Mystery Diagnosis

Updated on May 20, 2008
S.J. asks from Hyde Park, MA
15 answers

hi everyone,

i have joint pain since childhood ( 4 years old). i usually have pain in my knee and elbow joint, my hands( the bones), and the muscles on my legs. the pains are so bad that it's painful to walk sometimes. when i was a child my mom would believe that it's probably a weather thing then would put something warm to ease the pain. then when i get older i realized that i would be in pain when I'm hungry. as soon as i eat something it would take a few minutes and the pains are gone, no pain at all.(as a child i was very picky and was under weight) if i haven't have enough sleep and haven't eat right for a couple of days the pain start. i would pee a lot and often, and i would feel hungry, hungry and hungry it won't matter how much i eat. that's when i know that i need to rest and eat better. i spoke to several doctors none of them could tell me what's wrong with me. i've had x-ray's done and the result were good. the doctors told me to take pain killers and eat well and that's it! i've learn to live with it. it's just bogging me not knowing what is wrong with me. and I'm scared that it might turn worst as I'm getting older. i don't want it to be too late for me. I'm scared that it might be something very bad. the mystery diagnosis tv show wake me up and make me realized that i have to find out what's going on with me. unfortunately i don't have a good insurance so it makes it hard for me to do. so if anyone have the same problem let me know or give some ideas how i could find out. thanks.
One more thing i have gain a lot of weight after my pregnancy, so right now I'm on a diet ( i hate exercising, it feels like I'm dying when i do so). and I'm having pain. the diet is working and i don't have any problem doing it but my body can't. I'm in pain( joint and bone) and i feel so unenergized all the time.

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So What Happened?

i would love to send to each of you a thank you note to show my gratitude but i can't do it because it will take too much time. so please receive those flowers from the link of mamasource. i haven't start with anything yet but I'll take every advice that you guys gave me in consideration. i've got several suggestion about fibromyalgia and i have a lot of the symptoms so I'll check it out. thanks a lot

Featured Answers

L.L.

answers from Fort Myers on

Very interesting---case. Have you looked up fibromyalgia ? Also, with the food and pain. Look up food allergies and food intolerances. My daughter has similar pains when eating foods like corn, tomato, casein products. Google this information and read up on this. You can be tested by an allergist for the possiblity of allergies and perhaps an allergist an detect the bone issues too.............Good Luck, Keep searching-------------

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A.G.

answers from Punta Gorda on

Exercise is not a bad thing, even if you find dun exercise like walking your son to the park instead of driving, or pushing him in the stroller around the mall. Sometimes inactivity can be a cause. As far as the pain... If you don't want to take pain medicine, because it is hard to function, my husband had ACL replacement on his knee and still has pain especially when he golfs Saturday morning and plays softball saturday night. He uses a latacain sp? patch that is very affordable, we don't have insurance as well, that he puts directly on the spot of the pain which helps. Also you may want to read up on Fybro Myalga sp? that has a lot of enexplained pain as a symptom. I am not familiar with it but I knew some people who have been bed ridden for days from the pain realted to fybro myalga and then had no pain for weeks at a time. Trust your own instincts, and don't feel bad about asking questions of more than one Dr.

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D.A.

answers from Tampa on

Sarah,

A number of ailments effect bones and joints. When you do have insurance, the right type of doctor to go to is called a Rheumatologist. I have some of the pain you describe, and it might help to go to medical sites like www.webmd.com, and look them up. Read about them, and see which one seems most like you. There is an ailment called fibromyalgia which tends to cause pain in 18 specific areas of the body. Sometimes it is mild, but there are those patients that report it as severe. There is also the most known ailment: rheumatoid arthritis. A lot of people know about this, but also don't realize that you can take medication to slow down the cripling effects of the disease. There is also osteoarthritis, myasthenia gravis, lupus,and chronic fatigue syndrome. Your best bet is a good doctor visit. Many ailments effecting the joints can be diagnosed with a specific blood test.

