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What Causes Pain And Swelling In Foot With Family History Of Arthritis?
Question: I am a 50 year old female with no history of heart trouble or chronic illness. I am about 50 pounds overweight and moderately active. I stopped smoking a month ago and am determined never to start again.
For the past several weeks, I've been experiencing really bad foot and ankle pain. My ankles swell like crazy (especially the left one) and now over the past two weeks, I have a rash that starts at my big toe and comes up over my arch, then down and around my ankles (both feet). Around the ankles it turns into tiny red bumps. Sometimes I feel extreme pain in my left heel to the point that I can barely walk. (At first I thought it might be athlete's foot so I treated it with Lotrimin Extreme but that really did nothing but smooth out the bumps. When I don't use it, it comes right back.
Also, I have a pain in my chest that feels like a muscle strain but I'm beginning to wonder if these things are related. The pain in my chest has gone on now for about as long as the feet rashes. The location is right in the center of my chest. If turn a certain way, it's a stabbing pain that makes me jump, which is what makes me think it's a muscle. But also if I press on it, it hurts as well. I'm breathing fine but I can feel that something isn't right. Last time I checked my blood pressure, it was at the pre-hypertension level.
Over the past week, my fingers become tingly and numb at time too.
This morning I was reading about psoriatic arthritus and it seems like I have ALL of those symptoms. We have all kinds of arthritus in our family. My mother has osteo really badly and she also has rheumatoid arthritis. No diabetes.
For the past several weeks, I've been experiencing really bad foot and ankle pain. My ankles swell like crazy (especially the left one) and now over the past two weeks, I have a rash that starts at my big toe and comes up over my arch, then down and around my ankles (both feet). Around the ankles it turns into tiny red bumps. Sometimes I feel extreme pain in my left heel to the point that I can barely walk. (At first I thought it might be athlete's foot so I treated it with Lotrimin Extreme but that really did nothing but smooth out the bumps. When I don't use it, it comes right back.
Also, I have a pain in my chest that feels like a muscle strain but I'm beginning to wonder if these things are related. The pain in my chest has gone on now for about as long as the feet rashes. The location is right in the center of my chest. If turn a certain way, it's a stabbing pain that makes me jump, which is what makes me think it's a muscle. But also if I press on it, it hurts as well. I'm breathing fine but I can feel that something isn't right. Last time I checked my blood pressure, it was at the pre-hypertension level.
Over the past week, my fingers become tingly and numb at time too.
This morning I was reading about psoriatic arthritus and it seems like I have ALL of those symptoms. We have all kinds of arthritus in our family. My mother has osteo really badly and she also has rheumatoid arthritis. No diabetes.
Brief Answer:
Blood test required to rule out/confirm arthritis
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for posting
After going through the detailed description of your suffering with family history of arthritis my advice for you would be get yourself checked for arthritis profile like serum RA factor, serum uric acid, ANA factor,Anti CCP antibody test, complete blood picture with CRP (c reactive protein).
The pain and swelling in feet could be because of gouty arthritis in this serum uric acid is raised. The cause of chest pain may be costochondritis that is Inflammation at the site of rib attachment to sternum (breast bone), but it advisable to get ECG done as you are hypertensive to rule out heart problem/disease.
Tingling and numbness is common in patient with hypothyroidism for which you are taking tablet synthroid, because of nerve compression (median nerve) at wrist leading to a carpal tunnel syndrome.
In psoriasis there are silvery scales all over body prior to multiple joint involvements. Psoriatic arthritis can also cause inflammation of the spine (spondylitis) and the sacrum, causing pain and stiffness in the low back, buttocks, neck, and upper back. In about 50% of those with spondylitis, the genetic marker HLA-B27 can be found. Do you have above feature?
Hope this information suffices and I shall be glad to answer any further query.
Take care and wish you good health
Regards
Dr.chugh, Orthopaedic surgeon
Virtual clinic address http://bit.ly/drmchugh
Blood test required to rule out/confirm arthritis
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for posting
After going through the detailed description of your suffering with family history of arthritis my advice for you would be get yourself checked for arthritis profile like serum RA factor, serum uric acid, ANA factor,Anti CCP antibody test, complete blood picture with CRP (c reactive protein).
The pain and swelling in feet could be because of gouty arthritis in this serum uric acid is raised. The cause of chest pain may be costochondritis that is Inflammation at the site of rib attachment to sternum (breast bone), but it advisable to get ECG done as you are hypertensive to rule out heart problem/disease.
Tingling and numbness is common in patient with hypothyroidism for which you are taking tablet synthroid, because of nerve compression (median nerve) at wrist leading to a carpal tunnel syndrome.
In psoriasis there are silvery scales all over body prior to multiple joint involvements. Psoriatic arthritis can also cause inflammation of the spine (spondylitis) and the sacrum, causing pain and stiffness in the low back, buttocks, neck, and upper back. In about 50% of those with spondylitis, the genetic marker HLA-B27 can be found. Do you have above feature?
Hope this information suffices and I shall be glad to answer any further query.
Take care and wish you good health
Regards
Dr.chugh, Orthopaedic surgeon
Virtual clinic address http://bit.ly/drmchugh
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
Dr. Mukesh Chugh
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Joint Replacement
Practicing since :1997
Answered : 1619 Questions
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