can anxiety cause joint pain?

I suffer from anxiety and recently started having joint pain.

I'm wondering if anyone knows if anxiety or severe stress can cause joint pain w/out it meaning RA.

I have seen a RA doctor.  All tests have come back normal.

I've been told that all test can come back clear, however a person can still have RA.

Also, I've heard that high anxiety can cause joint pain - but it won't turn into RA - just another symptom of anxiety??

Would love comments!

Thanks!

Jenn

Thanks for your reply, could you please explain - what is DJD?

Jennifer

It is possible for tests to come back clear and a person to have RA but you would usually present with any one of the following : visible swelling, warm/hot joints, nodules, red joints, lack of mobility, a fever. Some clinicians go by blood work, some by bloods and phsyical exam, some by physical exam alone.

As Kitt says, anxiety can cause lots of symptoms and the pain produced by it definately won't turn into RA. RA can't be caused by anxiety alone.

Thank you all for replying!
I don't have any visible swelling, fever, red or warm joints. Only pain in every joint possilbe in my hands! I swear - I didn't know just how many there were!
I'm 34 yrs old, I'm not over weight / under weight however, I do suffer from anxiety. For the most part, my anxiety has been under control. I will say though that when my anxiety is high - I don't eat! I go all day some days only eating one meal in the p.m. I'm just not hungry when I'm really anxious.
Helping fix up a rent house - painting a lot - is when I noticed my hands and ankles hurting. I knew it was from all of the weird positions I was in (small closets, painting small trim work w/a little brush, ect.) that caused those 1st pains.
However, about 2 weeks later, I woke up w/every joint in both hands, both wrists, knees, hips, ankles and feet were killing me! I noticed my thigh muscle was very sore! Lord knows it wasn't from exercising! All of this lasted all day for about 3/4 days. Slowly the pain had gone, except in my hands - mostly my left - I'm right handed.
I notice after doing labor work like mowing, ect. the next day my pain is worse.
I've just been really confused by the normal bld wk.
I think that once a dr. hears you suffer from anxiety, they then tell you that's the root to all of your problems.
My dr. wants me to start taking my Ativan (I take an antidepressant daily and have now for 2 yrs) when my anxiety starts up. She believes that once I calm my worries, my "physical symptoms will go away."
I don't know what to think - negative test results, joint pain in multiple areas, low anxiety...
Hard to wrap my mind around it. I just keep hearing that if it is RA, I should be aggressive about it - "catch it in it's early stage!" How can I w/no diagnoses?
The only problems I have are IBS, GERD, Anxiety and now - moderate joint pain.
Meds I take daily - Antidepressant, Vitamins, Ativan (when needed)
Thanks! Jenn

Hi Jenn,

 

You are describing what could be Fibromyalgia! I also have it.  When you have this "joint pain", it could actually be pain in the muscles, tendons and ligaments that surround each joint.  You won't be able to tell the difference between true joint pain, and Fibromyalgia.  They feel the same. You won't have redness or swelling either. Pain in leg, arm, shoulder back muscles is also very common.  Fibromyalgia is NOT inflammatory. So any anti inflammatory meds will actually make your symptoms worse. Interesting huh!!

 

Fibromyalgia and anxiety are very closely linked.  For people with Fibro, the hypothalmus, pituitary gland and adrenal glands are "messed up".  They don't give communicate with each other properly.  The result is anxiety, depression, fatigue and pain.  Anyone with anxiety is more prone to developing Fibromyalgia.

 

If all of your blood and urine tests come back normal.  You should get a referal to a rheumatologist. (do you see one for your IBS?)  Fibromyalgia won't show up in blood tests.  The only way to get a diagnosis is through a physical exam. 

It is true with Fibro - if you can medicate or eliminate the anxiety, most of the pain will go away. It's a very tricky disorder to have.  I'm starting on Zoloft this Wednesday.  I'm praying that once my anxiety, depression, etc, will be treated and my Fibro pain will lessen or go away. 

Good luck and I hope you get answers very soon,

Ginny 

I have joint pain during times of high anxiety and stress. It also wreaks havoc on my stomach (makes my colitis worse). I typically have tingling in my arms and pain in my back. I've found physical therapy and a massage 2 times a month to be helpful. I'm weaning off some of my meds now and have noticed more joint pain/stiffness and stomach upset.

I think my Dr diagnosed me with the fibro b/c she ruled everything else out. I went to a Neuroligist and had nerve conduction studies and MRIs done...all normal. I tried to take Lyrica for the fibro but decided against it b/c I felt it was too much with me already taking Lexapro, Clonazepam and colitis meds daily.

Hang in there. I know the pain can make the anxiety creep up again, but just try to relax and keep it in check. Good Luck!!

