Stenosis in neck and spine.Help re symptoms and pain.

[Red1973]

Sorry for lengthy post but trying to giveoverall picture as had relatively good health until late 2018 .

Left knee - Late 2018 -pain and limping after lengthy walks . Early 19 saw Dr - said Osteoarthritis and after several more visits finally referred Scan Jul 19 showed severe osteoarthritis and replacement knee op booked Mar 20 cancelled re covid.Now really painful.

Right knee - Mid 2019 started with pain in this knee . Like left knee had muscle spasms and felt like trapped nerves and some muscle loss. Several drs said not trapped nerve and not neurological.Now really painful and weak.

Back - pulled this Mar 19 - given box of codeine had intermittent pain- after several requests finally got referral lumbar scan July 19- showed wear and tear and spondylosis.- referred to RA consultant who said not RA and not psoriatic arthritis (as I have psoriasis) and referred me back to dr.)

After 6 months of going round in circles finally got referral to local spine clinic ( not consultant) Feb 20 by which time back pain occurring more frequently . Further scan arranged Mar but cancelled re covid.

Felt really tired with headache left side late Apr had to lie down then next day had stiff painful neck - went to a&e 24 hrs later as weekend and really stiff - no scan done - just blood tests and told they were ok so stick to painkillers.Week later pain went and neck and face floppy and relaxed- had trouble breathing when lying down and poor sleeping and having nosebleeds.Spoke to dr who sent me to a&e for blood tests as one test not right on previous a& e visit.

At a&e new blood tests done and ok -told them ( as I had told practice doctors )that I had had to cut down my walking recently as I had been getting bad ankle and calve cramps sooner and sooner and feeling more breathless)they suggested I had had heart failure and would write to dr ( no medication offered) as it could be caused by my blood pressure tablets.After 10 days no update still contacted dr and told heart fine not enlarged .Further blood tests done since told ok.However last week had bleed in eye ( not painful) and eyeball has gradually increased in blood since although I can see.spoke to dr who said it was subjuctal haemorrhage and would clea in couple of weeks.

Had back and neck scan three weeks ago- show stenosis andcord compression of neck and spine - degeneration c5 c6 and t5 and t6 and consultant contacted me 10 days ago re mystery cyst on spine on which he is looking for further info with colleague.Says NHS NICE guidelines)don’t do steroid pain injections but will send me for neck physio ( not sure when because of covid)Scan result shocked me.

However last few days.pain now become really bad - knees ankles arms neck shoulders spine - seems to ease when I walk or lie down in bed but starts again when I stop or try to relax.Sitting down was fine until last couple of days. Feeling tired very easily no energy and not as much strength.

Have lay in bed this morning two hours no pain / within minutes sitting up am in pain neck shoulders arms back although has now eased .

Taking naproxen and paracetamol but having no effect on pain.Also on bendroflumethide for High BP have been on them for years.

Sorry for long story but any help with stenosis and stenosis pain.Are these type of symptoms people have experienced and I would expect as need to ask consultant when he contacts me back.

Thanks

[Happyrosie]

This does sound very nasty for you, and difficult for you to control. There may be nothing that anyone can do for you at the moment (Covid) except pain killers - maybe have a word with your pharmacist for advice on this?

[arthritis_action Partner]

Hi Red1973 ,thanks for sharing your story and sorry to hear that you're struggling with these pains at the moment.

We definitely recommend continuing to keep your GP and healthcare professionals updated with your pains whenever you speak to them, and let them know how your symptoms are continuing.

In terms of helping to relieve the pain in the meantime, the Arthritis Action website includes information on pain management and wellbeing that may help you manage your painful symptoms. Take a read through the pages, as some of the information and resources may be helpful in easing the pain. We also have some very simple exercises that you can do at home to keep your joints active, which can help reduce your pain in the long term.

arthritisaction.org.uk/livi...

arthritisaction.org.uk/livi...

arthritisaction.org.uk/livi...

Do let us know how you get on.

[Dazakella2010]

I have had a cyst on my spine for 4 years it doesn’t cause any harm and they are found accidentally.... they are just left alone normally.

[Red1973 in reply to Dazakella2010]

Thank you for your response.Hopefully this is causing no harm as I have been advised by consultant that I also have thoracic stenosis and also in neck.It is three weeks since I saw consultant and I still await him coming back to me as he was to discuss my case with colleagues.

I did phone him last Friday for any update and matter had not been discussed yet at his weekly meeting but intended to discuss it last Monday.

Purely by chance I saw some information about Gout (Which I had not even considered re my symptoms which then referred to spinal gout - which are cysts which are forms of gout crystals in spine) whose symptoms have been similar to mine. Very rare illness only discovered after MRI scan .( handful of cases where crystals removed patient given steroids recovered quickly). Mentioned this to consultant on phone but he dismissed it.

Do you have any spine or stenosis problems or even had gout?

[Dazakella2010 in reply to Red1973]

Yes I also have stenosis in my neck as well as osteoarthritis in my neck and lumbar spine.... and bulging lower disks. Unfortunately there isn’t a lot that can’t be done, I have lived with thus now for 5 years since I was 35, and the osteoarthritis is spreading.. I am on pain relief..... I have many other medical conditions 😌

[Red1973 in reply to Dazakella2010]

Thanks for your message. Sorry to read about your problems with this.

May I ask a couple of questions?

1) Are you in the UK and therefore on treatment from NHS and if so what medication have they put you on?

2) Are you able to do exercises and if so have they given you specific ones for the neck and lumbar ( bearing in mind you have a cyst)

Have they told you to walk a lot ( which is something I had been doing but am now not able to walk as far as I could previously as calves and ankles get stiff quickly)

Thanks