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Suggest Treatment For Swollen Legs, Weak Legs, Muscle Aches And Pain
Question: I have been sick since the first week in April. I was on vacation in Florida for two weeks, the last week of March and the first week of April, 2015. I was bitten by "no seeums' on my legs and arms. That's when I started feeling sick, swollen legs, rubbery legs when I walk, muscle aches and pains, just a punk feeling. I also had an absessed tooth that I thought maybe was causing it. I had the tooth extracted May 13 and hoped to feel better following taking antibiotics. My primary care doctor has run many blood tests, the latest results I have net to hear. It's no better, is affecting my thinking and I keep wanting to lie down and elevate my legs. An orthopedic doctor said I had osteoarthritis in my knees, gave me a shot of cortisone in each knee and said he couldn't help with what I was feeling. I think this may be viral and it's definitely affecting my leg and arm muscles. I could hardly reach my arms up to wash my hair the other day. Thanks for your help. XXXX
Brief Answer:
Unlikely to be viral
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
Biting of see-ums can lead to allergic reaction which can last for 1-2 weeks. It may not last for 3 -4 months. If it has persisted for 3-4 months the cause can be different. The kind of pains that you are describing lasting all over the body with such a fatigue along with all the normal results suggests that it could be a depression. From what you have stated it is quite clear that you are having a depressive episode. Depression can occur with regular stress and it can also occur biologically without any stress as well. You need proper treatment for the same. There are various effective therapies for depression like fluoxetine, venlafaxine, bupropion, mirtazapine or escitalopram and they are all very effective and mostly safe. You may also require some benzodiazepines like clonazepam or lorazepam for a short period like 2-3 weeks to reduce the anxiety and help with your sleep.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
Unlikely to be viral
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
Biting of see-ums can lead to allergic reaction which can last for 1-2 weeks. It may not last for 3 -4 months. If it has persisted for 3-4 months the cause can be different. The kind of pains that you are describing lasting all over the body with such a fatigue along with all the normal results suggests that it could be a depression. From what you have stated it is quite clear that you are having a depressive episode. Depression can occur with regular stress and it can also occur biologically without any stress as well. You need proper treatment for the same. There are various effective therapies for depression like fluoxetine, venlafaxine, bupropion, mirtazapine or escitalopram and they are all very effective and mostly safe. You may also require some benzodiazepines like clonazepam or lorazepam for a short period like 2-3 weeks to reduce the anxiety and help with your sleep.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX
I failed to let you know that I have an elevated white blood cell count. It's above 1100. Does this change your diagnosis at all? If not, thanks for your help.
I failed to let you know that I have an elevated white blood cell count. It's above 1100. Does this change your diagnosis at all? If not, thanks for your help.
Brief Answer:
clarification required
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Is the total wbc count 1100 or 11000?
Regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy
clarification required
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Is the total wbc count 1100 or 11000?
Regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
11,000
Brief Answer:
Its a bit high
Detailed Answer:
Hello
11,000 count of total WBC is definitely high. I went by the assumption that all reports were normal.
A high WBC count suggests inflammation/infection. One test which is not routinely used in many developed countries is a blood culture. If there is any sort of infection in the blood then it should grow in a medium and hence blood culture should be useful. Further a CSF examination should also be warranted in an unexplained case of raised WBC's. There could be a slow CNS infection which can lead to such high counts with non-specific symptoms as occur in your case.
Let us wait for your blood test reports to come. That may give us some clue into the cause of your illness. Do share them when they come.
Regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
Its a bit high
Detailed Answer:
Hello
11,000 count of total WBC is definitely high. I went by the assumption that all reports were normal.
A high WBC count suggests inflammation/infection. One test which is not routinely used in many developed countries is a blood culture. If there is any sort of infection in the blood then it should grow in a medium and hence blood culture should be useful. Further a CSF examination should also be warranted in an unexplained case of raised WBC's. There could be a slow CNS infection which can lead to such high counts with non-specific symptoms as occur in your case.
Let us wait for your blood test reports to come. That may give us some clue into the cause of your illness. Do share them when they come.
Regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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