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Hello, I'm Up Because I'm Hurting- About One Year Ago
Question: hello, I'm up because I'm hurting- about one year ago my right arm started hurting and became weak until I couldn't lift are move certain ways, then the left arm began hurting in the same way. now both shoulder tips hurt all the time. and both arms are weak , in fact I'm not able to lift to put a glass up from dishwasher to shelf. my skin hurts and I'm thinking with my chronic lung condition like COPD, and hyperthyroid which resulted in ablation of my thyroid now I'm mostly hypo not normal but ok I guess. i was also diagnosed wth type 2 DM. and my right knee is in need of replacement. I don't take the medforimin anymore I will but I'm challenging this diagnosis and so far my A1C' results are 6.2-6.5. but with all these sudden onset autoimmune problems. my skin bothers me most. And I can't help but believe that my skin and my arm pain and my lungs are all tied into a syndrome. Oh I've been told by my indocrineologist I've got metabolic disorder fat stomach, tired all the time etc. I'm only 63 in December I'll be 64 But all this has been sudden over a period of 4-5 years It began with high bp then seems one thing after the other. like I have HIV, but I don't. But this autoimmune complex makes me feel so depressed when I'm hurting I think to myself What's my body doing now- probably formulating something else n the auto immune spectrum!! I guess I don't really have a question other than Why? I was slim healthy always kept in shape practiced good nutrition a few bad habits like smoking that I have overcome. right now my shoulder tips hurt? strange and my skin is hard to live in. like I said I can't formulate a question from all this blah blah health scenario . Any comments?
Brief Answer:
Please see details
Detailed Answer:
HI and Welcome to Ask a Doctor service. I have read your question and here is my advice.
Thanks for using this app, I am really sorry to hear of your problems, and I can understand your concern and the difficulty that they can cause.
The most important thing is pain and weakness in your hands. This probably indicates some sort of damage to the nerves in hands (neuropathy) there are many causes but the compression of nerves in the neck is an important one. However, we need an examination of your hands. And nerve study and probably more tests according to the situation like MRI of the neck. Management would be after we know the cause. This is case to be Seen by a neurologist. Certain drugs may help a lot your pain once we know it.
Probably this is not related to your COPD or thyroid.
Regarding thyroid, your endocrinologist is right, it to be checked with Tsh, not t3 t4. Tsh is the best indicator of thyroid status through its related in pituitary but it released in response to the level of t3 t4. So once tsh is normal it means normal t3 t4. And we always check the only tsh for treatment response.
This is great that you have worked hard, to quit smoking, and to control your diabetes without drugs. This is the best.
You are right that you have good habits and lifestyles, these may help avoid many diseases, however many diseases do occur without such risks. That's how you have a few health problems in spite of good habits. Still, goodbgaopits always help as your sugar and lipids are controlled.
The possibility of autoimmune diseases cannot be ruled out and we always check for it. However, they probably would already be seen by your doctor. Generally, we do tests for that like high ESR or ANF, etc if we suspect. But they are obviously many times if they exist.
Hopes it help you understand and better cop your problem. Let us know if you have anything else to ask.
Kind regards Dr. Rahman
Please see details
Detailed Answer:
HI and Welcome to Ask a Doctor service. I have read your question and here is my advice.
Thanks for using this app, I am really sorry to hear of your problems, and I can understand your concern and the difficulty that they can cause.
The most important thing is pain and weakness in your hands. This probably indicates some sort of damage to the nerves in hands (neuropathy) there are many causes but the compression of nerves in the neck is an important one. However, we need an examination of your hands. And nerve study and probably more tests according to the situation like MRI of the neck. Management would be after we know the cause. This is case to be Seen by a neurologist. Certain drugs may help a lot your pain once we know it.
Probably this is not related to your COPD or thyroid.
Regarding thyroid, your endocrinologist is right, it to be checked with Tsh, not t3 t4. Tsh is the best indicator of thyroid status through its related in pituitary but it released in response to the level of t3 t4. So once tsh is normal it means normal t3 t4. And we always check the only tsh for treatment response.
This is great that you have worked hard, to quit smoking, and to control your diabetes without drugs. This is the best.
You are right that you have good habits and lifestyles, these may help avoid many diseases, however many diseases do occur without such risks. That's how you have a few health problems in spite of good habits. Still, goodbgaopits always help as your sugar and lipids are controlled.
The possibility of autoimmune diseases cannot be ruled out and we always check for it. However, they probably would already be seen by your doctor. Generally, we do tests for that like high ESR or ANF, etc if we suspect. But they are obviously many times if they exist.
Hopes it help you understand and better cop your problem. Let us know if you have anything else to ask.
Kind regards Dr. Rahman
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
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