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Have Muscle And Facial Tightness And Pain Including Jaw And Neck Area. Can It Be Treated With Antiviral?
Question: I have been suffering from severe muscle/facial tigthness and pain including the neck and jaw area
I have had standard blood work done any everything appears normal yet the pain/tightness gets worse by the day.I've also seen a #of therapists with no relief.Someone who experienced similar type ,chronic symptoms was tested by an infectious disease doctor and was positive for # of factors and treated with anti viral medication and his symptoms cleared-up immediately.Do you think I should try this route...?
XXXXX
I have had standard blood work done any everything appears normal yet the pain/tightness gets worse by the day.I've also seen a #of therapists with no relief.Someone who experienced similar type ,chronic symptoms was tested by an infectious disease doctor and was positive for # of factors and treated with anti viral medication and his symptoms cleared-up immediately.Do you think I should try this route...?
XXXXX
Brief Answer:
You need further investigation before trying using antiviral drugs.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
I would like to have some more information from you - whether you are suffering from respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath, coughing, difficulty breathing, digestive problem like difficult to swallow food, and acid reflux disease or with joint pain and stiffness.
The facial tightness, muscle spasms and neck pain may be due to number of causes - calcium deficiency, sleroderma, neuralgia are a few known causes apart from infection. Therefore if I were to be your treating doctor, I would advice battery of tests that includes blood hemogram, anti topoisomerase 1, anti centromere antibodies, serum calcium level and then if needed will refer you to infectious disease specialist. Until the results of the test are out, I would first supplement you with multivitamins; calcium and vitamin D supplements and Ibuprofen 400mg for pain.
Therefore I suggest you to visit your board certified physician and discuss your symptoms in detail. He/she can plan relevant investigations and treat you accordingly.
It is futile to start antiviral drugs without evidence to support the possibility of infection.
Hope I answered your question. Feel free to ask me if you have any further queries.
Wish you good health.
Take care
Regards
You need further investigation before trying using antiviral drugs.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
I would like to have some more information from you - whether you are suffering from respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath, coughing, difficulty breathing, digestive problem like difficult to swallow food, and acid reflux disease or with joint pain and stiffness.
The facial tightness, muscle spasms and neck pain may be due to number of causes - calcium deficiency, sleroderma, neuralgia are a few known causes apart from infection. Therefore if I were to be your treating doctor, I would advice battery of tests that includes blood hemogram, anti topoisomerase 1, anti centromere antibodies, serum calcium level and then if needed will refer you to infectious disease specialist. Until the results of the test are out, I would first supplement you with multivitamins; calcium and vitamin D supplements and Ibuprofen 400mg for pain.
Therefore I suggest you to visit your board certified physician and discuss your symptoms in detail. He/she can plan relevant investigations and treat you accordingly.
It is futile to start antiviral drugs without evidence to support the possibility of infection.
Hope I answered your question. Feel free to ask me if you have any further queries.
Wish you good health.
Take care
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank- you for your response.
I'm not suffering from most of the symptoms you have listed except for very soft(sometimes diarrhea)stool and joint pain and stiffness.I am also experiencing a heavier incidence of visual migraines and tightness around the eyes as well as overall tightness.i've been diagnosed with mild sleep apnea and have started treatment (CPAP).I forgot to mention the stabbing and shooting pains mainly in feet and hands.
I have read up on FIbromyalgia and wonder if that is what is afflicting me although I've had the trigger point test and it didn't indicate that.
I appreciate any follow-up and further advice you can provide.
XXXXX
I'm not suffering from most of the symptoms you have listed except for very soft(sometimes diarrhea)stool and joint pain and stiffness.I am also experiencing a heavier incidence of visual migraines and tightness around the eyes as well as overall tightness.i've been diagnosed with mild sleep apnea and have started treatment (CPAP).I forgot to mention the stabbing and shooting pains mainly in feet and hands.
I have read up on FIbromyalgia and wonder if that is what is afflicting me although I've had the trigger point test and it didn't indicate that.
I appreciate any follow-up and further advice you can provide.
XXXXX
Brief Answer:
Suggest connective tissue disorder, needing investigations
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
With your history, I suggest you to get investigated for anti topoisomerase 1, anti centromere antibodies and rheumatoid factor once. As most of your symptoms suggest connective tissue disorder. If any of these auto antibodies shows positive then you need to consult your rheumatologist for further evaluation and management. Also get tested for serum electrolyte levels including calcium.
Now as told before you you can start taking multivitamins; calcium and vitamin D supplements and Ibuprofen 400mg for pain and continue other prescribed medications till you consult your doctor. Do regular exercises and maintain proper calorie intake to maintain normal body weight.
