I've been having bouts of pain in my hips, wrists, base of thumb, elbows which my regular doc calls arthritis/tendonitis/buritis.
Seems its always something other than a MS issue.

Yet when I research joint pain and MS, I come up with some validation that there is this type of pain in MS.

To me it almost feels like a tendon problem but in a lot of places at once.
My elbow feels like "tennis elbow" but so do my thumbs and hips! Its sensitive to pressure, so when I sleep on my sides my hips hurt. If I pick something heavy up my thumbs/wrists/elbows hurt.

Does anyone else experience this type of pain?
I have a Neuro appt in Oct and will certainly double check with her....in the meantime.....ouch all over!

It sound like arthritis pain to me, Karilann. I have some joint pain, but hey, I'm getting old and I've had MS for over 40 yrs, so with me, it could be the natural process of things?

If you have a lot of stiffness/spasticity with your MS, that too, could be the reason for the pain. I would imagine that if your stiffness ever relaxes, then the pain could come.

OK that's your pre-med 101 lesson for the day.

I hope your doc can help you with your pain...so sorry.

Hugs,

Hi there Karilann. Have you ever had any doctors suggest Fibromyalgia? I have both that and MS and the symptoms for fibro are pain and stiffness in the muscles, tendons and ligaments. However, I've noticed joint pain also and don't know which to blame it on!! All I know is -- it HURTS all the time and so far nothing really takes away the pain.

Now we read that there is more pain associated with MS than originally believed, so who knows?? I'm sorry not to have any constructive info for helping aleviate the pain, but can definitely empathize with you.

Take care.......Judy -- aka msproperlady

Hi,
I was researching joint pain associated with ms and your post came up. I am 25 years old and have had unexplained joint pain for years. Mine sounds a lot like yours! Its almost like a burning sensation in my shoulders, knees, hips and elbows. Mine is also pressure sensitive and hurts when i lean/sleep on it. I have been tested for RA, Lymes disease and a million other things.
Have you learned anything new about the link (if any) between this type of pain and MS or fibromyalgia? I have another doctors appointment this week and plan on bringing it up.
it is nice for me to read that someone else has the same symptoms that I do as everyone I know seems to brush me off when I tell them. my pain is getting worse and Im starting to get scared that something is really wrong.
Ideas anyone? Thank you!

Hi Marissa and welcome to the group! I don't really have anything new to add, but wanted to wish you luck at your doctor's appointment.

Personally, I was diagnosed with osteo-inflammatory-degenerative arthritis when in my 20's -- before MS. Lately it's been bothering me again, especially my hands where I have those lumps on the first joint of all my fingers. Like Sally, I'm not a "spring chicken" anymore, but this seems to come at any age. Sorry! For me, plain old Aleve helps as much as anything.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Welcome marissa --- I angers me so when anyone so young has so much pain --- So sorry!!!

Hi Karilann, I also experience joint pain. I'm only 33, but was involved with many sports before MS. Some (basketball, volleyball) were very hard on my joint. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with my pain, but the last year or so (really bad right now) I have had a lot of pain in my wrists and my knees. I'm use to the pain in my knees but it doesn't hurt me all of the time. This wrist pain bothers me all of the time, it is a dull ache and it is really starting to get to me. I take Motrin and it doesn't seem to help. Sorry I couldn't give you any answers, but please let me know if you find anything that helps, I will do the same. I hope you start feeling better.

Went to Nuero appt and she told me that the pain assoc with MS can be very much like Fibromyalgia. She said the spasticity pulls and affects the tendons so you feel like you may have tendonitis all over.

She offered me vicodin, but I said I'd try stretching first.
Now my R hand is beginning to feel like I may have carpel tunnel....no reason for this to start! The bottom of my heels are sore too.

Karliann,

I have the exact pain you are describing.
It started off with Carpal Tunnel like sensations in my wrists and elbows. I have all the tests and nothing was found. I also have severly red hands and feet.

Now I ache like that all over. Neck, Knees, hands, arms - everywhere. My neuro seems to think it is a MS symptom. It will be 2 years in January since it all started. I haven't found much to help it, but I do know extreme temp changes, sitting/sleeping still too long and sleeping any position but my back makes it worse.

Some days it bad. Really bad. Those days are hard.
There are easier days too, those are the ones I live for.

Best of luck to you

Hi,

Did you get a lymes test? Have the doctor do a Western Blot. If more than three lines of the test are positive, you might consider pursuing treatment. Lymes and MS can be very similar, but a hallmark of lymes is joint pain.

Kathleen