new here. recently dx w spinal arthritis

hi, im new here. im 48 yrs old. actually, 49 later this month! heres a little history about me. growing up, i had one episode of my eyes getting extremely red, and burning. i was about 14 at the time and the incident happened during the school day. as i was shy, i never went to the nurse or told anyone. i also was diagnosed with scoliosis when young but was told to exercise my back rather than have to wear a brace as i was only borderline for needing the brace. as a nurse, about 15-18 yrs ago, i once suffered a disc bulge (l4-5)and meniscus repair when i literally held up a man that was about to fall. somewhat recently, i was told that i have ostepenia, ddd, and also roto scoliosis! rotoscoliosis is when the spine turns onto itself in addition to having a curve. in other words, my spine is continuing to change form for the worst, with the back section twisting to the front. scary and gross. now, i have arthritis in the spine. im very healthy in appearance and only take fosamax, calcium and vitamins. i was doing fine, running a few times a week (3 miles...im slow though!) and really not being in pain. then, about 3 months ago, whenever i drove the car, i would get right hip pain, like sciatica, and would have to stop the car and walk around. i went to pt, but what really seemed to help was the core video workout that i did in my home. now, i have another new sensation that im worried about. whenever i sit, or bend slightly forward, i get painless pin and needles over my left hip and into my abdomen. i looked online and see that the sensory nerves that arise from lumbar 1 run right across this area! but. omg! another new thing that i JUST found out today, is that i have an orange-sized fibroid in my uterus. im hoping that this somehow is the cause of the tingling as perhaps it could be pressing on a nerve. id like to ask the others who have spinal arthritis, if suddenly, like one day out of the blue, is it like you cant walk or have intractable pain?? or, does it progress like mine...symptoms that come and go...then eventually stay? sorry for the long note. thanks in advance. gina

Hi Gilligan, welcome to healing well. I don't know much about scoliosis but there are alot of people on the chronic pain site who have major back problems and who may be able to help you out. Arthritis wise, I find joints can flare then settle then flare again depending on weather, my usage or if I'm putting extra pressure on that area from limping due to another issue!!! If that makes sense. I get numb spots in my right leg which seems to be caused by my hip compressing the nerves, infact my hips seem to be causing lots of other issues. Inflammation and pain just seems to create concentric circles of inflammation and pain in radiating areas, we all seem to have many overlapping conditions... anyway if I was you I'd go and see your doctor and describe all symptoms no matterhow unrelated they seem. Good luck, golitho

I thought cracking sounds came with the territory!!! I think they're to do with tendons and bones rubbng off each other but I'm probably completely wrong. Hopefully they will do the MRI and it will fill in the blanks for you. I always feel a bit better when I can imagine what is going on!!! Keep on hassling the rheumy's until you get some sort of answer. I get the numb hands especially on the computer but also everynight. My rheumy had the OT make me some splints and they work wonders at night for me, really cut down the pins and needles. I still wake up numb but not on fire during the night. I get pins and needles in my neck too but having just started with a physio, she thinks my hips have put my lower back out which has put my neck out to compensate... and so it goes on. Your back sounds as if your hips could be compensating.... but get yourself checked properly. All our conditions mean we're very good with sympathy for others, pain is a humbling commonality unfortunately. Just keep posting, golitho.

first of all, i wish you luck with your diagnosis. thanks also for the cyst info. i have an appt today with a general md. will ask for an mri and will let them know about your similar situation. it might just save me lots of running around for a proper diagnosis. thanks again.
most sincerely,
gina