Chronic back pain

[SuzanneMaree123]

Hi everyone and happy new year.

Can sjogrens cause chronic back pain. Have been struggling with back pain for a number of years now. Would like to know if sjogrens is the cause. Thanks

[snowlee]

Yes! I'm having back pain as I'm writing this reply. I think it is nerve pain. It feels similar to when I had the shingles. I take Alleve (naproxen) for it. It relieves the pain somewhat. If I got a shot of cortisone it would probably feel better, but my rheumy is reluctant to start with steroids. Right now I take plaquenil (hydroxyquinolone, cevemiline for dry mouth, alleve for muscle pain, and high dose vitamin D.

[SuzanneMaree123 in reply to snowlee]

Hi thanks for replying. Is your back pain the result of sjogrens. I'm not sure which came first. I was only diagnosed with sjogrens last year but have had back pain for six years Thanks

[snowlee in reply to SuzanneMaree123]

Yes, I did not have pain like this before Sjogren's! I'm thinking about PT next. Have you ever tried acupuncture for Sjogren's?

[SusieW2]

My guess is that you probably have a pinched nerve, tight muscle or imbalanced musculature. I had chronic & acute low back/sciatic and hip pain. I alleviated it with yoga and chiropractic. A good physical therapist can also help. I recently started with one. US Medicare pays for it now. Now they say I have degeneration and osteopenia in that hip. I wouldn't be surprised if the SS contributed but more likely it was something mechanical like carrying two babies on that hip with no instruction about avoiding this long-term result. New PT says that all women should get physical therapy after child birth!

[Froogle]

Hi - I've had Sjögren's for over 40 years and would say that my back pain and weakness has progressed over the years and I certainly don't put it all down to the aging process. Sometimes I feel like my back is literally broken - quite frightening and debilitating - and then within hours it's back to what passes as normal! Very painful and unpredictable.

[SusieW2]

I just read an article about pain related to Sjogren's. Back pain wasn't mentioned a lot, mostly extremity joints. But the spine is a lot of joints. I would try some yoga and a chiropractor. They helped me a lot when I had back pain 10 years ago. I was able to get off of heavy pain medications after conventional medicine, injections and physical therapy failed to work.