Joint Pain??

[sjs]

Has anyone experienced severe joint pain after stopping smoking and starting vaping?

Over the last few weeks I've had pain in my joints mostly overnight my wrists, fingers, and elbows
seem to be worst although my leg joints hurt as well.

To start with I was waking up in pain but now it's actually waking me up from my sleep and preventing
me from getting back to sleep as I can't find a way to lie that doesn't hurt so it seems to be
getting worse.

I have given in and arranged a doctors appointment but as usual at my docs it's 2 weeks before
I can get one.

I ended up searching the net last night and found it could possibly be a side effect of stopping
smoking . As it's the only thing that's really changed in my life and thie pain started around 2 weeks
into vaping thought I would see if anyone else on here had similar problems when they
gave up the ciggies.

[Perpetua]

Everyone's individual reactions are so very different Sjs, you're doing the right thing in seeing your Doctor ( despite the wait ) to rule out any other possible underlying causes for the pain.

Do you eat much oily fish, take a fish oil supplement? They can be helpful in ' lubricating ' the joints.

[sjs]

Thanks Perpetua,

I don't take any supplements but I do eat plenty of fish including mackeral and salmon which are supposed to
be good for the joints!

Never had any problems before apart from when I've injured myself.

[Skwoddy]

Without knowing your age or family history, prevalence of gout is much higher than anything like sudden onset arthritis, do you have any redness in the affected joints? Levels of inflammation are increased by both smoking and quitting smoking which leads to higher levels of uric acid, classic joints are knees wrists and fingers with outer extremity joints (where uric acid crystals are formed due to lower blood temperatures in those areas). The usual as I'm sure you're aware is the big toe but not always the case.

If it is gout it shouldn't be ignored as it can turn chronic if left untreated.

eta while waiting for your doctor anti inflammatory pain killers and hot baths are good home remedies.

[Karma]

and add some epsom salts to your bath, very good for aches and pains!

[Jen]

Haven't had this myself, but I second Skwoddy's suggestion of anti-inflammatories (you can get ibuprofen gel too), and cod liver oil is the one and only supplement I've ever taken where I've noticed a difference afterwards. It really does help the old joints and is usually pretty cheap if you avoid Boots

[booblay]

I havent suffered joint pain from vaping, but it has affected my muscles. PG does anyway. It converts to lactic acid and can cause aching and tenseness. Which is why I vape mainly VG.

But of course you're doctor will know best. Meanwhile, I'd second the bath salts and anti-inflammatories.

[sjs]

Thanks Skwoddy! I'm 39 I can't think of any history of gout in the family but my mum was diagnosed
with severe Rheumatoid arthritis when she was in her 30s and although I've been checked a couple
of times obviously I'm starting to worry that that could be the cause of this pain.

There's no redness or major inflammation around the joints but I dom't tend to swell up much
even with injuries! Hospital nearly missed a broken ankle and fractured wrist as there was hardly
any swelling and only went ahead with the Xrays due to the pain I was in!

I am pretty fit apart from the smoking part LOL but I do regular sports and even though I've
been in pain at night I've not had any problems when I've been cycling or running the last
couple of weeks it just seems to be at night!

[Davy Tee]

Feb 20, 2013 9:45:58 GMT sjs said:

I am pretty fit apart from the smoking part LOL but I do regular sports and even though I've
been in pain at night I've not had any problems when I've been cycling or running the last
couple of weeks it just seems to be at night!

With you packing in smoking have you increased your cycling/running with you feeling fitter ? perhaps youve over done it a bit.

[sjs]

Thanks Jen, Karma and Booblay

I'll give the salts a try and buy some cod liver oil capsules as well!

I have been using Voltarol gel which I got as an anti inflammatory pain relief gel after
wrecking my ankle ligaments a few months ago! LOL I've been using it like it was moisturiser the last
few days

[Skwoddy]

Non active periods will always present more symptoms because of decreased circulation, I had thought of arthritic conditions but it sounds too sudden, arthritis is usually slower, aspirin is very good for these conditions but please don't take them if you have any history of stomach ulcers.

I'd be interested to know the diagnosis as it does sound familiar, stay active and avoid rich foods and alcohol ( wine is worse), have anti inflammatories on hand for painful periods, avoid standing for long periods, all at least till your gp has seen you.

[sjs]

Cheers blackarrow
I've actually been doing a bit less than usual due to being busy with work and
the weather being lousy!

I did initially blame the pain on a couple of days snowboarding as I hadn't
been doing it for the last year due to wrecking my ankle and maybe overdone it
a bit but I think that would have cleared up a bit quicker than this has.

[Deleted]

39!!!! its all downhill next year

[sjs]

Feb 20, 2013 10:03:23 GMT @spikeyfridge said:

39!!!! its all downhill next year

LOL does that mean I'm starting early

Sod it age is just a number you're only as old as you feel... ok so I feel about 96 right now

My dad used to always say growing old is compulsary growing up isn't

[addict]

Ask your doc to send you for an xray. I had mild lung trouble many years ago and joint pains was one of the symptoms. I stress one of the symptoms so don't start thinking that's what you have. There's no harm, nevertheless, in getting an xray and breathing tests to find out what, if any, damage smoking has done to your lungs.