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Suggest Treatment For Digestion Issues, Fibromyalgia And Arthritis Of Knee
Question: My Rheumatologist for fibromyalgia and arthritis of knee used an ultrasound to see if I had done any damage to my knee or upper arm from falling. I am concerned because 3 years ago I fell down stairs and broke collarbone, then a year after that I just fell in a room and popped my shoulder out of place, last Sep. I missed bottom stair and broke my foot(fifth metatarsal :-() which required NWB for three months and in the last month and one half I have fallen 5 times hurting my knee and arm. Today, just when I was starting to feel better from last fall, I tried to move my cat off our stair and fell down 12 stairs reinjuring my knee. I do have a PT appt. for Thursday to evaluate my balance and possibly get some exercises but I am worried that I might have some neurological problem. I live in XXXXXXX where MS is very common. I don't know if fibromyalgia increases falls (my doc did not seem to think so) Do you think I should see a Neurologist? I should mention that I have worked in the medical field for 30 years but am now disabled for fibromyalgia, multiple digestion issues (main reason) and the arthritis. I tell you about my medical experienceso if you want to use words in your response that a non medical person might not understand, that is fine.
Brief Answer:
Yes, see a neurologist
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic. Yes, it would be a good idea to see a neurologist. That is far too many falls; an evaluation as to the reason why this is happening is critical. Balance problems can be caused by a variety of problems, many if not most of which may be neurological. Peripheral neuropathy affecting the feet, especially with loss of proprioception, could be one possibility. Central lesions, such as in the brain, including particularly the cerebellum, or in the spinal cord are other possibilities. Inner ear problems, which could be neurological or structural, may upset balance. An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist may be needed in that case, but a neurologist would be able to distinguish whether the problems is more likely to be ENT or neuro.
Fibromyalgia is unlikely to cause such problems, but MS is certainly a possibility. Also problems with your eyes/vision that might be subtle but perhaps detectable by an ophthalmologist.
Your best bet is to start with the neurologist. If a neurological problem is ruled out, then you might need to follow up with an ENT or ophthalmologist. Keep your appointment with PT to get their input.
Hope this answers your query. If you have further questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Yes, see a neurologist
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic. Yes, it would be a good idea to see a neurologist. That is far too many falls; an evaluation as to the reason why this is happening is critical. Balance problems can be caused by a variety of problems, many if not most of which may be neurological. Peripheral neuropathy affecting the feet, especially with loss of proprioception, could be one possibility. Central lesions, such as in the brain, including particularly the cerebellum, or in the spinal cord are other possibilities. Inner ear problems, which could be neurological or structural, may upset balance. An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist may be needed in that case, but a neurologist would be able to distinguish whether the problems is more likely to be ENT or neuro.
Fibromyalgia is unlikely to cause such problems, but MS is certainly a possibility. Also problems with your eyes/vision that might be subtle but perhaps detectable by an ophthalmologist.
Your best bet is to start with the neurologist. If a neurological problem is ruled out, then you might need to follow up with an ENT or ophthalmologist. Keep your appointment with PT to get their input.
Hope this answers your query. If you have further questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you...I do have my yearly eye appt. tomorrow and I will definitely address this issue. I may have to see a orthopedist as I think I have real screwed up mry knee(it keeps collapsing) and is really hurting even after taken vicodin (my script prn for fibromyalgia pain)
I will schedule a neurologist appt asap. We are also going to add railings to both sides of stairs. Ironically we live in a multi-level townhome with 28 stairs. I am lucky I have not broken more than a collarbone and foot! But I am really hurting as I can't even bend my knee... and need to get to the bottom of this.
I failed to mention that I have a benign brain tumor (dermoid was the specialists best guess) which they think I was born with. Showed up in 1983 with double vision with no symptoms since. I went through the ringer with Tomograms, CT Scans and a dozen MRIs over the years but have needed no care. It still sits there near my optic nerve. Maybe it is affecting something. I hope not.
I am a walking medical mess.....God knows I don't need this problem. I pray it is not MS. I have had vertigo in my 20'a with inner ear problems but this is not it.
I am not dizzy at all. I have no neuropathy or foot issues. I am hoping it is just balance issues with old age.
Just wanted to thank you. Please let me know if you have any thoughts on the above.
XXXX
I will schedule a neurologist appt asap. We are also going to add railings to both sides of stairs. Ironically we live in a multi-level townhome with 28 stairs. I am lucky I have not broken more than a collarbone and foot! But I am really hurting as I can't even bend my knee... and need to get to the bottom of this.
I failed to mention that I have a benign brain tumor (dermoid was the specialists best guess) which they think I was born with. Showed up in 1983 with double vision with no symptoms since. I went through the ringer with Tomograms, CT Scans and a dozen MRIs over the years but have needed no care. It still sits there near my optic nerve. Maybe it is affecting something. I hope not.
I am a walking medical mess.....God knows I don't need this problem. I pray it is not MS. I have had vertigo in my 20'a with inner ear problems but this is not it.
I am not dizzy at all. I have no neuropathy or foot issues. I am hoping it is just balance issues with old age.
Just wanted to thank you. Please let me know if you have any thoughts on the above.
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Good to take precautions
Detailed Answer:
Glad you are seeing the eye doctor tomorrow and certainly address the issue. If the dermoid lesion first presented with visual disturbances and it's near the optic nerve, I have to wonder if it is pressing more on the nerve and causing subtle changes in your depth perception. Be sure to ask the eye doctor and also see about getting your visual fields checked.
See an orthopedist for your knee. If it keeps giving way, it sounds like you may have done significant damage. In the face of your balance problems and the multilevel home, you are at real risk for even more serious falls.
As you know, older people are at high risk of severe falls, and putting in rails is an excellent idea. Also consider supports/handrails in the shower and bath. Keep your house well lighted and remove any loose rugs and other things that can cause you to slip. You can even get one of those XXXXXXX side-elevator chairs for the stairs so you can be transported up and down rather than walking (especially with that knee).
The only other thing I can think of is cardiac arrhythmias, but in that case I would expect that you might feel light-headed or even briefly pass out and that's what might cause a fall. Since you don't mention any symptoms like that, it's very unlikely but still something to keep in the back of your mind.
Hopefully it's just related to age, but no matter what, those precautions with railings etc are highly recommended. Best wishes for improved health.
Good to take precautions
Detailed Answer:
Glad you are seeing the eye doctor tomorrow and certainly address the issue. If the dermoid lesion first presented with visual disturbances and it's near the optic nerve, I have to wonder if it is pressing more on the nerve and causing subtle changes in your depth perception. Be sure to ask the eye doctor and also see about getting your visual fields checked.
See an orthopedist for your knee. If it keeps giving way, it sounds like you may have done significant damage. In the face of your balance problems and the multilevel home, you are at real risk for even more serious falls.
As you know, older people are at high risk of severe falls, and putting in rails is an excellent idea. Also consider supports/handrails in the shower and bath. Keep your house well lighted and remove any loose rugs and other things that can cause you to slip. You can even get one of those XXXXXXX side-elevator chairs for the stairs so you can be transported up and down rather than walking (especially with that knee).
The only other thing I can think of is cardiac arrhythmias, but in that case I would expect that you might feel light-headed or even briefly pass out and that's what might cause a fall. Since you don't mention any symptoms like that, it's very unlikely but still something to keep in the back of your mind.
Hopefully it's just related to age, but no matter what, those precautions with railings etc are highly recommended. Best wishes for improved health.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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