This is a long one, but please bear with me. I’ve got nowhere else to go!

So I’m 20 years old, and for the past few years I’ve had progressive joint and muscle pain. I was perfectly fine until I was 16 when I injured my back, and since then everything’s gone downhill. The injury healed normally, but since then it seems to flare up with inflammation every couple weeks or so and lasts a few days to a week. My hands were the next to go, I thought it was carpal tunnel at first, but it’s in both hands (I’m right handed), and I have pain in my pinkie and the outer part of my hand as well, which rules that out. Also my fingers are beginning to curve inwards and bulb out, if that makes sense My knees started acting up next. They just feel weak, kinda wobbly and they crack every time I bend them. Sometimes at night it feels like I have restless leg syndrome, but even moving around doesn’t help. Ankles are next. I injured them pretty bad a couple years ago, and I’m not sure if I broke or tore something, but if I’m on my feet too much they swell and get pretty painful. Elbows and shoulders after that. My shoulders feel like there’s heavy weights on them, and my elbows feel like I constantly have tennis elbow. Recently my entire body feels stiff, I’m starting to notice that the weather has an effect on how I feel. Dairy products, even calcium supplements trigger the pain. A lot of times my muscles feel like they’ve been strained, even though I’m usually in too much pain to do anything strenuous. I’m tired even after a full night’s sleep, and in the morning it seems like I have to force myself to get up. I was never this way!!

Here’s the thing- I’ve been tested for rheumatoid arthritis several times, and each time has come back negative. I’ve had tons of blood work done, and everything is always normal. I live in a small town, and every doctor I’ve been to tell me that it’s in my head, that it’s growing pains, one doctor even accused me of being a drug dealer trying to get pills to sell! They just don’t seemed concerned!

Has anyone ever had similar symptoms and gotten an accurate diagnosis? And would it be worth the long and agonizing six hour drive to see a fibromyalgia specialist or a rheumatologist? I just need an answer, 20 is too young to be feeling old! I know Yahoo Answers is the last place to ask for help concerning my health, and that no one on here can tell me exactly what it is, but I’ve got nothing else to lose. I’m at my wits end!!

Thank you for your help, and God bless!

Technorati Tags: ankles, arthritis, Arthritis Pain, blood work, calcium supplements, couple weeks, curve, dairy products, flare, growing pains, heavy weights, inflammation, knees, muscle pain, muscles, painful elbows, pinkie, restless leg syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, shoulders, tennis elbow

I’m 15, and since I was about 10 I’ve been getting 24/7 discomfort in my joints.

First it was only my wrists, but now its starting to spread to my other joints (ankles, knees, elbows). I have to crack them/roll them around for the discomfort to stop for a second and then it is painful again. After about 30 minutes exercise they hurt like crazy and I have to stop.

I don’t do any intense exercise. I’ve been exercising the same for years (tennis, jogging, swimming) and I play piano. I have a healthy diet, and while the pain never is extremely bad and doesn’t affect any other part of my body, its just constant, always there.

What do you think it could be? Thanks!

Technorati Tags: 30 minutes, ankles, crack, elbows, healthy diet, intense exercise, Jogging, joints, knees, Play Piano, Swimming, tennis

For the past 2 years, with it getting worse the last 6 months, I have pretty bad pain when walking, with stiffness and swelling in my knees, hips and ankles. My fingers are also stiff and achy and I also have pain in my elbows. Walking, bending is getting worse. And climbing and coming down stairs is very difficult. Although some days seem worse than others. Also, my toes seem to be deforming and I have pain in them as well. What could be wrong with me?

Technorati Tags: ankles, elbows, Fingers, hips, knees, sore joints, stairs, Stiff Joints, Stiffness, toes

I woke up this morning to find that my elbows, knees, ankles, and fingers are all really sore. They hurt almost every time I move them. I am 13 years old and I have never had a problem like this before. Everything was fine yesterday, but not today. Does anyone know what might be the problem?