Hope this answered your query. Feel free to ask if any further queries.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Suggest connective tissue disorder, needing investigations
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
With your history, I suggest you to get investigated for anti topoisomerase 1, anti centromere antibodies and rheumatoid factor once. As most of your symptoms suggest connective tissue disorder. If any of these auto antibodies shows positive then you need to consult your rheumatologist for further evaluation and management. Also get tested for serum electrolyte levels including calcium.
Now as told before you you can start taking multivitamins; calcium and vitamin D supplements and Ibuprofen 400mg for pain and continue other prescribed medications till you consult your doctor. Do regular exercises and maintain proper calorie intake to maintain normal body weight.
Hope this answered your query. Feel free to ask if any further queries.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thanks again for the advice and prompt response.
I wanted to mention some additional symptoms :
Overall heaviness feeling especially neck,shoulders(upper body).
Severe fatigue and not having restful ,deep sleep
Severe stabbing/shooting pains in feet and hands mainly but also trunk.
At times it feels like my insides are spasaming and I feel a burning sensation
A pulling sensation throughout my body(at times like I'll fall over) or won't be able to move.When I stop walking I really feel it.
After cardio workout extreme neck tightness but also overall body tightness with a 'sticky' muscle feeling .I feel numbness and weird feeling on bottom of feet after intense workout.
No loss of muscle strength but abnormal tightness,weird feeling after lifting weights.
A bloated feeling and loss of appetite yet weight gain
Choking sensation....Such tightness wrong neck area feels like I'm choking at times
I have been treated for R factor which was elevated but in subsequent blood tests in normal range.NO other indicators of inflammation including normal CRP test done recently.I believe my calcium levels are normal as are muscle enzymes,testesterone and cortisol.
It has been suggested my 'fascia' is shortened or bunch-up which is causing all the pain.Rolfing and myofascial release have been suggested and tried.
Bases on all this do you still think connective tissue disorder or could it be 'fibromyalgia(I seem to have a lot of the symptoms) or problems with my fascia..?
Thanks so much
XXXXX
I wanted to mention some additional symptoms :
Overall heaviness feeling especially neck,shoulders(upper body).
Severe fatigue and not having restful ,deep sleep
Severe stabbing/shooting pains in feet and hands mainly but also trunk.
At times it feels like my insides are spasaming and I feel a burning sensation
A pulling sensation throughout my body(at times like I'll fall over) or won't be able to move.When I stop walking I really feel it.
After cardio workout extreme neck tightness but also overall body tightness with a 'sticky' muscle feeling .I feel numbness and weird feeling on bottom of feet after intense workout.
No loss of muscle strength but abnormal tightness,weird feeling after lifting weights.
A bloated feeling and loss of appetite yet weight gain
Choking sensation....Such tightness wrong neck area feels like I'm choking at times
I have been treated for R factor which was elevated but in subsequent blood tests in normal range.NO other indicators of inflammation including normal CRP test done recently.I believe my calcium levels are normal as are muscle enzymes,testesterone and cortisol.
It has been suggested my 'fascia' is shortened or bunch-up which is causing all the pain.Rolfing and myofascial release have been suggested and tried.
Bases on all this do you still think connective tissue disorder or could it be 'fibromyalgia(I seem to have a lot of the symptoms) or problems with my fascia..?
Thanks so much
XXXXX
Brief Answer:
Scleroderma or Dermatomyositis. Get evaluated for
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for giving more information and follow up query.
With the above symptoms and Rheumatoid factor positive the diagnosis points towards Scleroderma or Dermatomyositis. Our discussion till now towards connective tissue disorder may be right.
I advice you to get tested for anti topoisomerase 1 and anti centromere antibodies to confirm or to rule out them and to start treatment accordingly.
The fascia may also be involved in auto immune disorder.
I advice you to get tested and follow up with good rheumatologist for your problem as it is in early stage.
Hope this clarified your queries. Do follow up with your doctor and you can get back to me if you have any doubts or questions to discuss on management.
Wish you faster recovery and good health.
Regards
Scleroderma or Dermatomyositis. Get evaluated for
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for giving more information and follow up query.
With the above symptoms and Rheumatoid factor positive the diagnosis points towards Scleroderma or Dermatomyositis. Our discussion till now towards connective tissue disorder may be right.
I advice you to get tested for anti topoisomerase 1 and anti centromere antibodies to confirm or to rule out them and to start treatment accordingly.
The fascia may also be involved in auto immune disorder.
I advice you to get tested and follow up with good rheumatologist for your problem as it is in early stage.
Hope this clarified your queries. Do follow up with your doctor and you can get back to me if you have any doubts or questions to discuss on management.
Wish you faster recovery and good health.
Regards
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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