virus and then arthritis pain/polymyalgia

[ipsofatto999]

Been through a stressful period - then got a virus I thought was sinusitis but wasn’t. Covid negative. Woke up two days ago, having thought I was feeling marginally better and my wrists, hands, neck, ankles and knees are all in agony. Ibuprofen and Paracetamol not touching the sides despite max dosage. Can’t sleep. On the morning can barely move - actually a bit scary. Can’t work. Am going to try (again) to get a GP appointment tomorrow but don’t know what I need - steroids? Blood test? Pain relief? All three? Any advice welcome and if anyone else had this would be interested to hear about it

Any help appreciated - the GP has offered me a phone consultation this morning. This is the third night I've had no sleep and can't control the pain - any advice on how to have this addressed properly gratefully received

Joint or muscle pain? Viruses are believed to be able to trigger things like fibromyalgia. That's how I got mine. They'd want it to be ongoing for a while before anything was diagnosed. Treatments a bit iffy with a lot of these things, pain medication while they see what's going on might be a good place to start. Absolutely blood tests to check for a few things like B12, iron, ana too tired to remember the rest.
There's antidepressants and anti epileptics they might prescribe if they feel it's nerve related. Arthritis probably they'd start with stronger anti inflammatories depending on the type of arthritis they're thinking.

Thank you - it's definitely the joints themselves rather than the muscles. Should I ask for a course of steroids to reduce the inflammation - my body seems to be really struggling to fight off the inflammation itself? Husband went and got some paracetamol-codeine this morning, which has actually helped with the pain but the joints themselves are still stiff, swollen and can't bend my fingers - struggling to even type this! I'm hoping it's a post-viral inflammation that can be addressed but no idea. Sorry to hear about your fibromyalgia - never knew it could start after a virus.

What age are you? Going on HRT has almost (still get flare ups) put my joint pain into remission, I was verging on suicidal due to the continuous pain. Need a hefty dose of painkillers for a while whilst the patches kick in.

Ok - redness/swelling does sound not like 'just' HRT - GP might want to check whether you need antibiotics in case there's infection in your joints.

Poor you, it sounds terrible.

early forties - that's interesting. Did you have joint pain for long before that? I just don't know how this started out of literally nowhere - was feeling a bit stressed with various things going on, but nothing spectacularly traumatic or anything - just assumed it was a bog standard non-specific virus and then boom, one by one, starting where the back of the neck meets the top of the spine, the pain just started and spread. Bizarre

Thank you - it is awful and if DH wasn't here, don't actually know what I'd do as I can't even turn on a tap or lift the kettle. Suggested to GP receptionist they might want to actually see the swelling instead of listening to me describe it over the phone (!) but nope- phone consultation is all I could get

see this is where all this triaging falls down as bet you'll end us using two appts, one over the phone then another in person.

it's definitely worth investigating whether you tick any other HRT symptoms, I'm on it for joint pain and mood swings mainly - it was so painful and codeine only took the very edge off it

Hope the GP listens

It could be a post viral syndrome rather than anything lasting. A lot of things like fibromyalgia and regional pain syndrome along with chronic fatigue and more directly things like long covid are thought to be triggered by viruses. I'm not really up on steroids they're not typically used with the various chronic conditions I have. I did have a shot of cortisone once but all it did was make it hard to sit because of pain at the injection site. I do get a lot of joint pain with my fibromyalgia. I'm on a cox 2 inhibitor Celebrex for that. Mostly because I can't tolerate other anti inflammatories I've been on over the years.

exactly this - still no phone call either.

It does sound like an immune response. My Rheumatologist told me a severe infection can lead to RA years later. Not suggesting it's that but RA can also appear suddenly. You obviously need it investigating if it doesn't subside. The first thing would be blood tests.
I'm not a great believer in blaming the menopause for everything, there's a danger of missing disease.

In the short term ibuprofen may help more than paracetamol. Also Diclofenic Gel (brand Volterol) rubbbed into painful joints can give relief. Heat or cold pads whichever works best for you.

Well - had the phone call. She had already decided it was viral meningitis as I mentioned a stiff neck and was v keen to send me off for a lumbar puncture (without any physical exam! On a junior doctor strike day!) but then relented and let me come in for physical exam. Agrees prob not viral men but does think it’s some kind of viral response with autoimmune reaction as I’m run down from stress. Blood tests ordered (I had to ask!) and pain relief. So glad I asked on here first and didn’t get dispatched to an overstretched hospital for a painful and invasive test without any clinical indication it was necessary!

My dad got this in 1984.

was on steroids till he died in 2008.

docs reckoned it was a virus he’d contacted in 1939, when he had to make his way across occupied Europe, so was sleep8ng rough for months and no medical care.when it reactivated he was in agony and couldn’t raise his hands above his shoulders. Steroids were a god send.

Could be a form of reactive arthritis. See www.nhs.uk/conditions/reactive-arthritis/

Thing with viral meningitis is that often they only offer supportive treatment anyway as it's viral so unless you feel so unwell you need to be in hospital there many not be much benefit to knowing you have it.

Glad you've got pain relief - often being in less pain helps move better/do more which can help with an upward spiral. Equally these post-viral things are a ballache and can take a while to resolve.

Hope it eases soon

Hey, I know this thread is old but wondered what the outcome of this was? I’m going through the same thing I think