Thanks

Technorati Tags: 13 years, ankles, elbows, Fingers, joints, knees, problem thanks

My husband has cardiomyopathy. Is it normal for these symptoms to be related to this disease? Knuckles hurt on feet & hands, hurting wrists, hurting elbows, hurting knees and hurting ankles. So we know it’s a "joint thing". He also complains about his muscles of his calves and thighs hurting…or at least being sore and tender. It takes him a minute to get off the couch. Any advice would be appreciated….Thanks! Amy

Technorati Tags: amp, ankles, Calves, cardiomyopathy, couch, elbows, knees, muscles, quot, thighs

Two weeks ago, I awoke with severe pain in my heels. They were bright red, and I couldn’t walk on them or even touch them – they were sore like a severe bruise. Ice and ibprophen helped marginally, and with some rest the pain went away completely. I also had joint pain in my knees, ankles, wrists,and elbows which has become more severe and persistent since the heel pain has gone away. It moves around, but it is always in most of those joints. It has been severe enough to interrupt my daily activity. I am taking between 12 and 16 ibprophen per day, and now my knees and ankles are swelled (my ankles are bigger than the balls of my feet). My elbows and ankles are sore to the touch like a bruise, as well as stiff and achy. My father is a microbiologist who thinks that I have a virus that has settled in my joints. I just started a new job, so I won’t have health benefits for 120 days. I am concerned, because I am 25 and have been healthy my whole life. Does anyone have any ideas as to what this could be or how to deal with it?

Technorati Tags: ankles, balls, bruise, elbows, health benefits, heel pain, ibprophen, joint pain, Joint Swelling, joints, knees, microbiologist, new job, severe pain, virus, whole life

For the last several weeks I’ve had a sore right elbow that is very tender and a little bruised looking but I don’t recall hitting it. I also press on it and I can put an indentation in it like you can when your ankles are swollen.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Technorati Tags: ankles, elbow, indentation, right elbow, thanks in advance, Water In The Knee

It is painful to move at all. Every joint in my body is hurting! It started in my wrists, and moved to my knees, but now includes my ankles, toes, fingers (which are severly swollen) back, elbows and neck. I am in a lot of pain. I called for advise and was told it would not be a side effect to Gardasil. Has anyone else experienced similar symptoms after being injected with Gardasil?? I also have felt dizzy the past 2 nights. I’m in a lot of pain and I am worried!!

I’m hopefully going to be able to see my doctor this afternoon. But the way they were talking they don’t think it is Gardasil, and I am worried it is! I don’t know if I should have the other 2 injections!
I don’t know if this makes any difference? But I have been having ongoing Colposcopys because of HPV.

Technorati Tags: ankles, elbows, Fingers, Gardasil, joints, knees, M 105, toes, Weird

We are going through a big audit at work and ever since then I wake up with the joints in my fingers, knees, ankles, toes, elbows, and neck being very stiff and painful, like arthritis. I am 38-years-old and have had osteoarthritis in my fingers since my early 20s (genetic). Could this be arthritis brought up by on-the-job stress? (The only over-the-counter painkiller that works is ibuprofen, and ibuprofen makes me go to sleep, even if I take only 200 mg)

Technorati Tags: ankles, arthritis, elbows, Fingers, ibuprofen, job, Job Related, Job Stress, joints, knees, Mental Stress, osteoarthritis, sleep, sore joints, stress, toes

I have extremely achy joints all over my body. Knees, elbows, ankles, wrists, you name it. I also tend to have sore and tense muscles along my shoulders, neck, and back. Is there anything simple and non-medical I can do for either of these problems? Herbs I can add to bathwater or something? Thanks for any help!

Technorati Tags: achy joints, ankles, bathwater, elbows, herbs, joint pain, knees, shoulders, tense muscles

I had tennis elbow in one arm, so used the other arm exclusively for a while. Now the second arm is really sore all up and down. Also have sore legs from knees to ankles. I work in a job where I stand a lot and lift a lot. Seems my tendons are giving out on me. I read about a collagen supplement, Genacol. I wonder if it works, or if not, what will help.

Technorati Tags: ankles, collagen supplement, job, knees, sore legs, tendon, tendons, tennis elbow

Three weeks ago my lower back felt sore and bruised and my ankles were sore and one swelled up a little bit. The following week I felt stiff and sore but nothing too bad and no swelling. This week it hurts to walk because my ankles and feet are so sore, along with my knees ankles, elbows, hands and fingers. One knuckle is red, swollen, and sore on my right hand, and on my left foot one toe is swollen and hurts terribly to walk. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!
oh and I do not work out or play sports of any kind, I have had no serious physical injuries ever.

