Need a Diagnosis

[BlueBear]

Anyideas what would cause achy, painful joints and overwhelming fatigue? The joint pain occasionally wakes me up at night and is usually in my left elbow. I also get pains in two finger joints, my knee, sometimes my ankle, and the heel of one foot. The pain isn't constant, but does intensify with use of the joint. No edema. Fatigue is pretty constant, but increases with activity. Was checked for Lyme 2 months ago but it was negative. The pain has gotten worse since then. Anyone have any suggestions?

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Oh that sounds terrible. Have you been back to the doctor?

I hope you feel better. Check your PM OK?

[Huganurse]

Good Luck to you!

[Zee_RN, BSN, RN]

Fibromyalgia, maybe? Achy joints, insomnia, fatigue...they test for it by ruling out other diagnoses like arthritis, lupus, chronic fatigue, etc. If your rheumatoid factor is negative, your sed rate is low, you may have fibromyalgia. Amazingly enough, my FM was brought under control with very low dose Elavil (like 10 to 20 mg once a day, q.h.s.). I took the Elavil for a few months; quit taking it and was fine for a while; it flared back up and repeated the routine. It has flared up maybe 3 or 4 times and now it has been about 2 years since it happened. Antiflammatories are not effective because it is not an inflammatory condition. Etiology unknown, of course.

Good Luck...go get yourself a workup.

[kewlnurse]

Get you rheumotoid factor checked. also do you take large amount of iron supplements?, it can build up in your joints, if you de get your ferratin level checked.