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If you are a GP, and someone presented with these symptoms....

109 replies

overthehillswegoo · 28/06/2023 11:08

What would you be querying?

Lower back pain for two years, mainly to the right side but can be central (pelvis x-ray came back normal). Hurst when standing still or seated, but fine when moving/exercising.
Pain/stiffness in middle of back when straightening up after bending over.
Nail psoriasis (diagnosed).
Occasional stiff neck, coinciding with headache.
Tingling/numbness in left foot (last 6 month) and sometimes up lower leg. Currently seeing a physio to help, and nerve conductor studies came back fine.
Bunions, and shooting pain in big joint.
Severe dry eye for two years (now being treated by steroid drops from opthalmologist).
Constant sore, flaky ears (previously given drops for 'eczema' in ears)
Red, sore rash on underams.
Red, sore rash around eyes (only really happens in Winter).
Genital itching/soreness.
Recurring sore elbow joint, hurts to rest it on desk whilst working.
Infrequent knee pain.

All of the above are happening now, not at different time periods.

Had brain and spine MRI to rule out MS (referred for this due to eye problems and, at the time, numb hands), both scans came back showing no lesions.

Lots of bloods tests ran for rheumatoid factor, deficiencies etc. All came back ok.

If this was your patient, what would you be thinking next? TIA

OP posts:
HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 28/06/2023 11:10

Sjögren’s syndrome. ? But I’m not a doctor

Summerishereagain · 28/06/2023 11:11

Diabetes?

DelilahBucket · 28/06/2023 11:11

Are you hypermobile?

overthehillswegoo · 28/06/2023 11:12

Not hypermobile

OP posts:
overthehillswegoo · 28/06/2023 11:14

Quite the opposite right now 😁@DelilahBucket

OP posts:
abmac95 · 28/06/2023 11:15

Hypocondriac?

AnnaMagnani · 28/06/2023 11:16

Refer to rheumatology for an opinion on whether this is psoriatic arthritis.

overthehillswegoo · 28/06/2023 11:16

Is that the same as hypochondriac, @abmac95 ?

OP posts:
overthehillswegoo · 28/06/2023 11:17

@AnnaMagnani Are you a medical professional? I mean, I agree with you, but just wanted to know if this was a professional opinion

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 28/06/2023 11:17

Oh and genital itching - are you perimenopause

overthehillswegoo · 28/06/2023 11:18

AnnaMagnani · 28/06/2023 11:17

Oh and genital itching - are you perimenopause

Nope

OP posts:
BeCruelToBeKind · 28/06/2023 11:19

Ask for a print out of your blood test results and see what level your B12 actually is. You can still suffer symptoms (tingling, pins & needles, joint pain etc) as the U.K. ‘normal’ range is set really low compared to other countries.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 28/06/2023 11:22

Unfortunately anything more complicated than a chest infection and GP are stumped. They can’t do it.

Ask for referral onto a specialist they feel would be most suited as they have not been able to diagnose.

overthehillswegoo · 28/06/2023 11:28

Further info (probably should have added this to the OP, sorry).
Was referred to a neurosurgeon after the MRI, as apparently the MRI showed herniated discs. Neurosurgeon thinks this was over reported, and it isn't herniated discs. He has booked another, 'better quality' MRI due to the nerve conduction studies also coming back ok.
But at the minute, I feel that although I am seeing this specialist and they are investigating the back pain and foot tingling to see if its nerve related, all of the other symptoms are not being linked/queried because this isn't their remit I guess

OP posts:
Littlethingsmeanalot · 28/06/2023 11:30

Could it be health anxiety? I ask as you’ve an exhaustive list inc bunions.

Maplesinnaples · 28/06/2023 11:35

How old are you? What's your BMI?
Vitamin D deficiency for the recurrent joint pain, thyroid test for the dry eyes. A lot of people over the age of 40 have general aches and pains, physio for exercises to help joint pain perhaps.
Have you had blood tests?

overthehillswegoo · 28/06/2023 11:37

@Littlethingsmeanalot Honestly, no I don't think so.
The bunions, for example, have been there (or forming) for a while. I was not concerned about them ever, except for the fact I needed wide shoes. It's only since suffering other join issues that I thought to list them on here for completeness, in case they can be related or linked to anything else. Also as I've recently developed pain in them, I thought it was worth mentioning.

Lots of these symptoms I have ignored for a while/years.
I put it down to 'old age' (I'm actually under 40), but it was friends who said a lot of them were not normal and I shouldn't be putting up with them at this age.
I was surprised when the GP suggested MS, but also relieved when MRI said it wasn't. Before being sent for the MRI to rule this out, the GP was taking the symptoms very seriously, and querying psoriatic arthritis.

But since being referred to a specialist, I feel everything is all a bit disjointed now and my initial issues are on the backburner

OP posts:
Maplesinnaples · 28/06/2023 11:38

Your flaky eyes could be blepharitis, wash your face with baby shampoo.
The rash under your arms could be a deodorant allergy.
You could try an elimination diet to see if the pains, itching and dry eyes improve. You could be intolerant to something.

overthehillswegoo · 28/06/2023 11:38

@Maplesinnaples Early 30s, BMI is 24

OP posts:
Duckling771 · 28/06/2023 11:39

Psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis possibly. Get a hla b27 genetic test and referral to rheumatology hopefully

overthehillswegoo · 28/06/2023 11:40

@Maplesinnaples Is blepharitis the eyelids? This is more around my eye sockets, ie under my eyebrows but above eyelids, and under my eyes

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Maplesinnaples · 28/06/2023 11:40

I second rheumatology.

Duckling771 · 28/06/2023 11:42

By the way I would check if the MRI went as far as your sacroiliac joint, alot of back MRIs stop before this point and miss sacroilitis which indicates ankylosing spondylitis

overthehillswegoo · 28/06/2023 11:43

@Duckling771 I've been sent for one privately now (last one was NHS) so I'll ask the questions, thanks

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NoLeaveIt · 28/06/2023 11:44

Yep, Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arithritis could explain a lot of the itching and pain respectively.

My Psoriatic Arithritic moved from toe to heel to knee to hip for no obvious reason.

Psoriasis causes horrendous itching in private parts.