Hi, I Have Been Having Abdominal & Joint Pains For

Posted on Tue, 24 Dec 2019

Question: Hi, I have been having abdominal & joint pains for almost about a month now. It first started in the lower back then to my shoulder blade which soon became swollen. It still is swollen but it doesn’t have a lump. I have also been getting swollen glands under armpit & all over my body but this isn’t constant. Only the shoulder blade one is. I also had a little blood in my stool since yesterday. I have a breast lump in my left breast for years, could it be related to these symptoms or?

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
auto immune condition most likely for assembly of symptoms.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor services.
I have read your query and here is my advise.

* As per my surgical experience, assembly of joint pain, lower back swelling,
glands under armpit and all over body ( though not constant ) with
abdomen pain and little blood in stool indicate underlying inflammatory
condition which may be related to auto immune response of the body
systems or others.

Kindly provide me further details so that I can answer your query precisely.

1. Is there any obvious fever spike on & off since onset of symptoms ?
2. Associated lower intake of food if any ?
3. Feeling any progressive lethargy or weight loss , appetite alteration ?
4. Family history of immune disorder if any ?
5. Joint pain details as type of joint, type of pain, redness or swelling of
joints if any ?

Awaiting for your response.
Regards.

Dr Bhagyesh ( MS consultant surgeon )

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
primary doc evaluation with basic lab tests needed.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for the details.

* The suspicious about the auto immune condition with platelet alteration or
lymphoma type condition has to be evaluated in details.

* In my opinion, the assembly of symptoms can not be neglected and the
same must be presented to your family physician , who after physical
examination will run a battery of lab tests for the primary diagnosis and if
required he or she may refer you to expert immune specialist.

Wish you best recovery and health.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (0 minute later)

1. Is there any obvious fever spike on & off since onset of symptoms ?
- yes, I tend to get hot flashes when I lie down or when sleeping. Sometimes in the middle of the night I get awakened by night sweats & hot flash.

2. Associated lower intake of food if any ?
- yes, ever since I have this swelling & pain I have reduced intake if red meat, oily food & spicy food.

3. Feeling any progressive lethargy or weight loss , appetite alteration ?
- yes, I barely have energy these days all I wanna do is sleep. My arms are painful after lifting my newborn nephew. My legs are weak after going for a small walk. But I tried doing a little walking earlier, felt better. Weight loss probably due to my diet control. And no particular appetite alteration but I don’t feel like having foods that are tasty, I just eat healthy to feel better.

4. Family history of immune disorder if any ?
- no.

5. Joint pain details as type of joint, type of pain, redness or swelling of
joints if any ?
- I first started having pain in the lower back like shooting pain that made it swollen then soon it radiated to my shoulder blade (opposite of where my breast lump is) then to my armpit then arms then legs then now it’s at my rib part which was swollen & painful for days that got my stool a little reddish since yesterday. I don’t feel much pain now but the swelling is still there. It comes & goes. Bruises at some part too.

Follow up: Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (37 minutes later)

Judging from the symptoms, could there be a possibility of cancer?

Follow up: Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (3 minutes later)

I do not have itching or shortness of breath. Which relates to lymphoma

Follow up: Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (1 hour later)

I will also add that I have swollen glands above my breast but not around it. But that too comes and goes. Only the shoulder blade swelling stays.

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
follow up .

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for the follow up.

* So far as assembly of symptoms are concerned, we can only predict
immune response of the body, which can be possible in a variety of clinical
context apart from cancer.
Not every lymphoma has short breath, neither every swollen gland relates
to lymphoma, we are discussing about possible ways to think and explore
without judgement through discussion only.

* Ultimate diagnosis depends upon series of tests and evaluation, but
thinking in different ways is must to reach at that step as well.

I again would request you to undergo primary screening with your family physician to initiate the diagnostic work up, as something is definitely wrong with the system for sure.

Wish you great day.
Take care.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad