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Suggest Treatment For Muscle Spasms, Cramps And Dizziness
Question: I have all over body muscle, joint pain, muscle spasms, muscle cramps, dizziness, unsteadiness, problems with cognitive thinking and memory, right leg numbness, blood work has been normal, except SED rate is 40. Dr. says this is OK. Should I be concerned? I am out of ideas as to what to do, and I am miserable. Was DX with Fibromyalgia several years ago, but these symptoms are things I have never dealt with before. Thanks for your help. Also, extremely fatigued, fall asleep easily, get short of breath with exertion and as time goes on I can see my mood getting more and more depressed. I am also plagued with gastrointestinal distress most of the time.
Brief Answer:
You go with what you have and move from there.
Detailed Answer:
Sed rate is elevated. Normal is about half of that. Lower if non-elderly. Lower if male. This can be due any of a number of autoimmune diseaes. anti-nuclear antibody and other tests can be helpful for finding which is occurring.
so... antibody tests, cbc, chest x ray electrolytes, urinalysis would be a first step.
If someone has shortness of breath, problems with exertion, that is rather serious. Frankly, heart failure should be noticeable with a simple examination. EKG, chest x ray would also be helpful.
If someone has no underlying heart problem, then examination generally shows results inconsistent with that. FUthermore, seeing someone while they have the symptoms can be helpful. Frequently I find someone has intermittant asthma. One time it was due to the air pollution where the person played sports (surrounded by the very busiest roads). Leg numbness can be tested with nerve conduction studies.
You go with what you have and move from there.
Detailed Answer:
Sed rate is elevated. Normal is about half of that. Lower if non-elderly. Lower if male. This can be due any of a number of autoimmune diseaes. anti-nuclear antibody and other tests can be helpful for finding which is occurring.
so... antibody tests, cbc, chest x ray electrolytes, urinalysis would be a first step.
If someone has shortness of breath, problems with exertion, that is rather serious. Frankly, heart failure should be noticeable with a simple examination. EKG, chest x ray would also be helpful.
If someone has no underlying heart problem, then examination generally shows results inconsistent with that. FUthermore, seeing someone while they have the symptoms can be helpful. Frequently I find someone has intermittant asthma. One time it was due to the air pollution where the person played sports (surrounded by the very busiest roads). Leg numbness can be tested with nerve conduction studies.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
CBC was normal. I don't know what an anti-body test is. no u/a, x-ray or further studies were done. Only routine blood work and TSH, which was normal. Rheumatoid factor was neg and ANA was neg. My family dr. has pretty was dropped the issue, so what should I pursue. I am at a loss, but still suffering. I don't know who or where to go next. I am trying to get in touch with a FNP regarding bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to see about the possibility that I may have a hormone imbalance somewhere. Had hysterectomy in 1998 (total) and have never had HRT. Could this be an issue? I am really reaching here. I do appreciate any guidance you may be able to give me. Thanking you in advance.
Brief Answer:
You go with what you know and go from there.
Detailed Answer:
first, ANA ... antinuclear antibody. tested and negative. (but doesn't rule out polymyalgia rheumatica).
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polymyalgia-rheumatica/basics/definition/con-0000. The sed rate would be higher, and ..it's rare under age 50. BUT if the pain is mainly shoulders, or if there is any blindness, obviously should be considered. A trial of prednisone might be interesting.....
Likewise, FSH is elevated in menopause, even early near-menopause and would indicate a reason to try some hormone replacement therapy.
Sleep apnea can occur along with near-menopause and would fit with other symptoms and is testable. AND ... lung and heart disorders should probably be at least considered.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sleepapnea
You go with what you know and go from there.
Detailed Answer:
first, ANA ... antinuclear antibody. tested and negative. (but doesn't rule out polymyalgia rheumatica).
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polymyalgia-rheumatica/basics/definition/con-0000. The sed rate would be higher, and ..it's rare under age 50. BUT if the pain is mainly shoulders, or if there is any blindness, obviously should be considered. A trial of prednisone might be interesting.....
Likewise, FSH is elevated in menopause, even early near-menopause and would indicate a reason to try some hormone replacement therapy.
Sleep apnea can occur along with near-menopause and would fit with other symptoms and is testable. AND ... lung and heart disorders should probably be at least considered.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sleepapnea
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Would a battery of hormone testing be needed to get an FSH level? And, since my family doctor has pretty well left the issue alone, how do I convince her to try a trial of prednisone? I know enough about the medical field (having worked in it for more than 12 years) that prednisone is indicated for elevated inflammation levels (in some cases). After nearly 20 years post menopause (due to hysterectomy), I still have hot flashes and night sweats. My gyn refused to even see me saying it could not be related to menopausal issues because of the length of time post-menopause????????? There again, I wonder about my hormone levels. I have never had them tested. Do you feel this is indicated? I'm sorry to pester, I'm just at a loss, and my PC Phys. does not seem to be listening.
Brief Answer:
several points.
Detailed Answer:
The prednisone is a shot in the dark (but, the effects would show in a week). That being said moderate doses of prednisone are well-known to cause a sense of well-being sometimes bordering on mania even if they aren't treating anything. Their toxicity is TIME dependent. so, 5 days... wont' do much weight gain/bone loss/muscle loss etc... 5 months could be quite bad. They probably don't want to go there, especially because you'll feel better (even though your health would suffer). Unless it is polymyalgia rheumatica.. which seems unlikely.
ON THE other hand.......if it was a complete hysterectomy, you FSH WILL be elevated, the hormones from the ovaries will be quite low, and the GYN will reasonably say the test is a total waste of blood because we know it will say. AND... with all the other symptoms of menopause being active.. then... we know you have symptoms of menopause. Active.
Point out that if you were a male, and said the same complaints, there's TV commercials all over the place for MALE hormone replacement. Doesn't it seem sexist to ignore the complaints if they are from a female? (seems a strong argument to make to a female doctor).
ANd.... shortness of breath, decreased exercise ability is an issue that could be a more serious condition and that needs to be addressed with like a stress test.
several points.
Detailed Answer:
The prednisone is a shot in the dark (but, the effects would show in a week). That being said moderate doses of prednisone are well-known to cause a sense of well-being sometimes bordering on mania even if they aren't treating anything. Their toxicity is TIME dependent. so, 5 days... wont' do much weight gain/bone loss/muscle loss etc... 5 months could be quite bad. They probably don't want to go there, especially because you'll feel better (even though your health would suffer). Unless it is polymyalgia rheumatica.. which seems unlikely.
ON THE other hand.......if it was a complete hysterectomy, you FSH WILL be elevated, the hormones from the ovaries will be quite low, and the GYN will reasonably say the test is a total waste of blood because we know it will say. AND... with all the other symptoms of menopause being active.. then... we know you have symptoms of menopause. Active.
Point out that if you were a male, and said the same complaints, there's TV commercials all over the place for MALE hormone replacement. Doesn't it seem sexist to ignore the complaints if they are from a female? (seems a strong argument to make to a female doctor).
ANd.... shortness of breath, decreased exercise ability is an issue that could be a more serious condition and that needs to be addressed with like a stress test.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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