Joint Pain and issues

In My Humble Opinion
1

Alright, now I know I should go to the doctors and that none of you are MY doctors therefore the best I can expect is some advice and places to start with research and that sort of thing.

That said, I have joint pain in my hips and calves (near the heal). Generally if I walk around a lot the pain will dissipate. In that way it is similar to plantar fasciatis (sp?), which I had when I was extremely overweight (I’m still overweight, but I’m working on it).

Arthritis runs in my family (my mother has it) and my suspicion is that this is an early sign.

The pain is similar to PF, as I said, which means it seems muscular, although it doesn’t really inhibit my motion like a partial tear would. This has been going on for years and I’ve brought it up to a few general practitioners and the consensus has always been that this is just one of those things that come with age (I’m 35). I haven’t had any X-Rays or anything for the areas and I generally bring it up in passing. When I impinged my shoulder the doctor did X-Ray that and said that it looked like I had some arthritis in my shoulder (if my memory is correct, it was a few years ago) and that I should expect some pain in it. Well, I did some shoulder rehabilitation and my impingement went away. So I’m largely pain free (occasionally on a heavy bench press day my shoulder will ache for a bit throughout the day).

Any ideas or suggestions on what to ask the dr when I eventually go?

2

Are you in a region prone to Lyme disease? Suggest a test even if you’ve had no other symptoms. It can be a tricky, sneaky, elusive bastard.

3

I don’t know, actually. I’m in Northern Virginia. Is that a region prone to Lyme disease?

4

It’s largely a northeast and great-lakes region disease but maps show concentrations and cases well down into the northern tip of VA. It’s within the realm of possibility, especially if you traveled anywhere north of there much.

Lyme can have no initial symptoms and come back repeated as fever, body aches, and severe musculo-skeletal pain. I’d push for a test even if your doctor thinks otherwise; people who have been treated for 20 things before finally discovering it’s Lyme would fill a small state.