Newly diagnosed w/ LupusHorrible shooting Pain!!

Hi Amanda I had a similar experience and the pain was finally diagnosed two years later as gall stones. I recently had my gall bladder removed and have not had the pain since. Have it checked out.

Hi,

It could be nerve pain. This is a classic area for Shingles to hit. And yes, you can have Shingles pain without the rash! Have you had Chicken pox, if so this is a likely answer as Shingles can manifest when an individual is 'low' as in an immuno-compromised condition. Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system goes a bit wonky and mad, and attacks itself and the body. It leaves the sufferer open to more infections than healthy people, and in this case a prior episode of Chicken pox in an immune system that is not functioning properly will allow the causative virus lying dormant in nerve endings to easily flare up as Shingles. 

It might be worth a trip to your GP/Doc to discuss this and perhaps get some anti-viral medications.

Best wishes.

Hi Amanda - so sorry to hear about your pain.  Has a neurologist checked to see if this is a neuropathic pain of some sort?  At minimum a neurologist should evaluate you for any pinched nerves or spinal disc problems thru MRI. This sounds like nerve path causing these shooting pains when you move in certain ways.  i have been diagnosed with lupus 5yrs.after I presented with pain very much like yours but over my rt. abd. to rt. back that turned out to be a peripheral neuropathy of unknown origin but everything else had to be ruled out first by neurologists.  They very well may be able to help you.

Finally get yourself to a doctor that specifically deals with pain control.  If your pain has lasted over 3mos.there are meds other than narcotics that help severe pain.  They can help you to get sleep, control your pain without prednisone, and help with your depression and anxiety (and You have every right to have both).. Finally you have to be direct about your meds and treatment.  If a medication is not convincingly helping don't stay on it.  I've been on and off of Cellcept, plaquinal, and the IV meds.  Sometime the only thing that helps is Aleve.  

You poor girl!  You're going thru a terrible time!  You can write any time. 

Wow!! Thank you for the replies. I didn't think I would get any and so I am just seeing them. I ended up having to go to the ER because of the pain. I didn't want to do this for fear of being labeled a drug seeker, but I actually hate pain meds. It doesn't take away the pain, it just makes my skin feel like play-doh lol. They tested blood, took x-rays and I had a CT-Scan. That was almost impossible bc I had to lift my right arm up over my head. The doctor barged in my ER room and poked and prodded on me and said, "ya probably got a pulled muscle. I'll give you a script for a muscle relaxer and pain relief." I stopped him and told him I have had pulled muscles before and this is definitely not it. He looked at me and said, well you're not going to die. Then walked out. I PROMISE he said that. So mad!! Well, the next day I was able to get in to see my rheumatologist. They took more blood and said, "Lupus is a funny disease." I told him I have had no rash, no swelling, nothing. So I am waiting to hear back from them about my blood work. I am friends with a highly respected neurologist here in Mobile so I am going to ask him what specialty should I try next. Once again, thank you for the great advice.

Would you recommend a heating pad or ice?? I'm desperate for some relief.