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Osteoarthritis of the spine?

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Posted 11/16/2006 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to have found this forum. I have been reading post here for awhile and I realize that I am very lucky as compared to most of you. Still I am being physically tortured by back pain.

I have been diagnosed with having OA, along with CF and FM. The rheumatoligist that I have been seeing at first suspected RA but after testing diagnosed me with OA and FM. AN infectuous disease doc diagnosed me as having CF and arthralgia about a year ago. I have a chronic, active EBV infection.

As far as back pain, mine occurs in the morning upon rising. I immediately take 2 tramadols and sometimes a 3rd one to ease the pain. I have also found that the longer I sleep, the worse the pain is. Can anyone relate with this? Is this a symptom that can direct me (and the doc) toward a more specific spinal condition? The pain is in my lower back and is a stinging, burning feeling that travels up my back to just below my shoulders (mid back). I have no pain in my legs from this backache.

This started around 7 weeks ago, and about 3 days before my last rheumo visit. I have been seeing the rheumo for about 7 months. I have taken a very strong course of oral steroids, a 13 day treatment that I thought was going to kill me. I have also had 3 double injections of steroids into the "trigger points" in my lower back, just above my butt crack. These injections were to relieve my aching joints. I had no specific back pain at the time.

Could these injections have caused my back problem to start? I have gained so much weight due to the steroids that I refused the shots on my last visit and I told the doc that I would have to rely on the pain medicine; no more injections for awhile please. I am 6' and weigh 235 lbs now......I am fat.

I am going to have imaging done of my spine, I just don't know which technology would be the best. I see the rheumo in about 1 month (or sooner). Any advice on the imaging?

I am sorry for the book I wrote here.

Kindest regards and wishes for better health for all here,

Sebastian

Posted 11/16/2006 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, sleeping, and or staying in a single position for a long period of time is a big time culprit of added pain. Sleeping is hard to change positions I try not to overmedicate to help with mobility during the night. MRI is the best imaging for any type of spine issues in my opinion. Alternate positions should become a new ritual for you it helps during all times of the day and night. Good luck and regretfully welcome to the ranks. JD
Posted 11/17/2006 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks much for your reply JD, and the information. One of the links I found here led me to some very good information about spinal conditions.

Cheers,

Sebastian
Posted 6/17/2009 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Sebastian, I can relate to the back problems.  I have osteoarthritis in my lumbar area and three bulging discs as well as a Tarlov cyst.  These were found on an MRI.  I also have the burning, stinging as well as stiffness that travels from the lower back to mid back after walking for more than 20 minutes.  I have not had any injections.  I am seeing a neurosurgeon on the 25th and I also have Lyme.  If you find out what is causing the pain to travel upwards please let me know.  Thanks. 
Posted 6/27/2009 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sebastian and welcome!! Glad you have found us and I do hope you get some relief soon.

The terrible stiffness in the morning might just be the fibromyalgia acting up. One of the trademarks of fibro is morning stiffness and pain upon rising. If I go more than 2-3 hours in bed sleeping I am in for excruciating pain. It's so hard to even get off the bed. What I most often do is sleep for a couple of hours and I will wake up from pain about this point. Then I head to my recliner for the rest of the night. I hate doing it because I would much rather be beside my hubby all night but the pain is so bad I'd just lay there and cry anyway. At least in the recliner I can more my position just a bit when I need it.

As far as the arthritis in the spine goes...I have it in my neck area area mostly...brother has it all up and down his spine...yeouch! For me it causes severe neck/shoulder pain - aching and stabbing kinds - headaches and it's very hard to turn my head to look to the side. Pretty much can't turn it to look back. Have to turn my entire body around when I'm driving and need to see what's behind me.

For relief I use heat. I have a heat pad that wraps around my neck/shoulder area..it's wonderful. It's sort of a U shape. I'll look and see where it's available in case anyone is interested. It's a Digital Moist Heating Pad by Electric Sun-Pak. but there are other brands the same. Here's what I found....

http://www.amazon.com/Moist-Heating-Pads-TheraTherm-dimensions/dp/B000GC1YAC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1246061066&sr=1-1

I did look more but the prices are awful!! Amazon seems to be the best at $50 but I did find them for up to $90 for the very same product. (I have no financial interest in either this product or Amazon) Anyway this might help or at least give you some ideas.

Sure do hope something in here helps you. If nothing more you at least know that someone understands and cares about how you are doing. That sure helps me!

Chutzie
Posted 6/27/2009 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
You can have Osteoarthritis in any part of the body,
Posted 6/29/2009 12:52 PM (GMT 0)

Good Morning All,

FYI, Sebastian has not posted since November of 2006.

Thanks for the info shared Chutz, Lynne and Momtothree. I know others that read here will find it helpful and I hope people share their own experiences along with you.

Thanks all

Kitt

Posted 8/23/2009 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with spinal osteoarthritis, followed by fibromyalgia, about ten years ago. I have taken Celebrex, Codeine, and Morphine over the years for pain management. In 2005, the pain had progressed to the point that I was prescribed slow-release morphine 30 mg twice daily, along with Celebrex 200 mg twice daily.

In January 2008, I was diagnosed with both Lyme disease and Babesiosis. At that time, I started taking oral antibiotic combination's to treat these diseases. By mid-2008, the significant right hand tremor that I had been troubled with mysteriously disappeared. It had been diagnosed as Essential Tremor, a slowly progressive neurologist disorder. To this date, the tremor only acts up mildly on rare occasions.

The most significant and lasting improvement I have experienced since treating Lyme disease -- aside from the tremor -- has been with the major reduction in overall pain. Since April 2009, I have been able to cut the slow-release morphine dose in half to 15 mg twice daily. I no longer take Celebrex on a daily basis, mostly due to the cardiovascular risks (strong family history).

However, I have been delighted that the prescription medication, Plaquenil, also seems to work very well for osteoarthritis. I was prescribed this Rx as a cyst-buster for the Lyme spirochete, but was very pleased to find that it also helped my pain. My pharmacist recently told me that Plaquenil seems to offer joint protection which is beneficial in OA, too. I have been taking Plaquenil 200 mg twice daily since October 2008. I still take Emtec-30 (Tylenol #3 without the caffeine) for breakthrough pain, and also for nasty, long-lasting headaches.

I am neither suggesting that you take Plaquenil nor that you may have Lyme disease. I am simply sharing my story. However, as Lyme disease is included in the differential diagnosis for both FMS and CFS, you may want to consider getting evaluated by a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) in your area. Lyme disease can't be ruled out by a blood test as the diagnosis is a clinical one. Steroids will most always make an individual with undiagnosed Lyme disease feel very sick, which is why they are contraindicated in Lyme disease.

In terms of the best imaging for osteoarthritis, I agree with JD that an MRI is the best. Also, I have found chiropractic treatments to be very beneficial for both my neck and back pain. Other issues that we all are familiar with are posture, lifestyle, diet, and exercise.

I hope everybody is having a peaceful, pain-free day!

Regards,
Cara
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