D. A., RN, Ph.D.

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S.D.

answers from Fort Myers on

Hi Sarah; I feel like I just read the story of my life. As a child I would lay in bed at night & cry from the pain in my legs. My parents would take me to the doctor and he would say "don't worry about it, it is just growing pains". Any way I have dealt with the aches and pains most of my life and also the weight gain. I was introduced to the Herbalife products a couple of years ago and started taking them. I could not believe the difference in my health. I have lost over 70 lbs. & feel better than I have in years. There is also a product called joint support that has helped my pain a lot. I have had one knee replacement and was scheduled for the other knee last summer. When I went for my presurgery checkup. The doctor looked at my Xrays and said are you still taking the Herbalife products? I told him I was and he said "keep taking them, your knee is so much better you do not need surgery and do not need to come back for a check up for 2 years unless you start to have pain again. I became a Herbalife supervisor/distributor shortly after starting the products because I saw how great the products were. I was also on blood pressure meds for over 40 years. I am now completey off them and the doctor says my blood pressure is that of a teen ager and keep taking the products. Herbalife is not a cure all but when you get good nutrition your body can help heal itself. Our products are all natural and do not interfer with any medications. If you are interested in a catalog and or a sample pack I would be glad to get one to you. You can contact me at ###-###-####. I would be glad to visit with you if you are interested in hearing more. S.

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K.B.

answers from Lakeland on

Great ideas below with responses, I second them. Plus, look into natural remedies for your issues to free your body of toxins for everything including the pain drugs. I have a product to boost your overall health, since we all need that with our overprocessed foods,etc. Overall supplement that my family has used with great success is Zija, all the Vitamins Minerals Amino Acids,etc that we need in a day in one can. Safe for pregnant women, infants - everyone. They make it from a plant called the miracle tree. Here is my website: www.myzija.com/katbranch
Also, a company called Native Remedies has products to help with every kind of elment. Best of luck in your Healthful Journey.

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V.C.

answers from Tampa on

Definitely do what you can for a diagnosis. You shouldn't be in pain of any type.
Now might be the time to seek alternative therapy though. Like Lynn said, chiropractic may help. Also, acupuncture, massage, etc. You may need to see a holistic doctor for a true diagnosis. My mom has had good luck with Dr. Wunderlich in St. Pete. He is a medical doctor who is also holistic. Depending on the type of insurance you have, you may be able to get reimbursed for out of network benefits for some treatments.
Honestly, it almost sounds like you may have food allergies. You may want to examine your diet and start eliminating things to see if you get some relief. There are great books and online articles about the best way to test for this, but the major allergens to try and eliminate are dairy, corn, wheat and eggs (I am sure there are a couple of more, but I can't think of them!). I found out after seeing a holistic doctor and having a blood test for food allergies that I am allergic to dairy and egg whites. If you have a food allergy, you may not have typical allergic reactions like hives or whatever. It may be affecting you internally and once the allergen builds up, then it causes you symptoms. This is the way I am with lactose free dairy.
Good luck!

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N.K.

answers from Tampa on

After years of hip pain, low energy and being heavy, I found that Cell Food has given me back my life. I sleep great, have plenty of energy to go all day and am able to maintain my weight. Check out www.cell-food.biz for more information. It was a life saver for me! Good luck!!

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L.S.

answers from Tampa on

I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend that you see a chiropractor. The one I'm seeing is Dr. Pierce on 62nd Ave in Pinellas Park. I personally know people that travel from Tampa and even Bradenton to see him. You can call ahead and talk to them about what insurance you have and what the cost will be. You can also talk to them about a payment plan. Their number is ###-###-####. They'll know what your insurance covers.

I was in a car wreck in Feb. and that's how I started seeing them. When they first started treating me I was badly out of allignment. But he told me some of my problem was there before my wreck. At first I didn't know what he meant because I was hurting so much from the wreck. Now that those pains are starting to go away, I'm feeling the ones I felt before the wreck. So now I'm seeing what he was talking about.

I would ache soooooo much in my joints. Most of it was in my hips. There are two spots on my back that I could hardly touch without them hurting. Honestly, I was so clueless about the body with that kind of thing that I thought it was normal. And it was weird because when it got bad, I would feel hungry and I would eat. I always felt that I was just eating as a way to comfort myself when I'm not feeling better. But now I wonder if it's something to do with my back and being out of allignment for so many years.

I've learned SO much about the body since my accident. Being out of allignment can cause sooooo many problems. That's why chiropractors have helped so many people who have been to doctors that don't know what's wrong with them. They believe that you should always try a chiropractor first, then medicine, and then surgery. Chiropractors don't deny that there are times for medicine and surgery. They just believe that a chiropractor should be seen first.

