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What Causes Severe Pain In The Fingers, Knees And Feet?
Posted on
Wed, 8 Jun 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 8 Jun 2016
Answered on
Tue, 5 Jul 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I have been suffering for 6 weeks with horrible pain, swelling and now nearly every finger has triggers. Crackling in my fingers when I try and bend them, my knees and heals. I can barely stand, my feet/bones feel like they are broken.
I am attaching my blood work
I am attaching my blood work
Brief Answer:
Several thoughts.
Detailed Answer:
You've been asking this question a bit; I think it's well about time someone gave some information.
Several features of pain can be helpful in clarifying what is going on and the next steps for diagnosis and treatment.
Type of pain. Burning/shooting mostly means a nerve is having problems. This can be either a sick nerve or a nerve that has had an injury. Electrical, shooting would be others implying nerve source for pain. BUT, inflamed pain that isn't moving from one spot to another would imply an inflammatory process.
Location of pain. There is a lot to this. First, if something goes in the pathway of a nerve, then that is the nerve involved. Deep in, or on the surface can be helpful clues. If it is in the joints, it implies, obviously, a joint condition. One spot versus multiple spots implies whether it is a local condition (something happened to the spot). IF it is all over, then it is an overall inflammatory condition involving the joints (something happened to the Person).
An overall inflammatory condition involving the joints would imply rheumatoid or similar arthritis but it doesn't have to be. An overall inflammatory condition (tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV, even cancers) will often cause joint pain overall even if it is not due to an arthritis per se. Simple lab tests would show which is going on.
It can also (rarely) be a bone/mineral condition. One needs examination to be able to tell. One does not need Much of an examination to tell. If it is the joints, it isn't the bones, if there are bone deformities of particular types, then it is low mineral content in the bones softening them.
Mostly, inflammatory arthritis due to an immune condition. Immune suppressants hare quite helpful and are generally recommended as the first thing to use. These include over the counter aspirin or naproxen but not tylenol nor ibuprofen (at over the counter levels it is quite weak).
Several thoughts.
Detailed Answer:
You've been asking this question a bit; I think it's well about time someone gave some information.
Several features of pain can be helpful in clarifying what is going on and the next steps for diagnosis and treatment.
Type of pain. Burning/shooting mostly means a nerve is having problems. This can be either a sick nerve or a nerve that has had an injury. Electrical, shooting would be others implying nerve source for pain. BUT, inflamed pain that isn't moving from one spot to another would imply an inflammatory process.
Location of pain. There is a lot to this. First, if something goes in the pathway of a nerve, then that is the nerve involved. Deep in, or on the surface can be helpful clues. If it is in the joints, it implies, obviously, a joint condition. One spot versus multiple spots implies whether it is a local condition (something happened to the spot). IF it is all over, then it is an overall inflammatory condition involving the joints (something happened to the Person).
An overall inflammatory condition involving the joints would imply rheumatoid or similar arthritis but it doesn't have to be. An overall inflammatory condition (tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV, even cancers) will often cause joint pain overall even if it is not due to an arthritis per se. Simple lab tests would show which is going on.
It can also (rarely) be a bone/mineral condition. One needs examination to be able to tell. One does not need Much of an examination to tell. If it is the joints, it isn't the bones, if there are bone deformities of particular types, then it is low mineral content in the bones softening them.
Mostly, inflammatory arthritis due to an immune condition. Immune suppressants hare quite helpful and are generally recommended as the first thing to use. These include over the counter aspirin or naproxen but not tylenol nor ibuprofen (at over the counter levels it is quite weak).
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Dr.
Were you able to review my Labs I sent over? I had those labs ordered on this past Saturday.
For clarity, I have arthritis that runs in my family effecting the joints in our hands. I have had one surgery for a "bad trigger finger" About a month to 6 weeks ago I started experiencing severe swelling in my feet and hands. then it turned to my heals and bone from my pinky toe to my heal feeling nearly broken to stand or walk on. The in is throbbing shape pain. My hands knuckles have become so swollen, stiff and when try to bend them now I have triggers almost in every finger at the knuckle below my nail bed and the center knuckles. When they slip or lock the pain is unbearable (my concern is over 6 weeks I have several triggers) Now my finger at the knuckles below my finger nail (church and loud) then 3 weeks ago I started to hear the same "crunching" in my knees and they have a stiff painful feeling. "Crunching" when I turn my neck and stiff but not bad and very resent maybe a week. I have said in my prior messages I have a sharpe pain when I take a deep breathe, it feels like a sharpe pain in my lung. I really need guidance. Last my elbows ache and this as well just started and is very mild for now, nothing compared to the others.
In order with sharp crushing throbbing pain and stiffness with pressure
hands and bones in feet severe
Knees - mild plus
Neck - mild
blows - mild
I went for acupuncture last week and it was amazing for 6 hours after. I am hoping all of my blood work will direct me to where I need to go for medical attention. I have been Eastern Medicine for years and without insurance I need to cut out the Dr. to Dr. billing I cannot afford.
Thank you again
Were you able to review my Labs I sent over? I had those labs ordered on this past Saturday.
For clarity, I have arthritis that runs in my family effecting the joints in our hands. I have had one surgery for a "bad trigger finger" About a month to 6 weeks ago I started experiencing severe swelling in my feet and hands. then it turned to my heals and bone from my pinky toe to my heal feeling nearly broken to stand or walk on. The in is throbbing shape pain. My hands knuckles have become so swollen, stiff and when try to bend them now I have triggers almost in every finger at the knuckle below my nail bed and the center knuckles. When they slip or lock the pain is unbearable (my concern is over 6 weeks I have several triggers) Now my finger at the knuckles below my finger nail (church and loud) then 3 weeks ago I started to hear the same "crunching" in my knees and they have a stiff painful feeling. "Crunching" when I turn my neck and stiff but not bad and very resent maybe a week. I have said in my prior messages I have a sharpe pain when I take a deep breathe, it feels like a sharpe pain in my lung. I really need guidance. Last my elbows ache and this as well just started and is very mild for now, nothing compared to the others.
In order with sharp crushing throbbing pain and stiffness with pressure
hands and bones in feet severe
Knees - mild plus
Neck - mild
blows - mild
I went for acupuncture last week and it was amazing for 6 hours after. I am hoping all of my blood work will direct me to where I need to go for medical attention. I have been Eastern Medicine for years and without insurance I need to cut out the Dr. to Dr. billing I cannot afford.
Thank you again
Brief Answer:
you are very welcome but
Detailed Answer:
I'm glad the accupuncture helped. It would certainly pass FDA scrutiny for pain and it is the safest of the pain modalities we've mentioned.
But I still don't know that I've answered all of your questions.
Feel free to ask more about this if further questions arise.
you are very welcome but
Detailed Answer:
I'm glad the accupuncture helped. It would certainly pass FDA scrutiny for pain and it is the safest of the pain modalities we've mentioned.
But I still don't know that I've answered all of your questions.
Feel free to ask more about this if further questions arise.
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
Answered by
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