<p>My son has an appointment next week to see a doctor about
pain in his joints. He says this has been going on for about a month - mostly wrists and fingers, but also toes, and occasionally shoulders and elbows. It’s kind of scarey to me, and I hope the doc has some ideas what could cause this in an otherwise healthy 17 year old.
He’s fairly active, but doesn’t play organized sports. More into rock-climbing and hiking, although hasn’t been outdooring it for a while. He says his body feels like it needs to be "cracked’ - like cracking your knuckles.
Not asking for diagnosis here, but I’d welcome some ideas of what it might be…anyone?
He asked to be taken to the doctor, so I know it’s a problem for him, as he’s never asked this in his life. :(</p>
<p>I’m not a physician (nor do I play one on TV), but it does sound like a good thing to check out since it is bothering him so much.</p>
<p>Your son’s complaints do remind me a bit of my brother’s “growing pains.” He had one summer as a teenager when he grew about 5 inches in height over the course of the summer and he said he could feel his bones and joints stretching at night.</p>
<p>That was the first time it ever occurred to me that “growing pains” might be real physical discomfort for some kids who grow very fast.</p>
<p>(In his case, he found it a small price to pay, since he’d been quite short up to then and was happy to be finally shooting up in height.)</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that your son’s pains are equally benign, but it is good that you’re checking things out with a doctor!</p>
<p>Thanks, wisteria. That would be sooo great if it’s just growing pains!
I’ve been googling arthritis and other diseases that geneally affect the geriatric set - nothing seems to fit just right.
When he first mentioned it, it was just his wrists, and I thought of carpal tunnel, as he does a lot of schoolwork on the computer. But once the elbows, feet and toes started hurting, I’m pretty baffled.</p>
<p>Teenagers certainly can get aches and pains, too- especially if at the computer alot. Probably it’s nothing more than that. However, a good exam and bloodwork will rule out autoimmune problems and inflammatory arthritis like Lyme and others. Let us know how he makes out.</p>
<p>A.S.A.P.~</p>
<p>Here’s a shot in the dark and a rather unlikely thing, but I had Fifth disease as an adult, and I developed sudden and VERY painful joint problems afterward. The joint pain took forever to go away, and it affected my hands and wrists the most. It is possible for an adult to get this harmless illness and not even realize it except for the joint pain, though blood work would reveal the antibodies for the disease. Here is a link to some info.:
<a href=“http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/parvovirus/B19.htm[/url]”>http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/parvovirus/B19.htm</a></p>
<p>I hope that your son finds an answer very soon. I am sure that it will turn out to be something minor. I wish you both the best. Please keep us posted. ~berurah</p>
<p>Actually, Parvovirus B19 is quite plausible. Did your son have any close contact with young children prio to this? The usual presentation in children is a facial rash over the cheeks(referred to as "slapped cheeks"appearance). In adults and adolescents the primary symptoms are join pains, often involving the wrists and fingers as well as other joints. One possible telltale sign that is seen in some is a rash which may appear(or worsen) after takiing a bath or shower on the abdomen and upper legs.
Of course, make sure that he sees his physician who can perform appropriate tests including bloodwork for Parvovirus and other possibilities, including Rheumatoid arthritis. Hope this helps.
P.S. I am a practicing Internist.</p>
<p>I’m not a doctor, but rather a pharmacist. Still, I may have a worthwhile conjecture for you. I noticed that you said your son does rock climbing, which I assume involves the use of fingers and toes for grabbing and shoulders and elbows for lifting. Arthritis can arise from the abnormal use of an otherwise normal joint, such as arthritis of knees in basketball or football players, arthritis of shoulders in competitive swimmers, etc. Even though he hasn’t been outside for awhile, maybe his hobby has caused enough stress on those “climbing” joints to cause arthritis to develop. </p>
<p>Another idea to check out is Lyme disease, which he may have contracted with hiking and climbing. I believe that can cause arthritis, too. Of course he needs to see a doctor to rule out any systemic causes of the pain. </p>
<p>FWIW, my son had “growing pains” that affected his knees in his early adolescent years. The doctor said it was because his bones were growing so fast that his ligaments were stretching and painful.</p>
<p>Several children in my town were diagnosed with Lyme disease that the parents initially thought were sports injuries. I spoke with one of the parents and she said she never saw a “bull’s-eye” rash. I have had RH since the age of 16 and one of my daughter’s friends was diagnosed at 13, so it is not for old people only. Typically the joints involved are symmetrical. If it is both knees, both wrists, and both elbows, it is certainly something that needs to be considered though the “popping” is not something I experienced. RH is usually a lot of swelling, pain, and the joints involved might be warm to the touch. It usually, also, comes with fatigue and is worse in the morning. RH often flares when seasons change.</p>
<p>Good luck to your son.</p>
<p>Lyme disease and RH are the two that came up as possibilities when I looked on the web. Climbing related arthritis and parvoviris I hadn’t considered - but worth a mention to the doctor. He doesn’t have any visible swelling, or rash that I know of, the pain is slight but noticable, not warm to the touch, and it is symetrical - both hands, wrists and feet, although not all at once, necessarily. It comes and goes. It is worse in the morning, although he isn’t tired or otherwise not well.</p>
<p>I thought about Lyme because he did a backpack in the Sierras about
7 weeks ago, and spent a week in the local mountains before that.
He took some really great photos of deer…
Thanks for your ideas, all. It gives me something to think about when talking to the doctor. It looks like he’s in for some blood work, and I hope we can know something.</p>
<p>Tifosi - do you happen to know the incubation period for the parvo?
Does everyone get a rash? He spent a week with a LOT of young kids at Scout camp about 10 weeks ago.</p>
<p>not Tifosi but the incubation period is in the link I gave above. It is usually 4-14 days, but can be as long as 20 days. When I had it, I definitely had the telltale lacy rash on my legs too. My joint paint went on for over a month. ~berurah</p>
<p>Getting blood work is important, as well as imaging, but be sure to also give a thorough history. And try to make sure the doctor is actually processing what you are saying. A good medical history can really help with the differential diagnosis process. Good luck to your son…I hope it turns out to be nothing.</p>
<p>Husband, MD, suggests this could be a disc problem. When problem is in both hands and feet, it could be a disc pressing on spinal cord. Ask for a cervical and lumbar MRI. Good luck!</p>
<p>I am glad several people mentioned Lyme disease because that is the first thing that occured to me. However, I am going to mention it again because I know several people that suffered for a long time with “mysterious” symptoms and doctors had great difficulty in identifying the cause as Lyme disease. It can be very hard to correctly diagnose.</p>
<p>berurah - did see this after I posted - thanks! I didn’t realize fifths and parvo were the same thing.
I appreciate your responses - I’m used to having to press the doctors to look at all angles, so having some of these possibilies, like the disc problem, Lyme, Parvo and RH for him to investigate may help us with the diagnosis. I’ll be sure to let you all know what we find out.
I hope it’s something treatable - I don’t think it will be nothing. S said today it’s actually been about a month that he’s had these symptoms.</p>