Vitamin D Deficiency and PVNS

(Correction 02/13/2013): 6 mo f/u MRI 06/2012 showed a false pvns recurrence. It was proven during f/u surgery that the mri was showing scar tissue and not pvns. After you have surgery the mris become more difficult to read accurately. After the 6 mo f/u mri I had two more mris done showing that the (false) pvns was remaining stable (unchanged) that was the clue that it was scar tissue and not pvns.

Having pvns I have become hyper aware of any pain or swelling that occurs in any of my joints. I’ve had rapidly recurring pvns in spite of radiation in my left knee with pain that seems out of proportion to the pvns along with my right knee beginning to swelling and be painful. I also started noticing other joints and muscles were aching along with severe fatigue. This resulted in other joints having mris which showed no pvns. I started thinking I was becoming a hypochondriac or at least a bit crazy but that wasn’t the case. 

Funny but not. I live in the sunshine state of Arizona and look pretty good for being 48 because I have always used sunscreen to protect my skin unknowingly blocking the rays that I needed to make vitamin D... resulting in a severe vitamin D deficiency. Keep using your sunscreen, however, be aware you may not be getting enough vit D from the sun and your diet especially if your lactose intolerant like myself, avoid milk and use sunscreen. 

The last few months I have been reading about research done on the cellular mechanisms of pvns. I then started to look further into the cellular mechanisms involved in vit D deficiencies which led me to this and many more related studies.

Low levels of Vitamin D are associated with increased incidence of many cancers. Vitamin D normalizes cell to cell communication, impacts uncontrolled cell growth and allows cells to differentiate into normal cells with a normal life cycle. “Breast cancer patients with suboptimal vitamin D levels were more likely to have tumors with more aggressive tumor profiles and worse prognostic markers” by Nalini Chilkov, L.Ac., O.M.D.

PVNS is not cancer but it is a tumor and I’m just wondering if having a severe vitamin D deficiency has had anything thing to do with the pvns recurring so quickly and aggressively in my knee in spite of surgery and radiation. I have seen many people with multiple joint complaints that turned out not to be pvns related yet not seem to have an explanation so I decided to share this information as food for thought. I will write more on this subject as I 
continue my research.

I am not a physician and the above is in no way to be taken as medical advise. This is my interpretation of what I have been told by my physicians and from what I have read. Always consult with a professional for case specific accurate information.