Hey Jenn,

 

I didn't know about the gland issues until just recently.  A lot of research into Fibromyalgia's causes has been done, and it appears that for some reason, the HPA Axis - two glands in the brain (hypothalmus, pituitary) and the adrenals (which sit on each kidney), go through a trauma big enough to cause them to malfunction. Post traumatic stress, anxiety, car accident, health crisis, abuse (in all forms), etc, seem to be the types of traumas that lead to Fibromyalgia. So you won't really know if you have the gland malfunction until you get the fibro diagnosis, or you start having a lot of issues with metabolic disorders, trouble with your blood sugar, body temperature, and many other issues.  The biggest red flag for this (HPA Axis) is the anxiety factor. if you have uncontrollable anxiety and a constant feeling of an adrenalin rush, low blood sugar, something isn't balanced.

 

I was diagnosed with it in 2001.  But, looking back on all my symptoms and issues as a kid, I can trace back to when I was about 8 years old!  If you had "growing pains" as a child, that is one major contributor to Fibro.  I think I"ve had Fibro, and lupus most of my life. But it took until I was 26 to have enough symptoms of each (and to be sicker than a dog), to get the diagnosis.

 

I have all of the pressure points some days, and only a few other days.  it really depends on the day. Today, I had 14 of the 18.  Ouch.

Arthritis and Fibro pain will come and go.  Fibro is most recognized by pain that constantly travels around from joint to joint or muscle group to muscle group.  Arthritis will be more consistantly found in certain places.  It doesn't travel around. I have arthritis in my neck and lower back and it never goes away.  But the pain in my hands and wrists comes and goes when it pleases.  that's my fibro.

 

I would definitely bring up the possibility of Fibro with your rheumy. IBS is found frequently in Fibro too!  I just realized that.  IBS and Irritable bladder. They're both very common.  You should check out the threads on the Fibromyalgia forum! Low B12 is another one!!!  I was just checked for that too - but I'm okay. 

 

UC and Chrons are autoimmune.  Sounds like you had your ANA and other autoimmune function blood tests done, and they came back normal, you probably don't have UC or Chrons. Fibromyalgia is not autoimmune. Lots of information!  HOpe this isn't overwhelming!

 

Ginny

 

 

allgirls said...
Thanks P-Fit -
I'm really curious, what are your stomach symptoms?
It seems like everyone I've talked to that has joint pain either have UC or Crohns.
I was thinking that I have IBS....Humm
Jennifer

MY symptoms can vary. Many times it goes between very loose stools or constipation. I can have bad cramping, blood and mucus in my stools (sorry so graphic). My GI doctor tells me that some of my joint pain can be an outward manifestation of a colitis flare or being under treated w.the meds (symptoms outside the bowels/intestines). I have had eye pain before too. I had to switch the hand I use my mouse with b/c my finger would swell up so bad I could barely move it. I have my iron tested regularly b/c I can get real anemic really fast.

Careful with the Tylenol, it can really screw up your liver quiet easily. You should also avoid caffeine while taking Tylenol which can lead to permanent liver damage ... at least in animal studies. I was wondering why my liver never got better after overdosing on tylenol, must've been all these Mt. Dews and Jolts I was drinking to stay awake.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298158,00.html

Thanks for all the feedback!
I actually tried Aleve 2 nights ago - no relief.
I have to be careful what I take - sensitive stomach/gut.

I have also been DX with Fibro so
I do have to say for me the pain in joints and muscles are there for sure

NO ONE can DX you with Fibro except a good Rheumy..........

Please let us know how you make out with this ..........

LYN

stkitt -

Just curious, with your type of arthritis, is it in most of your joints.

When I google osteo, it mostly says it's from wear and tear.

My symptoms came on suddenly.

Jennifer

Jen,

My first exerience with osteo was in my great toe. All of a sudden I had pain walking as the joint hurt when it was bent.  1st Dr said just must have bumped it..rest it.....LOL.

I went back and the second Dr took the magificant xray........well lookey there, I had osteo at the joint as well as a bone spur so off to surgery and foot turned out well.  Took about a year before I could wear anything except tennis shoes.

My thumb started same way, it was fine and then the pain. Went to same DR. I should have known, nothing wrong, you have some tendonitis, rest, wear a wrist splint.

Then I went to hand surgeon......xrays again and  obviously bone rubbing on bone. I need the joint surgery and I will do it but with sister so ill I just can't take up to 6 months off right now.

I have seen all the xrays and in my mind I feel my PCP blew me off as anxiety too.

Be your own best advocate. To answer your question..............fine one day and then the pain just started. 

I feel sad about my hand writing because with a crippled thumb I write like a physician................can't read it. 

Hugs

Kitt