Question
Hi Doc,
I have been having terrible swelling in my feet and ankles since mid June.  Along with the swelling, I have been very stiff in my feet, instep, ankles, knees, wrists, and elbows.  The pain was so sever last month that I was unable to get out of bed in the mornings.  It would seem as if my muscles needed time to work in.
The pain has lessened- but I am still extremely swollen.
I am 30 years old.  I have one child 6 months.  I stopped breastfeeding aproximately the same time the pain started.  I have PCOS.  There is also a strong family history of Chrones disease. I have seen my family doctor and Homeopath, and a rheumatologist.  All of my blood is quite normal, my ESR is slightly raised, along with an elevated CRP.  The Rheumatologist didn't want to do any further tests until October- he suspects it may be a virus.  
I have been taking Naproxin- it doesn't do much.  The Homeopath has me on a list of remedies.  Nothing seems to be working and I am in a lot of discomfort, and I am quite nervous.  Any suggestions?
Thank you

Answer
Hi Stacey,

Make sure they did an ANA with the blood. Your symptoms sound consistent with prednisone use. Some other medications cause this as well. This also could be a food allergy, get a RAST profile or preferably an AgG and AgI food allergy panel. Go to an Internist, they love these things. I also am Internal Medicine but I need to see you in person to nail it down. The tests I gave you will give you a head start, especially the allergy and ANA. The PCOS shouldn't have anything to do with your present symptoms however. Please let me know how it turns out and feel free to copy this and give it to your doctor.


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Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com