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Accutane certainly works, but it doesn't seem that very much is known about all of its side effects. My son had severe acne and went on accutane. He was required to get regular blood tests to make sure his liver stayed healthy.

My son is also a baseball player, a pitcher.
Not long after he went on accutane he developed arm problems and found it painful to throw Nobody made any connection to the accutane. He tried everything under the sun and saw at least three different orthopedic doctors. He tried steroid shots and physical therapy and even tried prolotherapy - - all to no avail. It was very frustrating for him since pitching baseball is very important to him. He finally went to two different orthopedic doctors and begged for each one to approve surgery (surgery!) Fortunately, the doctors refused to give the go-ahead for surgery since the x-rays and MRIs showed no significant tears or any other problem. The pain was a mystery. No doctor that my son saw made any connection between accutane and his arm pain.

My son was on an accutane regimen (several prescriptions) for about a year-and-a-half. Guess what? Not long after he went off the accutane, his arm problems cleared up completely and he is throwing great again and getting ready for the summer wood bat league. We finally decided that the accutane not only dried up the oil in his face, it also dried up the oil in his joints. He noticed it mainly in his right arm because of the strain of trying to throw fastballs. (Although at one point he also complained about pain in his left shoulder as well but he didn't care all that much about it since he doesn't pitch with that arm.)

Anyway, I think that orthopedic guys and anybody else who deals with sports injuries should be sure to inquire about whether or not a patient is on accutane. It may be the answer to a patient's "mystery" pain. I would hate to think that an athlete would get needless surgery.

The pain was a mystery. No doctor that my son saw made any connection between accutane and his arm pain.

I recall joint pain as being one of the potential symptoms I was warned about. I would not reccommend anyone have any kind of elective surgery while on accutane. Another symptom is that the rate at which tissues heal decreases greatly. I remember small incidental cuts that would normally have healed in a few days, taking weeks to heal. I also had problems with mucous membranes getting severely dried out. I got pink eye within a few hours of a piece of dust from a jack hammer at a construction site gently hitting my eye. To this day nineteen years after ending my therapy, my nasal cavity tends to be very dry, espcecially during cold dry weather.

Here is a link to WebMD.com's page about accutane side effects. It does list joint pain as a possible side effect.

• Stop taking isotretinoin and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· changes in vision, blurred vision, or decreased vision (especially at night);
· painful or constant dryness of the eyes;
· depression including feelings of sadness, crying spells, irritability, changes in sleep patterns, unusual tiredness, trouble concentrating, loss of appetite, and / or suicidal thoughts or other mental problems;
· stomach, chest, or bowel pain;
· rectal bleeding, or severe or bloody diarrhea;
· difficulty or pain when swallowing;
· new or worsening heartburn;
· yellowing of the skin or eyes or persistently dark urine;
· severe headache or dizziness;
· seizures;
· nausea and vomiting;
· joint or muscle pain or bone problems;
· hearing problems or hearing loss;
· trouble breathing;
· fainting;
· increased thirst or urination;
· slurred speech or problems moving;
· leg swelling;
· increased levels of cholesterol or triglyceride (types of fat) in your blood (detected by blood tests).

• Other, less serious side effects are more likely to occur. Continue to take isotretinoin and talk to your doctor if you experience
Continue to take isotretinoin and talk to your doctor if you experience
· inflammation, dryness, or cracking of the lips;
· dry skin, dry mouth, dry or bleeding nose, dryness of the eyes and / or difficulty wearing contact lenses;
· itching; or
· increased sensitivity of the skin to the sun.

• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

WebMD.com and other websites have excellent detailed information about the benefits and side effects of various drugs. I nowadays always check out online information about any drugs my physicians prescribe.