She is 39, with two kiddies age 7 and 5. She's a working mum, being the main breadwinner, working termtime only (and fortunately some days at home). Around January she developed a swollen foot, no pain, and the doc said it was a sprain. A couple of weeks later she developed a swollen hand, no pain, and the doc said that was a sprain too. She was prescribed ibuprofen, but they made her ill.
A couple of weeks later she got cramps in her arms and shoulders, then lost the use of her fingers. Her job entails a lot of keyboard work and she couldn't do it.
Moving on, her shoulders seized up, the ankle was still swollen and pain set in in her arms and hands. She couldn't cook a meal, do her job, bath the kids. Too much pain, and by 6 pm was exhausted.
The doc did blood tests. Some showed low sodium, low folate, low vitamin B and kidney function issues, but after a few weeks of medications these were all back to normal. But the symptoms never changed. 4 months on and she is still in pain, swollen ankle, unusable hands and exhausted. Some days she is fine, others it just gets worse as the day goes on.
She was referred to a rheumatologist. Nothing amiss. She has had numerous blood tests, x-rays, bone scans and a CT scan. All normal.
She is a semi-wreck. She has never been ill before. She is not a wimp, she loves (and needs) her job, she is superb with the kiddies and her husband is a star. She has no money worries (so long as she is able to work - which she can't right now). Her employers are great - they have given her time off, and counselling, but nobody is getting to the bottom of what is wrong with her.
We are baffled. We took the GS to his sport session tonight and when we got back she was crying in pain. She has had numerous different pain killers prescribed and none help.
What could we try next? The medics seem to imply there is nothing wrong with her. But there is. We will gladly pay if needed. But don't know where to go.
