HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Support Forums
>
Lupus
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/6/2014 10:52 AM (GMT 0)
I went for a follow up with my gp yesterday for my xrays and she said I have a deteriorated disc in my lower back and that it's bone on bone. I was flabbergasted. I was sitting there thinking I'm too young for that! Totally unexpected.

I also had a rheumy appt yesterday and she sent me to get tested for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Has anyone been tested for this? Could I have both lupus and AS?

I'm wondering if this Ankylosing Spondylitis could cause the disc to degenerate. All I know is that my back is in agony from my neck to my tailbone and since the x ray only showed problems in my lower back I'm thinking it must be inflammation in the other parts causing the pain. But who knows!

If anyone has any experience with this or can offer some insight it would be greatly appreciated!
Posted 6/6/2014 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
Oh Joie, I'm so sorry that another stumbling block has come your way!

I guess your rheumy is testing for the specific marker associated with AS? I hope upon hope that it's negative. I bet someone comes along who can provide a helpful post in response to your question.

Did your rheumy or GP mention seeing an orthopedic specialist?

Pain be gone, darn it!

Jan
Posted 6/6/2014 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Jan. Yes my rheumy sent me for a blood test for H-somethingsomething. The marker for AS. I hope it's negative too! I am getting so down about all this. I have so many things I want to do it's just been one thing after another! I don't want to be sick. I have no time to be sick and broken!

I love my doctors and they are lovely women but I don't want to see them anymore! Not for a while anyway.

Nope, no orthopedic referral. My gp said there is not much I can do about the disc. Maybe I should have wailed in agony instead of sitting there dumb struck.

I need to make a list of things not wrong with me to keep some perspective here.
Posted 6/6/2014 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have degenerative disk and facet disease. They also call it OA of the spine. My L5-S1 joint is fused bone and the disk is totally gone.

I had to go to physical therapy to strenghten my core muscles to compensate and ease the stress.
Posted 6/7/2014 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry to hear that Joy :(

I wonder why my gp didn't suggest anything like that. Did you find physio helped?
Posted 6/8/2014 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
It helped me a great deal. They gave me some wonderful tips on how to get up and down out of a chair, how to pick up objects, and pain relieving movements.
Posted 6/8/2014 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
How're you feeling today? Joy had some very interesting info to share.

Please let us know when you get your test results--and of any other developments.

Jan
Posted 6/11/2014 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Joy, I'm going to ask about physio. I'm glad it was helpful to you :)

Thanks Jan, sorry for the delay. I've been reading but not posting as I've been pretty tired and combating the stress of all this crummy news. I've managed to get myself back into a positive swing for the most part :)

Possibly not being able to work anymore at my job has been hard to deal with. They are having a hard time replacing me and I'm still trying to hang in there. It's really difficult for me to admit I have limitations and I'm still trying to do all the lifting and such. My coworker is 67 and my boss is 58. Having them grab buckets from me and tell me they will lift it, that I'm not allowed, is an adjustment!!

No results from the bloodwork yet but fingers crossed!! I have enough "diseases" thank you, I don't need any more lol.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply