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can anxiety cause joint pain?

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 10/20/2008 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
I'm wondering if anyone knows if anxiety or extreme stress can cause joint pain.

I've been to a RA doctor.  All bld wk and x-rays are negative.

I've been told ( not by a doctor ) that all tests can come back clear, however you can still have RA.

I've also heard that severe anxiety can cause joint pain, but will not turn into RA.

If anyone can help me on this -

I'm 34 yrs old. Diagnosed w/IBS and anxiety.  The joint pain seems to have just started over night.

I've had a few pains here and there over the past couple of years, but I just wrote them off as needing to get into shape, or just getting older.

This time though, my pains are in hands, wrists, hips, elbows, ankles and feet.

At the beginning, it was all of the above at once, then slowly some pains started to fade.  Still having athritis like symptoms in left hand and right ankle.  Some tingling in hands and feet.

Trying not to worry too much - see if my symptoms go away.

Any feedback will be great!

Jennifer

Posted 10/21/2008 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I think your other post is probably where the answers are going, but I will say:

Yes, the tests can come back 'fine' and you can still have a form of arthritis.

Yes, stress can cause joint pain AND if your anxiety is keeping you from getting a good night's sleep, that will cause joint pain as well.

IBS can cause joint pain, any autoimmune disease can kick off joint issues from what I understand.

Medications (some) can cause joint pain.

Try stretching daily, it may help some. Hang in there, I hope you get some relief and answers soon. ***

Posted 10/21/2008 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks CaMama!
Is IBS considered to be an autoimmue diesease?
When you say "yes, the tests can come back fine and a person can still have a form of arthritis" - does that mean any other kinds not ness. RA?
I'm sorry for what you probably think are stupid ?'s..
I honestly don't know 1 single person who has RA or Fibro.
My mother in law has IBS, but not very bad.
Jenn
Posted 11/1/2008 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
There are no stupid questions - when you are not familiar with something new, how can anyone expect you to just know something unless you've been exposed to it somewhere down the line?

I know chrons and colitis are autoimmune, I do not know how they catergorize IBS honestly.

There are, from what I understand, a lot of forms of arthritis. I have psoriatic arthritis, but there is rhuematoid and osteo to name a few more well-known ones. Lupus is a form of arthritis. I think there are quite a few out there (I want to say hundreds and they are still trying to figure them all out...but I might be thinking of a different statitistic for something else, maybe someone more knowledgable whill pipe in and set that question straight tongue )

I didn't know anyone with arthritis (espeically my age) for years....lately, I'm meeting more and more people with my same story....diagnosed at 11, have one form or another they are dealing with still....I'm 38 now.

Posted 11/6/2008 9:22 PM (GMT 0)

I just want to share something and I do not know if this is anyones problem or not, But my mom has OA as well as me and degerative joint disease too. She sometimes get so much pain that is not normally affiliated with her OA,She also would get yeast infections real bad. it is sometimes  under her arms & under breasts. she went to a allergist who specializes in"CANDIDA" which is a yeast infection throughout your body and joints. He had her read a book called "back to Health" about Candida and then took her off all starches, sugars, white rice, limited fruits and only when she decides to indulge in these does her "CANDIDA" flare up. I too have gotten those rashes under my arm and breasts (painful & raw) and notice it was after I ate too much sweets or starches. (today is one of those days) it makes my joints so painful and stiff it almost feels like RA( I have been tested for RA). So here is a thought and good luck to everyone

Posted 11/7/2008 4:57 AM (GMT 0)
Glad you asked this. I have had migratory joint pain for 5 months. Mine will hit one spot then move to another, usually lasts 1 min to hours-mainly hits toes, fingers (not all just random ones) ankle,etc.. Also I noticed extreme joint cracking when this started, the cracking is getting worse. Sometimes my joints come out of the socket. For 3 months I have had muscle twitches all over my body non stop too.

Drs are stumped. All tests (including EMG) have been fine...

Any other symptoms J?

Posted 1/13/2009 5:48 AM (GMT 0)
Have you ever taken Cipro ?
Posted 1/13/2009 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
I am going thru almost exactly the same thing. I have anxiety, IBS and insomnia. I am feeling a lot better lately but for the past two years I have been going thru what seem to be flares or some sort or another. The past two years, in the fall, I have been hit with extreme joint pain in my knees, hands, wrists, shoulders and hips. Not everything hurts at once - it migrates.  Extreme fatigue and migranes also during the first part of my so called flare. This seems to last for about two months and then slowly starts to get better. The doctor's can find NOTHING wrong on any of the tests and I have had most of them that I know of.  X-rays, bloodwork, etc. all comes back normal. I don't normally post but I usually check this site at least once a week. It makes me feel better knowing that there are other people that know exactly what we are going thru. I know it's not in my head. It might take years to figure out but in the mean time I know I am not crazy. You are not alone.
Posted 1/14/2009 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
Anxiety could cause joint pain, I think. My aunt use anti-anxiety meds from Costmeds.com. It's effective for her

Post Edited (Gordon22) : 11/5/2009 12:38:34 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 10/21/2010 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Wondering if any of you have been tested for lyme disease? These symptoms really sound like lyme.
Posted 10/23/2010 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
You may want to give GABA a try. If that helps relieve your anxiety and your pain doesn't drastically improve after a few days or weeks, then you may have to explore other avenues of treatment.

The mind-body connection is a powerful phenomenon, but docs and some other people like to blame it because it's an easy scapegoat that absolves them of responsibility and puts it all on you. Awfully convenient for them.
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