Chronic abdominal and joint pain

I have had all over joint pain for nearly ten years. Started in my shoulders but has spread to hips, ankles, wrists, knees, fingers, and even toes. Never really mentioned it to the doctor because the discomfort is managed with OTC meds.

In the last two years I stared having severe abdominal pain. It started out feeling like extreme menstrual cramps but it wasn't cyclic. I had a diagnostic lap to rule out endometriosis and it was negative.

Over the last year the pain has progressed in severity and included more than pelvic region. It can be a burning dull pain usually in pelvic region, upper abdomen, or a very sharp stabbing pain in all quadrants but very specific locations.

Other Symptoms include hair loss, increased anxiety, severe insomnia caused by pain rarely helped with RX medication, Vitamin D deficiency, slightly elevated ALT.

Bowels are fairly regular with some occasional constipation and/or diarrhea. I do at least feel bloated sometimes. A lot of painful fullness under the ribs. Usually after sitting for too long.

I had an ultrasound 01/2017 that showed a ruptured hemorrhagic cyst, followed up 04/2017 and it was resolving. 02/2018 the pain was worsening so i went back to the doctor who repeated the ultrasound. showed small hypo-echoic area where cyst used to be.

05/2018 pain was so severe went to urgent care then referred to ER, CT and Ultrasound showed 2cm cyst. Referred to GYN for endometriosis consult. Diagnostic Lap performed 07/2018 and was negative but for some pelvic free fluid. No cyst present during ultrasound. 

Urinary- no burning or urgency but increased output. I’ve always urinated more than everyone I know. My old RN manager thought I was diabetic and made me test my glucose several times to prove it to her. I wake up up to 6 times a night to pee. I pee up to once every 45 minutes. Actually pee. Not dribble a little. Labs appear normal except low sodium from peeing so much. 

For instance, today my pain has been, besides the general burning ache in abdomen, an intermittent stabbing in lower left by hip bone. like a pulsing stabbing pain. It alternates all around. upper left, upper right, lower left, lower right.

same stabbing sensation in each area, sometimes multiple areas at a times.

Hello  Sorry to hear you are suffering with all over pain.  It seems many of us are in the same boat.   

I would get an appointment with your GP I would imagine he/she will do a full blood tests.  Your symptoms could be caused by many things or a combination.  One thing that does come to mind is Thyroid function.  You don't mention how old you are but it does become more common around menopause.  It can cause a multitude of symptoms but the main ones are feeling the cold, aches and pains and fatigue.  Low vitamin D often comes with low thyroid function and digestive problems like IBS seem to common in patients with thyroid problems so maybe ask for a blood test.  Hope you can get some help.  I sympathise as I too suffer with a lot of pain over the body although I do have osteoarthritis but I also have an underactive thyroid which is why I mentioned it.  Take care and let me know how you get on.

Hi jackieMcc88

I had a similar thing some time ago with pain in abdomen and excessive urination. After many tests at Urology, Gynaecology scans etc it turned out i had B12 deficiency. Low B12 can affect the nerves in the bladder so it is not able hold the urine for long it becomes very sensitive. Low B12 also causes stomach and digestive problems. Get your B12 and Thyroid checked as previously mentioned by another reply...

Hi Mary19068 can I please ask you if you were woken by extreme painful pins and needles which left hands and arms tingling the following day?

Hi Mary, my B12 is ok. I’m actually producing a lot of urine. Not just frequency just to low retention ability. Almost every time I go it’s like I’ve help it for hours but it’s only been 1 

I’m 29, most of my blood work has been normal. Thyroid in normal range. I know long term vitamin D deficiency can cause osteoarthritis and osteoporosis but 4 years ago those labs were normal. 

Hi jackieMcc88

Have you had a Urodynamics Test and seen a Urologist. This test will tell whether you have an oversensitive bladder which will cause incontinence. Also, have you been tested for any urine /kidney infections?....

Hi wendy68446

Yes, low B12 is classic for causing pins and needles.....

Thank you. I have a doctors appointment on Wednesday so I will mention it to her then. I’m just tired all the time and assumed the iron and folic acid tablets I take would have sorted out my energy levels.

I would get your thyroid test done again.  Sometimes it can show normal when your thyroid is not and you are getting symptoms.  The thyroid test isn’t slways accurate.  My mum had this problem. Your hair loss made me wonder about underactive thyroid.  Have you gained any weight recently?

Hi wendy68446

Folic acid, iron and B12 work together they all have to be at their correct individual levels for us to have goid energy levels. Low B12 causes extreme fatigue, very low energy and low mood. It would be a good thing if you have a complete anemia test including B12, folate and iron/ferratin. Very low B12 can cause pernicious anemia. Research "Low B12 Symptoms" and "Pernicious Anemia and B12".....keep us posted....

Hi jackieMccs88

Have you been tested for 'inflammation'

in the body.?This MAYBE causing your joint pains. Have you told your doctor about the pain? If you don't mind me asking how old are you? As you may have Polymyalgia Rheumatica which can cause frequent urination, but PMR usually occurs in 55 - 60 age group...

I haven’t yet had any testing for inflammation. I’m 29. 

I will ask my doctor to retest my thyroid. 

Hi jackieMcc88

You are rather young to be having inflammatory conditions such as PMR..but you could have another condition called Fibromyalgia. I think you should discuss your pain with your doctor and the areas where you get the pain. There is no blood test for fibromyalgia it can only be diagnosed from the areas where you feel the pain. Are you on any medication? as certain medications can block absorption of B12...

I take topamax 100mg daily for migraines, daily vitamin, weekly vitamin D 

Hello I agree with pippa 58442.  It would be a good idea to get your thyroid function test redone.  They have a range which they use as normal but as pippa 58442 said it may still not be normal for you.  If you want to research Hypothyroidism on line and you will see there is a long list of symptoms not that you would get them all but you could compare.  Hair loss is one of them although not a common one what is common is losing the outer part of your eyebrow which happened to me before I was diagnosed over 25 years ago.  Other symptoms off the top of my head weight gain and not being able to lose weight, feeling tired, feeling the cold (even the other way heat intolerance which I have) and more.  Also there is a forum on this site for Thyroid disease.

👍

Hi mary19068, I had my doctors appointment today and she has told me to stop taking iron and folic acid tablets and to lose 1-2 stone. The pins and needles she thinks is related to carpal tunnel rather than B12. I explained that I have little energy but she still wants me to stop taking the supplements. 

Hi wendy68446

Where exactly are the pins and needles?...are you overweight?