Age: 63.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: FLU3
Symptoms: Pain, Paraesthesia, Rheumatoid arthritis, Rheumatoid factor positive, X-ray
Clinical narrative: I woke up on 10/15/12 with severe pain and burning across my upper back, right lower back and right foot and right leg, my right ankle was very very swollen. When I tried to sit, I was unable to, my husband had to lift me to a sitting position. I stood with severe pain and help from my husband. I had trouble walking, and severe pain in right foot, it felt floppy, I guess sort of numb and I had to drag it to move and hold on to the wall to get to the bathroom, with help from my husband, I could not sit by myself or get up by myself, I could not dress myself or bathe or sit on toilet or raise myself off the toilet without holding on to towel bar to lower myself or raise up. The pain continued and became worse, my whole body hurt like I had the flu ten times over. A few days later, I woke up with my left hand and wrist hurting and burning and swollen. My hand looked like I had a boxing glove on it was so swollen and painful, the back of my head, neck, shoulders, back, knees, legs hurt so bad I could barely move, my neck was stiff and I could not turn it from side to side I also was not coordinated, muscle weakness and numbness and tingling in my back, both legs and left arm. I was seen by Dr. and he put me on prednisone, which did absolutely no good. I was seen the ER and I was given pain medication IV and a prescription for pain medication, which did not even touch the pain, CT scan was neg. I returned to my Dr. several times and the prednisone was increased with very little relief from the pain. I was referred to a rheumatologist, and continued to have steroid therapy, injection IM and then in both knees, and then again several times IM. I did improve some. But continued to have problems with my right foot and leg, and left hand and wrist and left arm. I was in bed for 6 weeks because I could not do anything and was in constant pain. I had x-rays of just about every part of my body, as well as CAT scans, and a MRI which showed mild osteoarthritis. The test for RA was neg several times and then became positive and last test was negative again. I received therapy from a chiropractor that did help but did not last long. I had to quit my job because I was unable to do my job. I am still seeing a my rheumatologist. I still have pain in both my legs, knees, right ankle and left hand and wrist, I can not close my left hand completely and cannot lift anything with it, my fingers hurt and are stiff, I cannot walk up and down the stairs in my house without problems, I was placed on CELEBREX and it helped with the pain, but I had shortness of breath and my blood pressure became elevated and had to stop it. I now have to take medication for my blood pressure. I am still seeing my rheumatologist, who thinks I may have RA. I never had problems until I woke up in this condition, other than hypothyroid and sinusitis. I was always very active and in good shape prior to his incident. As of this date I still have pain, I still have trouble walking, because of my right leg and ankle, and I still have minimal use of my left hand, wrist, and fingers.