after sending her the above info she said she doesn’t think I have fibromyalgia. I’m hoping I can maybe get some answers here. I would appreciate any thoughts on this.

Many thanks

[Jjflash]

Hiya,you're really struggling.You could try a tens machine that can be placed all over the body but the best solution I can think of is to call NHS direct.You won't have to see a GP or visit a hospital but if you tell them your symptoms,they might be able to diagnose you from what you're describing and point you in the right direction.Best of luck.

[lizmitchell1959]

Hi there, have been reading your post and i feel like your twin with your descriptions of pain etc.

I also dont go to bed until around 5am and still waken every couple of hours. Can get up until at least 1pm, dont make early appointments etc as i just cant do it any more. I do take quite a lot of meds but i still have pain which is widespread.

Take care

[Konagirl60]

Could this be polymyalgia rheumatica?

Have you had connective tissue inflammation markers tested like C-reactive protein, ESR, Prolocalcitonin ( PCT ) etc?

I think your cortisol level needs measuring and blood sugar levels to. Have they ruled out anemia?

Are you truly depressed? Could you just be anxious because of these unusual pains?

See a rheumatologist. Sertraline can make anxiety worse. You may need a steroid medication instead.

[cyberbarn]

I would second asking to see a rheumatologist. Fibromyalgia is a lazy diagnoses that doctors use when they can't be bothered to find out what is really going on.

[Batty1]

Do you have thyroid problems and if so post your results with the ranges and have you ever been tested for Rheumatoid Arthritis or any kind of Arthritis?

[Darkin]

If this is suspected , or in part PMR, your Doctor should have given you a blood test to determine over sactive immune system resulting in exessive inflammation. I suffered bad pain in both my upper arms blood test confirmed very high inflammation level. I was prescribed Predisolone , a steriod immune suppressor which completly stopped all pain almost immediatly. Truly a miracle drug ! Indeed if the preds. dont relieve the pain this is s sure indication you dont have PMG. What have you got to lose trying it.