Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Severe Joint Pain In Elbows And Knees
Question: My 28 year old daughter has had a sudden onset two days ago of severe joint pain (particularly elbows and knees) accompanied by some numbness in limbs and bad stomach pain. Her doctor is currently doing blood work but seems baffled by the symptoms. Do you have any suggestions as to what to look at?
Brief Answer:
Acute onset arthritis
Detailed Answer:
Good evening
Thank you for writing on health care magic
Well, the sort of symptoms you are describing does look like a start of some form of infection affecting the joints and the stomach considering it s only a 2 day history. I would like to ask you a few more questions before giving you the differential diagnosis:
1. Is there any swelling of the joints or is it just pain?
2. Does she have any rash ?
3. ANy vomiting /fever/ loose stools?Currently or in the past?
4. Any such episodes in the past? Or did she have mild joint pains going on previously?
Considering your location, it is very important to rule out Lymes disease as the joint involvement she is having is not symmetrical. The other provisional diagnosis would be REactive arthritis( post infectious) which is usually self limiting. But never the less, I would like to look at the blood reports of ESR< CRP, Rheumatoid FActor and Anti CCP antibody
Do let me know these queries. Will help me near my diagnosis
Regards
Dr Naval
Acute onset arthritis
Detailed Answer:
Good evening
Thank you for writing on health care magic
Well, the sort of symptoms you are describing does look like a start of some form of infection affecting the joints and the stomach considering it s only a 2 day history. I would like to ask you a few more questions before giving you the differential diagnosis:
1. Is there any swelling of the joints or is it just pain?
2. Does she have any rash ?
3. ANy vomiting /fever/ loose stools?Currently or in the past?
4. Any such episodes in the past? Or did she have mild joint pains going on previously?
Considering your location, it is very important to rule out Lymes disease as the joint involvement she is having is not symmetrical. The other provisional diagnosis would be REactive arthritis( post infectious) which is usually self limiting. But never the less, I would like to look at the blood reports of ESR< CRP, Rheumatoid FActor and Anti CCP antibody
Do let me know these queries. Will help me near my diagnosis
Regards
Dr Naval
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your response. As far as I know there is no swelling or rash involved so far - just pain and the numbness (which is the most baffling and concerning to me). She did say that last night she thought she might throw up, but she didn't. And she has had a small episode of diarrhea, nothing constant or severe.
She has always had some continual joint pain as a result of years of competitive volleyball, which she was finally forced to quit due to constant severe knee pain in particular. She has lived with that residual pain since, but this pain is way beyond what she experiences on a daily basis.
Thank you for your assistance!
She has always had some continual joint pain as a result of years of competitive volleyball, which she was finally forced to quit due to constant severe knee pain in particular. She has lived with that residual pain since, but this pain is way beyond what she experiences on a daily basis.
Thank you for your assistance!
Brief Answer:
Acute onset ARthritis
Detailed Answer:
Good evening
Thank you for your reply
Well, the sort of pain and severe numbness you are describing along with stomach aches, is infact very unsual. Considering it is only 2 days, there is a good chance if we hit the disease hard it will get better
Well, the thing with reactive arthritis and Lyme disease is no numbness. They mostly cause pain.
These sort of symptoms do go in with VAsculitis( inflammation of blood vessels). I would suggest you discuss with your GP about this possibility. Examination is always a superior way but from history this is another diagnosis I can conclude.
Just make sure they do the ESR, CRP. ALso carry out a quick NCV studies to check for the numbness she is having, is it due to nerve inflammation or some other factor. A CT Scan of the abdomen would be needed as well.
I would suggest in all probability, rule out the possibility of Polyarteritis Nodosa( A sort of vasculitis). You can put this possibility in back of the GPs head, so he make s sure he has ruled it out.
Do let me know for more queries
REgards
Dr Naval
Acute onset ARthritis
Detailed Answer:
Good evening
Thank you for your reply
Well, the sort of pain and severe numbness you are describing along with stomach aches, is infact very unsual. Considering it is only 2 days, there is a good chance if we hit the disease hard it will get better
Well, the thing with reactive arthritis and Lyme disease is no numbness. They mostly cause pain.
These sort of symptoms do go in with VAsculitis( inflammation of blood vessels). I would suggest you discuss with your GP about this possibility. Examination is always a superior way but from history this is another diagnosis I can conclude.
Just make sure they do the ESR, CRP. ALso carry out a quick NCV studies to check for the numbness she is having, is it due to nerve inflammation or some other factor. A CT Scan of the abdomen would be needed as well.
I would suggest in all probability, rule out the possibility of Polyarteritis Nodosa( A sort of vasculitis). You can put this possibility in back of the GPs head, so he make s sure he has ruled it out.
Do let me know for more queries
REgards
Dr Naval
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
