Joint pain

[Karen from Indiana]

I have had fibro for so long..since was a teen I believe. I have always had the muscle pain and tender points and fatigue. Is it possible that this intense joint pain I have been having for a few weeks is fibro? Why in the world would I suddenly develop a new symptom after all these years? This is in my elbows, wrists, knuckles, knees and sometimes the shoulders.

[Fayelle]

It is possible to develop new symptoms with fibro....However I would go to the doc and talk about it.....There is a thought that fibro is an autoimmune problem.....Autoimmunes travel together sometimes so I think it might be a good idea to be tested for rheumitoid arthritis.....

Fay

[Karen from Indiana]

Is RA hereditary? My mom has it really bad. She gives herself shots for it. Seems like most everything I have health wise except the fibro and diabetes, I got from her. I realllllly dont want RA as well, Ive seen what she goes through and I dont want any part of it!

[Fayelle]

Unfortunately it does tend to be familial, but they think environmental or hormonal factors may play a role as well.....

The possibility that it is RA is certainly much higher since your mother has it....

I would probably get in to see a Rheumitologist as soon as possible to see if it is a factor in your joint pain.....

Fay

[houghchrst]

I too have joint pain and have had it for a couple of years and was only recently diagnosed with fibro but my joint pain was diagnosed as osteoarthritis a while back. I have been tested a number of times for RA but the tests keep coming back negative. It never occured to me to ask if the fibro is really the cause of my joint pain. My primary doc says his wife was repeatedly tested for RA and it took 6 years for a positive diagnosis. They knew she had it but the tests kept coming back negative.

Good luck

[Tootsie]

None of the auto immune diseases is easy to diagnose. It seems as if the clinical symptoms precede the laboratory testing for varying degrees of time. The fibromyalgia, seems to be associated with any kind of unrelieved stress, trauma or chronic disease. There is so much that is not known. I just hope I live long enough to find out all the answers! Cheerio.