Random sharp pains

[bones-bones]

I have started getting what feel like red hot knitting needle jabs. Mostly in my legs but sometime in my arms. I have SS/ mixed connective tissue disease.

I assume it's temporary. Hope so !

[weathervane]

I have experienced that in the past particularly in my arms , I couldn't bear to be touched . I started taking lyrica and that made a big difference and i had first rituximab infusion in April. I put it down to secondary fibromyalgia, what do you think?? Ihope you have a happy new year x

[bones-bones in reply to weathervane]

Thank you for your reply. Well I was diagnosed With Sjogrens about 15 years ago. Only noticed because I had blood tests done for breast cancer. Saw the Rheumatologist yearly till he left and was replaced by someone who didn't have much experience of SS. Asked to be referred to an expert and luckily have seen her six monthly. Now they say I've got MCTD which I'd never heard of and I don't know which combination I've got . But I seem to be steadily getting worse.......weak muscles,painful joints, muddled head and balance problems. So here I am. I take Hydroxychloroquine , Mycophenolate and Amitriptyline and I suppose I just wait till I see what comes along next !

A Happy New Year to you too.

[weathervane in reply to bones-bones]

I get some of those probs as well at the moment my knees ,which have never really annoyed me , are very painful. Iif i can get myself motivated i have thought about tai chai as it is ment to be good for balance and maintaining range of movement. It can be difficult to get yourself going when you are so tired! Sending you good thoughts and best wishes for 2017 xx

[Beverly]

Do you have any other symptoms like numbness and tingling in your feet, legs, hands and arms.?

[bones-bones in reply to Beverly]

Yes I have peripheral neuropathy in both my feet. Sometimes in other places...coming and going. I take Amitriptyline for that and it helps a bit. My knees are also painful at the moment.

I suppose they are some of the joys of SS and MCTD.

Happy New Year. Just woken up here in the UK ?

[Hidden in reply to bones-bones]

Shooting pain is often part of peripheral neuropathy. I used to get this a lot in my hands and elsewhere when previously diagnosed with RA. I would say it's nearly always neuropathic and a sign that you have active Sjogrens small or large fibre neuropathy as part of your package. It was temporary (but memorably excruciating!) for me. Your description of it is perfect! I'm also being assessed for Scleroderma but I think I do have a very extra glandular type of Sjogrens rather than other connective tissue diseases.

My worst symptom presently is weakness in my arms and legs when resting. It polaxes me and means I often need help getting up in the mornings now. Really hoping Mycophenolate helps because I've tried all of the alternatives and was severely allergic!

We need more rheumatologists who specialise in Sjogrens I think.

MCTD is classed as a disease in its own right though I believe. It isn't the same as UCTD (undifferentiated ) because each disease in the mix is a distinct disease in its own right. It can often mean you have each more mildly though. Here's hoping eh 🙄

[tracyd59]

I have Primary Sjogren's and also Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I had a blood test (private) to check out my thyroid function a few weeks ago. I had started suffering from stabbing pains, and numbness, and pins and needles in my feet and wrists. This came on suddenly on Boxing Day last year 2016. The thyroid test showed that I was low in B12 and Vitamin D.

Upon getting the results I started taking big doses - 1000mcg of sublingual methylcobalamin B12 and 10,000 IU of Vitamin D, daily.

It's now 23rd Feb and those pains have gone. So I do wonder if my vitamin deficiencies played a part in the stabbing pains etc. All that remains is an occasional twinge in my right thumb but on a scale of 1 to 10, it's about 3. Other than that it's all good.

When we have two or more autoimmune issues going on it's hard to ascertain which symptoms apply to which disease. So it's possible that the stabbing pains related more to the Hashimoto's than the Sjogren's. Who knows? But upping the vitamins big time certainly helped in this instance. I hope you can get it sorted out and get some relief bones-bones.