Question: Hi, I'm a 51 year old female. slightly overweight, but active at 4-6x per week exercise. I work full time. I have had mysterious paresthesias for about 6 years now, mostly affecting my hands and forearms. bilateral and other parts of body affected sometimes. Screenings for autoimmune diseases and other things like MS, etc. are negative. Last week my wrists and fingers swelled considerably with joint pain and stiffness. My knees, neck and ankles were also tight and stiff and ached. It was a progressive episode over about 5 days that ultimately ended in ER with a prescription for Medrol and suggested followup with primary and a rheumatologist. Only "abnormal" findings were slightly elevated ESR and Eosinophil count. WBC and platelet count were low end but within reference ranges. I do not have a history of allergies or asthma. I do not have a parasitic infection. I have hypothyroidism but it is well under control and lab tests from yesterday confirm this. Chemistry panel is perfect. THe Medrol worked very well, but as I step down the dose I'm feeling more pain in my hands and wrists. Doc followup yesterday repeated CRP, ESR, thyroid, and did ANA and RF.
All normal or negative. Waiting to get in to rheumatologist. Newest drug onboard is Singulaire due to cosmetic surgery in January. Otherwise I'm on Escitalopram, levothyroxine, multivitamin, vitamin D, and just finished last dose of Medrol today. Any insight for me? What would be the next step? TIA

Thank you for your insight. I will let you know what the rheumatologist determines and in the meantime manage symptoms with my primary care physician.