I have noticed over the last week or two my joints on the left side of my body are starting to hurt. First it was my knee, then my ankle really bad, and now my elbow. Web MD and other websites are freaking me out making me think I have Lymes disease or something. 
Anyone had this problem before?
I just turned 33 if that helps.
I'm definitely not the person to ask, but if that was me I'd probably go talk to a doctor. As much as I hate going to to doc, that's where I would be headed.
I'd go visit a doctor, reading WebMD will just scare you.
My Camaro keeps draining the battery. I don't know what it could be. I'll ask my doctor on Monday, when he's back in his office. 
I'm with Toyman.
I know berkeley-all about medicine, but I've come to believe when you get something like that going on, it's better to find out sooner than later what's going on.
Sometimes I think the defining line is that if it gets bad enough to ask GRM what the answer is, it's time to go see the doc...
Yeah, I hear ya on that with going to the doc. But since I started a new job my benefits hadn't kicked in yet. At my old job I had health insurance and never needed it. Now I need it and don't have it. Dammit!
Was just check if this seemed like an arthritis kinda thing that someone might have experienced. There seems to be quite a bit of knowledge around these parts.
It's not like I'd be on here asking for advice on chest pains. 
ransom wrote: Sometimes I think the defining line is that if it gets bad enough to ask GRM what the answer is, it's time to go see the doc...
That's a great way to put it. As as matter of fact that deserves to be in Say What.
Since it is recent, I would just suspect old age with the change in weather, especially if it is just a dull ache. If it was a 11/10 on the pain scale, I might say go to the doc asap.
I am still going to work and performing the usual physical labor. I really only notice it when I get home and relax. It's not limiting my ability to do anything, just seemed kinda weird that it was three joints on one side of my body.
Do doc-in-a-box kinda places handle stuff like this? I just don't want my block knocked off with x-rays and crap for nothing with no insurance.
Be up front with whatever doc you go to that you want to pay up front and are worried about cost. That should streamline the process and cut out some of the extra steps.
What is your new job and how long have you had it? Basically, what is new in your physical activity, surroundings, health, rest, emotional state, etc...
Since it is on one side of your body, I suggest that it isn't necessarily medical. My first thought (when you said "joint pain") was gout, but since it affects your left side I suggest that it might be chiropractic. I can see gout affecting most of your lower-extremity joints like toe, ankle, knee, and hip, but elbow is kinda rare. My wife and I both have trouble with skeletal haberdashery. A good chiropractor will:
A bad chiropractor will BS you into needing chiro even if your results don't suggest it, but there is a big skepticism about chiropractic medicine. The net result right now is that they are under intense scrutiny to be ethical. After years of chiropractic problems, I visited a new chiro when I moved. He did the full battery of tests for no cost (including X-rays and a massage) and concluded that I was pretty straight, and no maintenance was necessary. He basically said, "come see me if you need me."
What I'm saying is, go see one. They should be able to determine if you problem is skeletal-related and they shouldn't charge you to figure that out. Then take those results to a GP when you have insurance to get a second opinion. Its kinda like "free estimates" at a repair shop. A good shop will only tell you what IS wrong and not sell you repairs you don't need. A good business will sell you headlight fluid. Either way, you can decline repairs and take it to another shop for a second opinion.
BTW... other than a pre-med degree and my wife being a veterinary nurse, I have no formal medical training, just a strong interest. That is my version of the WebMD disclaimer. I have also been disappointed with WebMD. You get responses that range from "take an aspirin" to "good lord you have gona-sypha-herpelayds."
In reply to curtis73:
You want to see crooked, go to a chiropractor that finds out you are covered by insurance and pays for their services....
In reply to MrJoshua:
New job is at a tire shop, less than 90 days. Came from an office job. This year has sucked basically.
Curtis,
I didn't even consider chiro. I was living really close to a chiro college and got used to ignoring the students but may look into that. I understand the alignment of the spine can "fix" alot of things.
Ranger50 wrote: In reply to curtis73: You want to see crooked, go to a chiropractor that finds out you are covered by insurance and pays for their services....
VERY good point. Suddenly you need to be seen 35 times a week. 
Weed, it's a cure-all. My buddy Jonah broke his elbow one time. He just smoked some weed. It still clicks, but it's cool. - Knocked Up
DukeOfUndersteer wrote: Weed, it's a cure-all. My buddy Jonah broke his elbow one time. He just smoked some weed. It still clicks, but it's cool. - Knocked Up
Prolly irritated some muscles and joints not utilized in office work but slinging tires is a new ball game. I'd evaluate the physical routine at the tire shop to see what's been tweaking the left side. Bad habits, not lifting properly?
Compression wraps may help.
Also think about the fact you're on your feet now. I got some good orthotics at the beginning of the year and it's made a huge difference in walking, jogging, knee/hip pain, etc.
Could be gout. Get uric acid levels checked after it goes away to se if your levels are high. If you get it checked during an attack, the levels will read low as the uric acid typically in suspense is crystalized in your joints.
Gout is painful, but if untreated gets worse and is crippling. Read up on it, lots out there, old disease, but thats how it starts and it can "move" from one joint to another.
Mine started at 28. Its more genetic than anything.
Initially when I started the job I had some crappy shoes that caused a lot of back, knees, and ankle pain. When I got new shoes it all went away.
These pains feel kinda different. Almost feels like a binding when fully extended or fully bent. Occasionally there is a pop that relieves the binding feeling.
Hmm... New job... Physical labor... Sounds a lot like repetitive motion related.
Not saying you shouldn't get checked out, but at work pay attention to how you are doing your tasks. Then consider two things. First, think about how you are working and whether you are lifting and moving incorrectly. Second, try switching the task to your other side.
When I hit my early 30's, I started to notice aches and pains more and really had to start paying attention to how I was performing physical activities.
The binding and popping sounds like bursitis-swollen bursa (fluid filled sacs that cushion the movement of tendons in or around your joints). The tire job is almost definitely the culprit. Like Ian said-try switching around your movements. I would guess you use the impact with your right hand and lower the wheel/tire combo primarily with your left hand. If you can try to use two hands on the heavy movements. There is also a good chance that you keep your left foot planted and rotate your entire body while moving the wheels/tires on and off of the equipment and torque your knee and ankle in the process helping cause your lower body pain. I don't have a good enough mental picture of the tire mounting process to know what could be happening there.
Swelling isn't damage so all you have to do is stop the swelling. OTC anti-inflammatory medications might help. Do you have a decent break at Christmas? If so the time off may help. If you can reset to no swelling and zero pain you have a chance to prevent the recurrence of pain with your improved movements.
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