Where to go from here?

[Blueberry91]

Hi, I'm completely new to this to please bare with me, might be a bit long too so sorry...

I'm 27 years old and I have 2 young children and an amazing husband. I usually work as a health care assistant at my local hospital (I'm a bank worker so tend to do 1 full 12 hour shift a week but only for about 1.5 years I was a stay at home mum before).

Around the beginning of the year I noticed some back pain developing and initially didn't think too much of it as I'd had back pain on and off for years. But this was different and just got worse and worse all down my spine and around my hips/pelvis. I also noticed other aches and pains all over and a lot of stiffness in the mornings and severe fatigue. By mid March I was off sick from work, due to the physical nature of my job I was completely unable to do it.

I also have a problem with my left wrist which is as yet undiagnosed so I had seen a rheumatologist before but had been discharged as they didn't think they had anything to offer other than that I was hla-b27+.

So i got myself referred back to the rheumatologist and saw them in April. They seemed to believe I had a form of Axial Spondyloarthritis based on my symptoms and family history. She gave me some anti inflammatories (etoricoxib), advice and sent me for and mri.

The mri didn't show any inflammation but did so some degenerative changes, particularly at l4-l5 and t7-t8 where I have a small disc herniation but that doesn't seem to be causing my issues (so they say).

So now I've just been told to keep taking painkillers and nsaids indefinitely and try physio (clearly they don't communicate because I've been having physio since april and am just about to finish up my course of hydrotherapy).

So now I don't know where to go from here. I use crutches from my physio to walk because it's too painful to walk. I'm in pain literally all the time. I wake up in pain in the night. I'm so stiff Its just awful. And i have to wear a splint on my wrist almost all day when I'm out. I take cocodamol and etoricoxib but I'm under the impression they may not let me have the etoricoxib from now on since the rheumatologist doesn't want to know.

I'm so young and can't work or play with my kids and my husband has to help with everything because I can't do it. It's so unfair.

Sorry for rambling it's nice to get it off my chest I'd nothing else.

Thanks.

[johnsmith]

You have tried physio and found it wanting. This does not surprise me. NHS physio is one size fits all.

Sleep is a must for fine control of muscles.

You say: "...at l4-l5 and t7-t8 where I have a small disc herniation but that doesn't seem to be causing my issues (so they say)."

This is where the lack of knowledge of engineering systems and feedbacks results in you being given the wrong information.

You need to see a chiropractor. Your muscles in the back may be too tight. This may be causing the issue with the left wrist.

The splint may well make your wrist issue worse because it restricts muscle movement. By all means have the splint on when doing heavy lifting, but take it off otherwise. Lack of movement will cause worse issues.

Many people do not release the hips when doing things this results in the muscles in the back doing things they should not with resultant stress on discs.

An Alexander Teacher can show you things about moving in a better way that I cannot describe in this forum.

[Blueberry91 in reply to johnsmith]

Thank you I will bear that all in mind

[Hidden]

Hi there, I would ask your GP if you need to speak to a neurologist your symptoms you describe might need looking at and they will know if it is neuro , good luck .

[Blueberry91 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for replying is there anything in particulate you were thinking with regards to seeing a neurologist? I'll admit it's not something that has crossed my mind at all

[Hidden]

Hi

I really feel for you. Has your Dr not suggested fibromyalgia? Also I agree, ask about being referred to a neurologist. Take care Lynne

[Blueberry91 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you no it hasn't been mentioned by my gp, however when I saw the rheumatologist she did say she didn't think I had fibromyalgia. But up until my MRI came back showing no inflammation everyone I had seen with regards to my back problems had been convinced I had some form of inflammatory arthritis so maybe that might be different now. Nothings simple is it!

[Hidden]

No , you are right there. I seem to go to drs for one thing and end up coming out something else!!! Take care Lynne

[Hidden]

Hi, I was thinking about your neck i had c4c5 , fused and symptoms were all over my body pain plus bladder and bowel

[cyberbarn]

Have you looked into Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, what used to be called Hypermobility Syndrome? Sometimes people can have the condition (it is highly hereditary) without symptoms for many years but then as they get older the micro tears that they have been having in the tissues around the joints take their toll and people become symptomatic. So it might be worth having a look to see if that is a possibility.

ehlers-danlos.org

[6092177588]

It's good to discuss. Unfortunately you need to pay attention to symptoms and know that so much comes from spine. It takes awhile to locate problems but be patient and research. Peace