What could be the reason for chronic joint pain?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 26-year-old woman, 5 feet 10 inch tall and weighing 145 pounds. Over the past few weeks, I have been experiencing joint pain. I have had knee pain since I was 18, with no other associated problems. The pain is a mild ache, occurring in various joints throughout much of the day. It is most intense in my knees, but I also feel it in my ankles, hips, wrists, and a toe. The discomfort persists regardless of my activities, be it exercising, resting, sitting, standing, or walking. Sometimes, the pain extends to the muscles near the joints, such as spreading from my knee down to my shin. I find relief with Ibuprofen. Around the time the joint pain started, I also noticed a sore or lesion on the roof of my mouth (the hard palate). I am concerned that I might have an autoimmune issue, given my family history of type I diabetes and vitiligo. Currently, I am taking Fluoxetine and Prazosin. Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understood your concern. Yes, what you describe is an inflammatory condition, but not all of them are autoimmune. It is more likely to be post-viral reactive arthritis. However, I suggest you undergo below mentioned blood tests to proceed further:

ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate).
CBC (complete blood count).
CRP (C-reactive protein).
Urine routine tests.
LFT (liver function tests).
RA factor (rheumatoid factor) test.
Anti-CCP (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide) test.

I suggest you consult a specialist, talk with them, and take the medications with their consent. In the meantime, I suggest you continue with Ibuprofen, or even better, obtain Diclofenac from your doctor. I hope this has helped you. Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.

Thank you.

What could be the reason for chronic joint pain?

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