How long should I expect a joint inflammation virus to last?!
Question: I am 43 and have never had artiritis but on 8 December I started getting pain from my hips down the side of both thighs, the next day, my wrists joined in, then my ankles, then my knees. I waited a week to see what would happen and it got worse so i went to my doctor. He suspected parvo virus and took a blood test and gave me a weeks worth of steroids to reduce the inflammation whilst the virus had time to go away. Up until then I had been taking two ibuprofen every four hours during the day but that doesn't reduce the inflammation or pain. 2 days after the steroid course was completed, the pain and inflammation came back exactly as before so I phoned my doctor. My blood test results showed a viral infection but not parvo. I have been told to continue using ibuprofen (and anti-acid tablets to prevent stomach ulcers) until the virus goes away on its own. I don't have to be back at work till 7 January but I am in so much pain and so miserable, I can't believe there isn't more that can be done to reduce my inflammation and make me comfortable nor can I understand why the ibuprofen isn't working. I'm taking the maximum dose. Any clues as to how long this may last? I'm also worried as I obviously have to walk and bend etc. in order to live and have been told if you use swollen joints without reducing inflammation first you can cause permanent damage. if anybody out there can advise me please help. Thank you.
Answers: I am 43 and have never had artiritis but on 8 December I started getting pain from my hips down the side of both thighs, the next day, my wrists joined in, then my ankles, then my knees. I waited a week to see what would happen and it got worse so i went to my doctor. He suspected parvo virus and took a blood test and gave me a weeks worth of steroids to reduce the inflammation whilst the virus had time to go away. Up until then I had been taking two ibuprofen every four hours during the day but that doesn't reduce the inflammation or pain. 2 days after the steroid course was completed, the pain and inflammation came back exactly as before so I phoned my doctor. My blood test results showed a viral infection but not parvo. I have been told to continue using ibuprofen (and anti-acid tablets to prevent stomach ulcers) until the virus goes away on its own. I don't have to be back at work till 7 January but I am in so much pain and so miserable, I can't believe there isn't more that can be done to reduce my inflammation and make me comfortable nor can I understand why the ibuprofen isn't working. I'm taking the maximum dose. Any clues as to how long this may last? I'm also worried as I obviously have to walk and bend etc. in order to live and have been told if you use swollen joints without reducing inflammation first you can cause permanent damage. if anybody out there can advise me please help. Thank you.
He said it's a virus, but not parvo. Wow great doc. Seriously, there are diseases like Mono, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, the flu- many more. You probably need to be further checked. Specific testing is in order. Also, dont have the doc rely on a liver panel blood lab alone- sometimes as the case with Hepatitis C the alt and ast levels appear normal, yet you can still have active HCV.
Furthermore, HCV is one of those diseases that go undiagnosed for many years as the bi-directional diseases are often thought of as something entirely different. Sometimes they are mild symptoms....but the truth remains is that many heppers go to bed "fine" and wake up the next day seriously ill.
Make the doctors dig if it isn't hepatitis okay???? Oh! And lay off the asprin if you can- it can thin the blood which is a cause for internal bleeding in those with hcv infection. It can also aggrivate portal hypertention.
http://www.spunk--monkey.piczo.com/?cr=3...
Go back to your and ask him to test you for rheumatoid arthritis. They have a special test for it!