Detriorating Cartilage but no concrete cause (or name)i or known cure for the disease - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

sandman10003 · 06-03-2007, 01:21 PM

My niece (now 48 yrs old) has a long list of medical problems since childhood.

Her most continuing & debilitating problem is deteriorating cartilage. She has been to multiple doctors & clinics; has had multiple tests; has had several joint surgeries - but no consistence diagnosis. Only conflicting opinions and no help.

In addtion to the cartilage problem, for many years she has had and continues to have the following current symptoms:

1. Leucopenia (stable, but still below minimum)

2.. Severe pain in neck, hips back and vertebral column.

3. Pains in hands, articulations, elbows, knees, shoulder, angles, feet
fingers and scapula.

4. Continuous headaches.

5. Intense gastric pain

6. Dizziness.

7. Insomnia

8. Severe fatigue & weakness.

Results from clinical studies showed positive antinuclear antibodies & high VSG. Her rheumatic factor is negative. The Lupus test is negative, though she has been told her body behaves like having Lupus.

Any ideas? Thanks to all responders.

CluelessTOO · 06-03-2007, 03:13 PM

sandman10003 , I am new to this so not sure if this will help or not. I was reading posts from Stepper in this forum and she talks about ear cartilage pain. Do a search for his posts , you will find usefull information. She talks a bout Lyme disease. Hope this helps.

FromSqueaky · 06-03-2007, 10:30 PM

Symptoms of B12 deficiency can mimic those of MS, Lupus, Lyme Disease. B12deficiency can cause many neurological and other symptoms, and left untreated it can cause irreversible brain and nerve damage. If diagnosed and treated early, most of the symptoms are reversible. B6 deficiency is responsible for cartilage deteriorating.

My aunt was told she was bipolar and had dementia finally have years of pain and being bed ridden from muscle weakness and bone loss they found her body could not utilize B vitamins and had to get B shots. She is out of bed and a happier person today. It's a simple test.

I hope that in your niece's case it's the culprit cause it's the easiest to treat.

A lack of B vitamins cause fatigue along with many other symptoms like muscle weakness, depression, loss of hair, dementia, mood swings, fatigue mental and physical slowness,gastrointestinal disorders,tingling sensations in the extremities etc. There are so many things.

There lot of info out there on B vitamins if you wish to read up on B vitamins.
For some people their body does not utilize B vitamins correctly. They need B shots. Processed food, refined food, sugar, meds, and caffeine can destroy B vitamins

CluelessTOO · 06-04-2007, 01:36 PM

Squeaky,

My ear cartilage is very red and painful, I was diagnosed with Cellulitis but it ocurred in one ear then in the other one. Then it re-appeared on the left one again. I also had my eyes very red. My Autoinmune tests came back negative and I will go see a Rheumatologists on Wednesday. I am afraid to have Lyme disease or Polychondritis , I haev read so many things I am just getting scared. I have no other symptoms though. I was feelingb a little tired but my doctor gave me High B complex and was feeling better. So B6 deficiency can cause cartilage Pain and damaged ? SO it not necesarily has to be Lyme or Poly ?

NY 1009 · 06-05-2007, 05:06 AM

Hi sandman,
I feel so sorry for your niece and I thought it so kind of you to do research for her. you must be very close.
I don't know if this will help but I thought i'd throw it in anyway.
you never know.
my brother who is in his fifties now, suffered since teenhood with bone pain and I don't know if he had any other symtoms in the list you mentioned.
he had it mostly in his ribs. It got worst when he was in the air force and he had their medical dr ck him.
not till many many years later were they able to diagnose what he has.
only because it's a very rare disease and only so many people have it in the country.
it's called "gorhams" disease. or "vanishing bone disease' and it's very painful.
he will be on pain medicaiton the rest of his life.
we don't speak to one anotehr that often because we're apart in miles, but if and when I do speak with him, I will ask him if he had any of the above symtoms you mentioned your niece has.

I don't know how they finally found out he had it. all the suffering he had to go reminds me of what you're niece is going thru.
I pray they're able to determine what her diagnose is so they can help her.
there are many strang new diseases that do pop up from time to time and it's difficult to find out what it is.
I hope her diligence pays off.

you're a great uncle.

sincerely,
Linda