Question
Dear Sir
I live in the US but a relative of mine lives in Egypt. She came down with strange symptoms and no one there has any idea what is wrong with her or how to treat. She has sent me some of her medical reports to show it to someone but I am having a hard time figuring out what kind of doctor I need to talk to. I wonder if you could advise me what kind of practitioner I need based on her symptoms below. I will make an appointment and of course pay out of pocket just to get them to see her medical reports and tell me if they can figure out what it is, and then we can take it from there.
She is 20 years old, no history of trauma or surgery whatsoever. No heart conditions or diabetes. No sudden changes in weight. She has been otherwise healthy until struck with the following:

Continuous bad headache - day and night. Sleeps very little because of it. Sometimes closes eyes and has hard time opening them because of the headaches.
Bad pains generally in the right side of her body which she describes as follows:
Right ear ache - feels like something inserted and removed continually.
Right jaw ache - all right jaw and teeth ache. Dentist found nothing wrong.
Neck pain - cannot move it in any direction.
Pain in both shoulders and all back.
Right arm loss of control.
Pain extends like electricity or fire all the way down to right feet - has hard time walking on it.
Very difficult to sit, has to lie down.

She has seen: neurologists and back and bone specialists. No one knows what's going on.
Done: 12 sessions of chiropractic and natural therapy. No results.

Thank you.

Answer
Dear Moataz,

Wow...  this is a difficult one.  First of all because it is impossible to see the patient, and second because she has such a variety of symptoms.  As I read the narrative, my first inclination was that she should see a neurologist.  This is still my gut feeling.  I know that she has already seen one in the past, but God did not make all neurologists the same.  Some are going to be more talanted than others. Sometimes it is simply a matter of stumbling on the right test before a diagnosis can be made. I would also then consider seeing a rheumatologist.

The key is persistance. Most MD doctors want to give you a pain medication and send you on your way. Your relative is going to have to push for answers. When a script is offered, she needs to ask for a cause of her pain and symptoms, and not just a pill to cover it up.  The trouble is that it will make the MD uncomfortable... but also it will make them think "out of the box", so to speak.  Don't settle for a drug as an answer. Push for a Diagnosis... not just a vague diagnosis that simply describes symptoms.

Other thoughts...

Check the TMJ or jaw joint. This can cause headaches and neck/shoulder pain.
Consider Charcot Syndrome.
Consider benign brain growths
Consider hormonal imbalances


I think that it is noble that you are willing to pay for an office visit to go and discuss your relative's illness and suffering, but the truth is that a third party consult is not going to be of much value.  She needs to see local physicians.

Good luck,

Keith Biggs
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com