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What Causes Large Joint Pains With Stiffness?

Posted on Tue, 1 Jul 2014

Question: About a month ago I experienced an aching pain where my thigh and pelvis joint meet. This caused aching of my right thigh. I could not get comfortable in bed at night without taking a pill for muscle pain. In a few days this same thing happened to my left leg with aching in my left thigh. Most pronounced at night. After a few days the aching spread to the rest of my legs and then to my upper arm muscles but so far not my lower arm muscles. The night is the worst for the aching and in the morning it takes a couple of hours to get moving but I still move very slowly. Tonight I am having a muscle spasm in my right calf. I don't imagine this is related but I have had a good deal of mucous in my bowel movements. I have had some days when I thought things were improving but this last few days they are getting worse. I am a 65 year old female with very good health otherwise. I get B12 shots every three weeks but have had no diseases or serious illness.

Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of polyarthritis

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

I have studied your case with diligence.

As per your symptoms there is possibility of pain due to polyarthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis may involve small joints and early morning stiffness in joints, do you have such complain?

When such patients come to our hospital I advise them blood test like RA factor, ACCP, ESR, complete blood count.
Another possibility may be due to compression of spinal nerve root there is pain in your back and leg. Along with this sacro-iliac joint may be involved.

I will advise you to do MRI spine
For these symptoms analgesic and neurotropic medication can be started.
Till time, avoid lifting weights, Sit with support to back. You can consult physiotherapist for help.
Physiotherapy like ultrasound and interferential therapy will give quick relief.
Continue your B12 supplement.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (8 hours later)

I have no pain in my back and my small joints don't trouble me. It is the large joints that are stiff and painful.

Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained below

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Large joint involvement with stiffness indicate atypical spondyloarthropathy/rheumatoid arthritis.

Can you do investigation advised by me ,we can discuss further after test results.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.

Take care.

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