Technorati Tags: ankles, elbows, Fingers, hands and fingers, knees, left foot, little bit, physical injuries, play sports, sore joints, sports, Stiff Joints

This summer my mom started feeling pain in her right elbow. Later her whole arm would hurt so the doctor said it was probably Tendinitis so she gave her a few exercises to do. Now her joints in her wrist, knees, ankles and toes sometimes hurt. Doctors still don’t know what it could be. Any ideas??

Technorati Tags: ankles, doctors, elbow, exercises, joint pain, joints, knees, mom, muscle pain, right elbow, toes

I know this is something I should be going to the doctors about, which is why I am going to the walk in tomorrow. But anyways, Saturday I woke up and my hands and feet were swollen, I had to pry my rings off and my sandals wouldn’t fit my feet were so swollen. Through Saturday my feet were swollen and began to hurt. By the end of the day all my joints were sore my wrists, fingers, elbows, hips, knees, ankles and toes. Everything feels like they have been over worked. My feet hurt like I have been standing on them all day and walking all day. I can’t make a fist without a tight feeling. All my muscles feels sore and over worked. Keep in mind I’m 20 and have a job where I am moving a lot (but not to a point where I have ever hurt in 3 years). My family and friends say its either rheumatoid arthritis or from not drinking enough water and my body retaining water – thus the swelling. I dunno, it just gets in the way because everything hurts….doing anything is uncomfortable. Last week I did get a TB shot and don’t know if that’s some sort of side effect?

Technorati Tags: 3 years, ankles, Arthri, arthritis, body retaining water, doctors, elbows, family and friends, Fingers, fist, going to the doctors, hands and feet, hips, job, joints, knees, muscles, rheumatoid arthritis, sandals, tb, Tight Muscles, toes

Ever since I came back from my trip to Oklahoma a few weeks ago I have been finding unexplained bruises on my body in the most random places. I had a couple just below the knuckle of my thumb, on my lower palm area, the side of my knee, on my leg and other random places. Some of them are explained, some of them are weird.

Some just look brownish and the aren’t tender an I think it’s really weird and I read in a book somewhere that bruising could be sign of some disease i think it was leukemia but i’m not sure. I didn’t think much of it because I did rigorous activity in OK. I have been working a lot lately and I have to do a lot.

I’ve also had some pretty sore joints around my ankles and wrists sometimes my elbows. My ankles would feel weird like they need to be popped or stretched or something but it doesnt work it just feels sore and like its being lightly pulled out of joint. My wrist have been doing it lately too.

A couple weeks ago when they were sore i was at the theater and when i was using the rail to pull me up as i took two steps at i time and that didnt help it at all it felt like someone was tugging on it really hard. like pulling it out of joint. i’m only 18 i dont know whats going on and im concerned about my sore joints. it might be nothing, might be that im not as active as i used to be but its been coming and going for awile now.

I’ve also been really tired lately even when i get 9 or 10 hours. Normally I cant sleep past 10 but today i slept till 1. it could be that i’ve been working a lot or my sleeping schedule is off and i’m not going to bed till 3 or 4 now. even at that i wake up at 10.

Technorati Tags: ankles, awile, book somewhere that, cant sleep, couple weeks, elbows, leukemia, Lot, palm area, random places, sleep, Sore Ankles, sore joints, thumb, two steps, unexplained bruises, Weird

I am desperate to figure out what is going on with me. I am a 37 year old female and about a week ago I started gettig a sore and stiff feeling in my hips, it has progressed rapidly to my ankles (now slightly swollen) also my knees and shoulders and elbow joints. What could cause such pain in all my joints. I can not imagine it is arthritis at my age and so sudden. Could it be a pinched nerve or a virus? it seems to be the worse when i am laying in bed at night and unbearable when rising in the morning. I cannot sleep because of the pain. It does seem to get slightly better when I am up walking around. Any ideas?

