Constant pain in different joints
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi Guys, I’m here to hopefully get some advice and peoples thoughts around the attacks I am getting.
In Oct 2017 I was taken to hospital as I basically could not walk, over the period of Sat afternoon to the late evening I started to get pain in both knees, it was sore at first but by night time I was in so much pain I was almost crying, my right knee was warm to the touch and was the most affected, I basically needed crutches to walk, bending the knees and sitting down was like someone stabbing me all over the knee area, on a scale of 1-10 (10 being cut it off) it was a 9.
I was given morphine which didn’t really work, had x-rays and blood taken, was sent home and put on tramadol for a week, over the space of 3-5 days the pain had virtually gone.
I made an appointment to see my docs and after reviewing the blood levels they said my uric acid levels were slightly raised, I was sent away and put on naproxen for a few months. Oct – Dec the pain started to form in different parts of my body, it would range from both or just one wrist hurting, not really painful but enough to make it unconfutable, it would last for either 12/24 hours then a few days later I would get the pain back in either my left or right shoulder joint, same would happen, last for 12/24 hours then nothing for a few days, the pain would then go into my fingers, there was no noticeable swelling around the knees or shoulder, however my fingers and wrists were slightly noticeable. The pain was nothing like when I went to hospital, it is just unconfutable. This went on for 4/6 weeks, I finally got an appointment at the Doctors and explained the joint pain was affecting my wrists/shoulders/fingers, it would typically last a day then a few days later it would pop up somewhere else. I was then seen by a specialist who put me on allopurinol (100mg daily) to be honest the NHS (UK) is shocking and I felt the doctor just wanted me in and out as fast as possible.
I was on allopurinol for approximately 5 weeks and the pain I was having before was roughly the same, always seemed to be moving from wrists – fingers to shoulders, occasionally had a little pain in the knee, it would last max 24 hours then a few days later pop up again, if lucky I might go 5 days with no pain. I decided to come off the allopurinol which im now regretting as I have seen it can take months and months for it to build up to fight off the pain. This weekend just gone my left wrist and little finger was quite sore with noticeable swelling on the finger, it then went to my right ankle which was noticeably swollen and felt like is was twisted/sprained, the pain then went to my right elbow and last night I could barely lift a fork as the pain was shooting down the right forearm. This morning the swelling in the right fingers and has gone, swelling around the right ankle has almost gone but is still a bit stiff but the right side of my arm/elbow and wrist is still there, not as painful as yesterday but sill there. I’ve tried to make another appointment with the specialist, next date 28th of September.
I have NEVER suffered with any pain in the big toe area which seems to be the place if you have gout attacks, mine seem to attack different joints that I have mentioned above and only last a short while before affecting elsewhere. Is there anyone here who experiences similar pain and attack levels, I really need to start thinking long term now about diet, cutting out fizzy drinks, hitting the gym and loosing weight, I am going to go back on allopurinol and give it more time, I have read think water intake is important, something I don’t drink enough of, I have also seen cherry juice is meant to be good. Please reply if you can advise on what I am experiencing or if you can provide any helpful suggestions. By the way I am a 40yr old Male, 6’6 and 280lbs,
0 likes, 2 replies
jx41870 Orsm
Posted
Orsm, sorry to hear of your problems. Please look into pseudo-gout. I think the symptoms that differentiate if from regular gout are the "traveling" from joint to joint, as you describe.
I've had regular gout, and it responds to gout medicines and diet, and started in the big toes.
I've had pseudo-gout, that started in other joints, and moves around like that, and does NOT seem to respond to medicines or diet.
UNFORTUNATELY there is no real treatment for pseudo-gout, it's supposed to clear by itself in a week or so, so take it easy, maybe follow the gout diet for good luck, and hope for the best. At least talk to the doctors about it.
Cherry juice has never helped me with either gout or pseudo-gout. Celery seed (or fresh celery, and plenty of it!) *does* help with regular gout, and has gotten my uric acid levels way down - along with diet! NO FRESH FISH! No hummus. Lot of "healthy" things you shouldn't eat, because of gout.
Wulongheyot Orsm
Posted
Orsm,
Sorry to hear about all the pain you're going through. I definitely know the feeling. At the peek of my issue, I was getting an attack overlapping almost every week. Mine started in the big tow, then migrated to the other two, then then the knew, elbow, the bone on top of my foot, eventually started doing crazy things like right tow, right knee at the same time. So I know all about the crutches. But I never experienced anything in the fingers, angles, shoulders etc. but everyone is different. Im curious, are you attacks swelling the joints? I noticed from having severe attacks over several months, even during the time I wasn't having an attack my foot would be a an entire shoe size larger. My knee attacks would also be crazy swollen. I mention this, because almost every-time I visited the doctor the main medicine I would be prescribed was an anti inflammatory. And you mentioned your doc prescribed you tramadol, which isn't a NSAID (non-inflamatory). Based off of that information, and the fact you're talking about shoulder pain, maybe your attacks aren't gout related? Just a thought. Again, just basing this off of my experience. Every 'full blown' attack I've had was accompanied by major swelling. But, you know you're body/experience best. With that being said, I wanted you to know, as I said early I was getting attacks back-to-back. And I tried everything. I systematically cut out meats, alcohol, etc. But still didn't help. I had all sorts of blood work done, medical visits, on several medications, still didn't work. I found the #1 thing that was causing it for me was caffeine. I was a 6 cups a day kind a guy. But now, sadly, I'm purely decaff. and I haven't had an attack for months! It's the first time in 25 years I've been gout free for three consecutive months. (this fact is also being off of all medications). Caffeine was the last thing I tried cutting out. So hopefully that info gives you a place to start. PS, I still eat lots of meat, I drink liquor, wine, beer, but zero caffeine. What ever it is that may be causing it, I hope you find it soon.