should I or should I not that's the question

well i'll say this is new to me.  I not usually one to hurt as far as aches and pains are conserned but this is really starting to worry.  Lately I ache all over.  not just a dull ache a very noticable ache.  It started a few months back and my shoulders were giving me a lot of problems.  I mean hurting pain and I"m thinking I'm 31 I shouldn't hurt like this.  I work constantly in front of a computer and I'm sure that has a lot to do with it.  So I didn't think anything of it.  I mean my shoulders would hurt so bad it brought tears to my eye's.  Over time espically these last few months my entire body hurts more so upon waking in the mornings and in the evening as I'm trying to relax.  Their's no such word relax for me.  Most times I feel better up moving around.  Its really strange.  My wrist bother me, again could be related to the computer.  I've always had problems with my knees espically when I tore my acl in my right knee several years ago.  its always been a little bothersome, but just lately what's really been bothering me are my legs and feet.  Its so hard to discribe and I just know my doctor is going to think i'm crazy when I tell him this, but i'm concerned.  i've gotten to where I can't wear any heels they just kill my feet.  I wear loafers all the time but my feet still are very sore and hurting by the end of the day.  What feels the best so far is hot baths and stretching out in the recliner.  I got a hot bath last night and I was particularly achy for some reason and I could almost feel all my muscles sighing a sigh of relieve.  My back is a new ache just at the lower part of my back but it really is bothersome.  I never have back problems. 

I'm just worried.  I've made a doctor's appointment and I'm going to mention these things to him but I just hope he doesn't laugh me out of the office.  I'm 31 and I feel like I have a body of 50 year old.  I just don't feel right you know.  I keep thinking this is all in my head but I've taken tylenol and the aches are temporarily gone and each morning I wake achy.  I hurt so bad by the end of the day I can't stand it and getting comfortable for sleep at night is almost impossible. 

any insight would be helpful.  I'm seriously not one to have aches and pains like this but I really don't want to ignore it and have it get continually worse and that's kind of what its doing. 

Hey there,

I'm so sorry you hurt all over.   Be reminded though, YOU ARE NOT CRAZY!  If you say you were never really one to have aches & pains....well we have something here don't we?  Some theories state and I truly believe that pain is the 5th vital sign.  Tells us something is wrong, somethin' ain't right.

 

I don't know your history...do you suffer from arthritis of any sort?  Medications beside OTC?

 

I know what you mean by feeling like, "Hey, I'm only 31....what gives?".  I'm 24....and I see 90 year olds crossing the street faster than I do!  

Unfortunately though, some illnesses are equal opportunity employers....no age discrimination!   And hey....50 is young!!!!!!!!!!!  My honey's 50 and he does marathons!!   But I know what ya mean.  LOL.

 

What type of doc will you be seeing?

Write all this stuff down...especially all the specifics pains.:::

 

Are they effecting both sides of your body?  Like both knees, both wrists, etc...

Is the pain worse on exertion?

Worse at night?

What relieves it?  Makes it worse?

Fevers, fatigue, morning stiffness?

Family history of OA or RA.

How it effects your work/sleep/mobility.

Onset of these pains?

Do the muscles hurt as well as the joints?

Swelling of legs/joints/hands?

Shooting pains? Pins and needles/numbness?

Sensitivity to cold/heat?

Do your feet burn?  Feel hot?

 

The doc won't laugh at you especially if you go over the stuff listed above.  The more specific the better, therefor he can get a clue whether this pain is arthritic, neuropathic, musculosketal, work related, etc...

I have RA, it's pretty bad (putting it lightly) and I get that too, where everything begins to ache severley when you lay down at night.  Like a house settling!!!  OUCH!!!!!!!!!  The mornings are really bad.

You're on the right path, you have your appt. made.

What tests have you had already?

 

Best wishes,

Erin

Taintedangel, welcome to HW. I'm glad that you found us and have had the courage to ask your questions. I am 30 (31 next month) and at times I have felt like I am 80. Hang in there. You are not crazy, and this pain is not all in your head. If the Dr laughs you out of the office..... find another Dr. Keep fighting for your body and a DX. There are lots of options out there. Quality of life is the most important thing. We will all be behind you and will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

Keep posting.

(((HUGS)))
Oreo

I work constantly in front of a computer and I'm sure that has a lot to do with it.

TaintedAngel, I would be inclined to agree with you that part, if not all, of you aches and pains could be related to working on a computer all day. That should NOT stop you from seeing your doctor.

You didn't mention where you worked, but I would suggest that you contact your HR depatment and see if they offer ergonomic assesments of work place. As much as "egro" is a bad word in some quarters, simple little changes can make a difference.

simple little things like:
Is the height of your chair correct? is you desk to high or low? where is the keyboard located? how about the height of the monitor? at eye level?

The lady at the next desk complained of shoulder pain. Changing from the unusal mouse to a trackball style easied that pain.

Lower back pain, perhaps you chair isn't set properly?

Many in the office have standing desks, others have even has the desk tops lowered so that they are 30 inches rather then the 32/36 standard height.

If your employer doesn't offer erog-assesments, perhaps a state or county agency (health dept?) offer them for free or at a resonable cost to the employer.

But if your workplace offers, accept. But remember to see your doctor also, a word from him/her could help your employer move a little faster in changing thing for you.

Hey tainted angel - what thyroid disorder do you have?

Best of luck to you angel... I know how hard it is to deal with all these problems and keep positive for the holidays... let us know how you are doing... - Duck

hey tainted angel... so good to hear from you... you're right, you need to bring this up to your doc, however, in the mean time, do you have a heating pad? That may help alleviate some of the pain, as well as warm/hot baths and maybe some alleve? If you can, try and sleep with a heating pad, it may help... good luck and let us know how you are doing... Do you still have the goiter? Are they thinking of doing a thyroidectomy? Talk to you soon - Duck

I have been taking a supplement that combines tart cherry with glucosamine and chondroitin for my joints... they have worked wonders.

If you're not allergic to fish, you should try it!

Suzy

hey taintedangel... sometimes it is hard for our spouses or significant others to express how they truly feel about our problems when they themselves don't understand... You're right, your hubby doesn't want to see you hurting and his reaction was probably just a knee-jerk reaction to it all... Take him to your appointments with you (if he can go), that way he can hear everything from the doctors mouth and it might help him understand things better too... My hubby goes with me to all my appointments, whether I want him to or not... :) He says he does it to show his support for me and to understand it. He doesn't have anything wrong with him, so this is totally foreign to him. He asks more questions than I do half the time... Hang in there, your hubby will come around... take care - Duck