Technorati Tags: ankles, arthritis, elbow joints, hips, joint pain, knees, pinched nerve, severe pain, shoulders, sleep, Sudden Onset, virus

My ankles, wrists, knees, and elbows are soooooo sore!!!!! I just woke up with this and it’s driving me nuts. Also I know its ok to take tylenol for headaches but can you take it for aches and pains 2?
Yea, haha sorry I forgot to put how far along I am, im 32 weeks

Technorati Tags: 100 Elbows, amp, ankles, elbows, headaches, joints, knees, nuts, Pregnant, Sore Ankles, tylenol, Yea

We’ve all heard about tennis elbow, and many of us have suffered from it. In reality, it is a form of tendonitis brought on by the frequent, repetitive motions involved in playing tennis.

Tendonitis, however, is not limited to the elbow or arm. It can occur throughout the body. Any activity which places stress on the same tendon can cause that tendon to become inflamed and sore.

Click Here To Find An Effective Cure For Elbow Tendonitis

Chronic Tendonitis

Tendonitis can be either acute (i.e. a temporary flare up) or chronic (i.e. long lasting). When tendonitis keeps recurring, it is called chronic tendonitis.

Tendons are composed of elastic-like tissue which connects our muscles to our bones. As we age, tendons tend to lose their elasticity through normal wear and tear. From time to time, a tendon will break or tear and scar tissue forms in the healing process. Scar tissue is not as flexible as tendon tissue and frequently causes pain and inflammation with continued use and motion. Most often the areas affected are elbows, knees, ankles, shoulders and feet.

Obviously it’s these parts of our anatomy that see repeated use during the course of a normal day. As we continue placing strain on an injured tendon, it doesn’t have an opportunity to heal which, in turn, leads to chronic tendonitis.

Age is only one of the underlying causes of chronic tendonitis. Athletes who are highly trained and in superb condition can also suffer from chronic tendonitis. Again, it is the repetitive motions required by a variety of sports that cause the condition to erupt. For example, repeated motion of the golfer’s swing or a pitcher’s throwing arm in baseball over the course of time can cause weakness in the tissue and lead to inflammation of the muscles and tendons. This is why it’s so important to do stretching exercises and warm ups prior to strenuous activity.

Left untreated, things can only get worse. Both acute and chronic tendonitis sometimes will result in a tear or rupture of the tendon. In this case, the physician will probably prescribe surgery, but only after more conservative measures have failed.

Click Here To Find An Effective Cure For Elbow Tendonitis

Treating Chronic Tendonitis

Acute or chronic tendonitis can cause mild to severe pain. In its simplest and most conservative approach, treatment will involve analgesics such as ibuprofen and resting the affected area. Depending on the severity, your physician may conclude that you will benefit from an anti-inflammatory medication and may prescribe cortisone injections. This is an effective, and powerful anti-inflammatory medication that helps to reduce the pain and swelling and promote healing of tendonitis. Treatment may also include mild stretching exercises in order to keep the joints flexible.

Just a word of caution is in order. Corticosteroids can be injected but they do not come without risks. One of their side effects is that they can weaken the immune system or infection can appear at the injection site. Again, It is critical that the tendon be given time to heal or more serious tendon injury can occur. And, as mentioned, surgery may be required in cases of tears or ruptures in order to repair the damage and relieve the pain of chronic tendonitis.

By: Robert G. Knechtel -

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Related Information From The Blogosphere:

Treating Tendonitis And Elbow Injury

Tennis Elbow Home Cures
The magnetic tennis elbow brace is only one of these therapy devices. Why does magnetic therapy seem to work?

Natural Pain Relief for Tendonitis
Tendonitis can be very painful, and if you’re a chronic tendonitis sufferer, you’ll be looking for natural pain relief. The best pain relief is rest, until the tendon mends, but this is not always possible.

Robert G. Knechtel operates several websites, including TendonitisFacts.Com – Tendonitis Facts and Tips and PainReliefChronicles.Com – Exploring Pain Relief Options

Technorati Tags: ankles, bones, Elasticity, elbow tendonitis, elbows, epicondylitis treatment, flare, healing process, inflammation, knees, muscles, playing tennis, repetitive motions, Scar Tissue, shoulders, stress, Tendon Tissue, tendons, tennis elbow, tennis elbow rehabilitation