Question
I am a 40 year old male who is currently living with chronic pain.  I am healthy, exercise regularly, and still play hockey one night a week.  For the past six months, I have been waking up in extreme pain.  Every movement of every joint produces severe pain and is very debilitating.  After a couple of hours, the pain begins to subside.  I am a service technician and do a lot of bending throughout the day.  I have seen orthopedic doctors who have determined that I have two bulging discs.  Physical therapy has not helped to alleviate any of the symptoms.  This past week, I went in for a medial nerve block which again, did not alleviate the pain.  My doctor ordered x-rays two days before the procedure and found arthritis all over my hip ball joints.  Both are affected, one more than the other.  In the past, I have also been told that I have a little bit of arthritis in my neck, my knee (I did have orthoscopic surgery over 10 years ago for a torn ACL) and now I know that it is all over my hips. I have not been referred to a rheumatologist yet.  I think that my doctor is going to continue to diagnose/treat the back pain before referring me to a specialist.  My question is whether the pain I am experiencing is more of an arthritic pain than one caused by bulging discs and if so, how is the best way to treat/deal with this condition.  It has been an ongoing problem for the past six months with no relief.  I have been prescribed muscle relaxants (which I avoid taking) and 800 mg of Ibuprofen which doesn't alleviate the pain.  It feels as if arthritis is taking over my body and is not only affecting me but also my family.  I just feel that I have no answers/guidance as to what steps to take at this point.  I am completely open to alternative treatments if there are any available to treat arthritic symptoms; I'm just not aware of any.  I feel like I am too young (40) to be this debilitated, especially since I am a very active, athletic man who eats right and takes care of himself.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
It really sounds like you need to see a new doctor.

The muscle relaxants are much safer that taking 800 mg of Ibuprofen. But it does not sound like you are experiencing muscle pain.

The bulging disc can cause many types of pain and weakness. The pain can be located in the back around the area of the spine that is effected. It can also cause muscle, nerve pain and even joint pain below the effected area. This would not include most joints in your body. If the discs that are bulging are in your neck the pain would be in your shoulders and arms. If it is in the mid to lower back then the pain would be in hips and legs.

It sounds like you have several conditions going on at the same time.

There are 4 ways of treating bulging disks.

Physical therapy and anti-inflammatories. It may take some time to see a benefit from physical therapy. But strengthening the major muscles and support muscles in the area effected is important. I am surprised that with the amount of pain you describe the doctor has not tried you on prescription anti-inflammatories.

The second is pain management such as the nerve block you tried.

The third is traction to take the pressure off of the bulging discs.

The last is surgery. This sounds scary but it is a permanent solution to the problem.

There is also the problem with the arthritis the doctors have seen in the joints.

There may be a more serious autoimmune type of arthritis involved in the picture since you describe pain in most of your joints.

I would ask to be referred to a Rheumatologist. You want to rule out anything more serious such as rheumatoid arthritis.

As for a natural treatment omega 3 fatty acids are a great way to treat inflammation. There have been many studies that show that they are as effective as taking high dose ibuprofen. Yet they are safe and provide many other health benefits. Taking it twice a day for a month should help you with some of the pain by reducing the amount of inflammation in your joints. You want to look of a product that is either not from a fish source or if it is that it has been purified and enteric coated. The coating keeps it from digesting in your stomach so that you do not get fishy tasting burps. Many people think that fish sources are more effective but I have really never seen a deference.

I wish you the best and much improvement.

Here is a link with more information about omega 3.
http://arthritis-symptom.com/alternativel-arthritis-treatments/omega-3-fatty-aci...