I'm reading a book called, "Chiropractic First" by Terry A. Rondberg. It has really opened my eyes to how chiropractors do not get the respect the deserve. Regular doctors are taught to just treat the symptom with lots of medicine. Chiropractors are taught to get to the root of the problem. Of course there's still times when a regular doctor is needed. The book is full of examples of people who doctors gave up on or were taking medicine to keep them going. After visiting a chiropractor they ended up leading normal lives and many of them got completely off their medicine. The medicine treated the symptoms but once the chiropractor fixed the problem, they didn't need it.

The chiropractor I go to offers a free class. It's only an hour and I highly recommend you go to it. My husband and I went and my kids played in the back. They're very kid friendly and even treat kids. If you go to the one hour class they will give you 2 gift certificates for a free consultation. You can use that for yourself too. They also give out the book I'm reading for free.

I used to assume that chiropractors just help with joints and bones. But they are MUCH more than that. Please go check them out. If it's not possible to see them just find one in your area.

L.

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S.V.

answers from Tampa on

Sarah,

First, I want you to know that this comes from the heart. My passion is helping people, and I know that I have something that will help you. It is all about nutrition, and being healthy. I have seen it happen - please check out www.weightlosshalloffame.net and www.isaresults.com. We are doctor recommended and supported. If you want to learn more please contact me directly and we can talk about your needs and how we can work together to get you the results you are looking for.

S.
CoachShandra.com
###-###-####

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D.F.

answers from Tampa on

Have you checked the symptoms for Fibromyalgia? Perhaps it could be your muscles instead of the actual bones causing pain. Go to webmd.com and see if there might be some answers there.

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S.D.

answers from Sarasota on

Hi Sarah,

Conditions like you describe are often treated effectively with Natural Health Care. I have a private consulting practice to help clients evaluate the state of their health and to advise them of what measures to take to improve it. Recommendations are for your individual case. My rates are reasonable. I try to develop a program that is simple and cost effective.
Give me a call if you would like to follow up. I am listed among the advertisers on this site as Libra Natural Health Consulting. Best wishes, S.

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K.B.

answers from Tampa on

Hi S.,

you should seek alternate medical advice. i do not know what part of town you live in but i would like to give you my dr's phone number. i believe he is the BEST dr around and has been able to identify health problems with me that no other dr has even mentioned just by talking to me and knowing what is going on in my life. his name is Jeremy McConnell (make sure to make an appointment with him, i like the other dr's but i only see them if i am really sick and can not wait until i can get an appt with Dr McConnell) he is at Patients First Family Medicine his number is ###-###-#### they are in West Chase. good luck, i will pray for you, God Bless!

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J.S.

answers from Tampa on

One of my close friends has fibromyalgia and she has symptoms that sound a lot like yours. I know she hasn't had very much success with drug treatments over the years but she is now doing something called SET therapy and thinks it is starting to help. She says she feels better when she exercises too. May be worth mentioning to your DRs.

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M.D.

answers from Tampa on

Please sweetie, seek other avenues..perhaps a holistic approach, there might be something bothering you inside and sometimes it causes us to react in strange ways. The body & the mind need to work together in order for you to get better and stay on a healthy path to living. No one wants to get older & have pain. So, get 2nd opinions, go the earthly way. Some herbs to calm you, perhaps chamomile tea, or green tea which aids as a diaretic & losing weight. Go the healthy way Sarah, the natural you will never go wrong. My Grandmother& Grandfather, Mom & Dad instilled those olden remedies into me which always helps everyone. Just believe in yourself no matter what, think positive & you will be fine hon. Take care, many blessings of light being sent to you..btw..I can relate because I had a similiar lifestyle, but changed my ways to make myself healthy! Make some energy shakes with soy, and buy a book on being healthy by eating right, you can do it my sister! "Dohiyi" {peace}...FreeSpiritRunning...aka Shell

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R.W.

answers from Tampa on

Have the doctor check your thyroid. I know from experience it can cause joint pain along with lots of other things. Also it's possible that you have fibromyalgia. In all cases you should exercise. I found with exercise that joint pain isn't so bad, it actually helps it. My daughter had joint pains and the doctors kept saying it was growing pains. Ended up it was the allergy medicine that they had her on that was causing the pains.
Good Luck!

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