Anne
Ken, Sounds like a viral condition of some sort, but commonly, fifth's disesae presents itself with wrist and ankle and small joint aches about 6 months after the rash and the actual contraction of the disease. I'm sure this isn't stamped in stone, but I contracted it from my daughter and 6 months later is when all my symptoms arose. I was pregnant at the time of the rash, and my OB suggested a bolld draw for fifth's. Since it has antibodies...it's 5th in the series of measle related diseases, I had a cofirmed diagnosis. They ran a sensitivity test and my antibodies were 3 - 5 days old...consequently, I justhad it. Usually 5ths is diagnosed by ruling everything else out. My luck is that my daughter had it and I had a blood test for the antibodies. Also, another good friend got it when I did in the same town, as it runs in groups. Stay positive, it's all you can do, and keep going for a diagnosis. I can tell you lots more about 5ths, but it may not be what you have. I had no fatigue with my illness, which is now under control without meds. For 2 yrs I was on 20 motrin/day, 3 Voltaren, and Procardia( a heart med...calcium channelblocker) ...but I used it for it's side effects...vasodilation in the extremities. I bought a small adult jogger, and jumped on it a lot...took away the pain. I took 5 showers/ day to ease the pain. I went to the ER several times when it got too much. Find a good DR. and keep digging as to what you may have. Keep in touch.Anne and 6 months later is when