Okay moms, my complete medical history is too long to get into but I'm hoping I can find someone who has had similar symptoms to figure out what the heck this is. I've been to my family doc and she kind of blows me off but I know something is wrong. Every few weeks or so, sometimes I'll go two months with no pain, an area of my body aches severely. It's hard to even explain, I think it's nerve pain but am not sure. It almost feels like I have a severe burn. It hurts to touch the skin and clothing over the area is painful. Each time it flares up, the area changes. The best way I can describe the feeling is like when I had chicken pox (as an adult) the day before I broke out, it felt like that all over. Anyway, I've had this for over a year now, off and on, and it's really driving me nuts! I've had it on both hips, low back, mid back, back of one shoulder and up into my neck. Anyone experienced anything like this? My doc did say she's sure it's just due to stress but I'm concerned I have some type of condition that should be treated. What kind of specialist would I go to for this? Dermatologist? Thanks mamasource.
Hi J.,
I would consider to change doctors. If it has been a year and you are not getting better, you may want to consider finding a better doctor, don't you think?
after reading your question my first thought was also shingles!!!!
I had a friend that didn't get chicken pox until she was an adult and then a few years after that she got shingles. I guess it is very common........just as the other posters said.
J.,
I too have actually experienced this. I know exactly where you are coming from. All last winter I experienced the burning pain. I once had it on my side, and the dr. probably said it was shingles and put me on an antiviral medicine for week or so...can't remember. it went away, but like yours would come back on different areas of the body. legs, arms. I tried the whole chiropractor thing, and it was pointless. I saw a neurologist too, did tons of nerve tests, and everything came back fine. They didn't know what to tell me. So, here is my best advice. Get all the bloodwork done that you can...I was tested for lyme, b-12 deficiancy...etc... I finally found out just this winter that I have a low calcium level. If you look online at low calcium, it describes the symptoms. My dr.'s didn't connect it but I did. I started taking a multi vitamin and a seperate calcium with vit. D in it too. I have been pain free since about sept or so. It is worth a shot. hope this helps.
I had the same thing on the back of my neck and shoulders (mostly on one side). I told my doc the only way I could expain it, is that it feels like a sunburn. My doctor sent me to a neurologist. She said it was probably a flare up of the Herpes Virus (not as gross as it sounds, the one that causes chicken pox). Shingles is the same thing. She said sometimes it flares up and causes the nerves to become hyperactive, that is what causes the pain. She gave me Lidoderm patches. It helped numb the area until it healed on its own. It took several months for the pain to go away completely.
Maybe you do have a pinched nerve or two, and it's causing these symptoms. Would you consider going to a chiropractor?
I also wonder about food or environmental allergies.
J.,
My cousins wife just had shingles, and she described much like you! I agree with the other posters... especially since the shingles virus and chicken pox viruses are related, if you had chicken pox as an adult, I think they could be connected.
J.
That was my immediate thought too...shingles. I think they can flare up with stress...might wanna do some research...and maybe talk to a dermatologist. I think they are EXTREMELY painful too, like you don't even want to wear clothes it hurts so bad. I have found that specialists are they way to go. Good luck!
Since you described it as the feeling similar to the chicken pox, could it be shingles? I have never had them, but have heard that they are terribly painful.
I hope you get some answers soon!
You may consider fibromyalgia. My mother has it and she suffers from pain that flairs up from time to time and is focused in her neck and back.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia
Whether it is shingles or fibromyalgia, or something else, you need to find a doctor that takes you seriously. I would look for ones that specialize in nerve disorder.
If you think something is wrong, and you don't feel your doctor is taking you seriously, find another doctor.
Good luck.
