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Suggest Remedy For Extreme Joints Pain And Recurring Rashes

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Posted on Tue, 25 Aug 2015
Question: 1 yr ago I have my first pregnancy that ended in a miscarriage with a d & c. Ever since I have been suffering from extreme joint pain with occasional recurring rashes that have never came back as bad since two prednisone tapers. I have been disabled since. I am 31yo. and can't find any specialist to give me a straight answer. I understand it is difficult but I need answers. I am suffering. I am a RN and have a hx of autoimmune disorders in my family and the itp I have is in remission since I have Rituxan, which I had a severe allergic reaction to. My platelets we're usually 100,000 and now almost 400. Constantly climbing since this illness started.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (13 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Is it arthritis

Detailed Answer:
GOod evening

Thank you for writing on health care magic

Well it does happen at times, that pregnancy triggers lot of autoimmune problems which may have been hidden inside. COnsidering you had ITP in the past, there is a possibility you have another autoimmune disorder as well.

The joint pains, rashes could be just a marker the disease is beginning. I would like to ask you a few more query before commenting further:

1. Has any of your blood tests been done yet like ESR, CRP, Rheumatoid Factor, Anti CCP and ANA

2. Do you experience any swelling as well or is it just pain?

3. Any early morning stiffness? If yes, for how long

4. Do you experience oral ulcers/hair fall/ rashes which get worst in the sun?

5. How much of prednisolone are you on? How quick was it tapered??

Do let me know these queries. I feel it is a start of the some disease, which we need to look into. These query will help us narrow the diagnosis

Await your reply

Regards
Dr Naval
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (24 minutes later)
I have had workup after workup with no real dx. I am positive it is autoimmune that awful thing with those they are so hard to dx. Anyway -ESR, CRP, RF , slightly +ANA and low C3. Slight swelling and warmth, but only a medical profession would be able to notice. 3+ hours of morning stiffness if I am ever able to get out of bed, which I know is bad, but I don't have a choice. The mouth ulcers just started. My hair fell out years ago with extended use of high dose Prednisone for ITP. I had spent 3 days in the sun preparing for my wedding and that is when the rash started. Now I avoid sun at all costs d/t fear of making some symptom even worse if that is even possible. I just did 2 60mg tapers over 9 days. No improvement for pain, but rash has never really come back since. Whether that is due to no sun exposure of Prednisone I am not sure.

I have also tried Otezla and Lyrica. Occasionally the rash comes back on my elbows the way it started before but never progresses. I went to a new derm immediately last time it came back a few months ago. She said psoriasis.

I am experiencing the same symptoms I had when I had the severe allergic reaction to Rituxan for the ITP. I was hospitalized for days on a Morphine pump, but that was 9 years ago.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (12 hours later)
Brief Answer:
? Autoimmune disease

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Thanx for your reply

Well, I am not sure what you meant by the reports of ESR, CRP, RF and Anti CCP. If you could attach the file or write out the value it would be useful

Secondly with low positive ANA and having these symptoms it is always better to get an ENA profile done to see which all antibodies could be present in your system and if those are the ones causing the disease.

Thirdly, I dont think the rash is due to psoriasis as it would never disappear with steroids. On the contrary it gets worse with steroids.

But what I fail to understand here is, You were given very high dose of steroids( 60 mg is quite high). So did they give it empirically or they thought it is autoimmune and treated it.? CAuse it has been tapered very fast. Once you are giving such high dose, you taper it over few weeks. Quick tapering will result in relapse.

But yes, I agree with you. Joint pains, rashes, oral ulcers and history of ITP could very well be a part of an autoimmune problem, something like Sjogrens syndrome or SLE. If they can perform an ENA profile that would be quite helpful.

Hope the information was useful

DO let me know for more queries. Your diagnosis is still a dilemma as I am not sure on what grounds are they treating you

Regards
Dr Naval
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Naval Mendiratta

Rheumatologist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 754 Questions

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Suggest Remedy For Extreme Joints Pain And Recurring Rashes

Brief Answer: Is it arthritis Detailed Answer: GOod evening Thank you for writing on health care magic Well it does happen at times, that pregnancy triggers lot of autoimmune problems which may have been hidden inside. COnsidering you had ITP in the past, there is a possibility you have another autoimmune disorder as well. The joint pains, rashes could be just a marker the disease is beginning. I would like to ask you a few more query before commenting further: 1. Has any of your blood tests been done yet like ESR, CRP, Rheumatoid Factor, Anti CCP and ANA 2. Do you experience any swelling as well or is it just pain? 3. Any early morning stiffness? If yes, for how long 4. Do you experience oral ulcers/hair fall/ rashes which get worst in the sun? 5. How much of prednisolone are you on? How quick was it tapered?? Do let me know these queries. I feel it is a start of the some disease, which we need to look into. These query will help us narrow the diagnosis Await your reply Regards Dr Naval