Hi there
I have had severe hip pain etc and I have had xrays on my spine and hips, my spine xray shows I have degenerative discs and I have lost the curvature of my spine and since having being put on new medication meloxicam, which can be used for this complaint, my pain is very minimal and life seems to be more bearable..........
Since seeing a Rhuematologist and she didn't care to look at my medical file or x-rays, she said I had mechanical back strain (yes right in my hands and feet????)She just predicted things by the day in general I saw her......
She said
I have superficial tenderness over the lumbar and thoracic spine and all the soft tissues over the thorax and trunk.Lumbar felxion is somewhat limited, although the schoebers measurement was reasonable at 4.5cm. She says I am uncomfortable on side flexion, and I have a normal lumbar lordosis. Straight leg raising produced some discomfort in the hamstrings, but she says nothing in my back. Fermoral nerve stretch was normal. There was no focal CNS signs, and my hip movements were normal. in the peripheral joints I am hyper mobile at the MCPJ's and the IPJ's of the thumbs, she says I had no other abnormal features.............She should have looked at my xrays!!!!! I don't understand the terminology of this all, has anyone got an idea of this too? I just feel like the Rhuemotologist just couldn't be bothered!!!!!! Probably as the appointment was on the NHS, who knows?????
I have read on the internet that I more than likely have Ankylosing Spondylitis, as apparently a doctor can diagnosis this due to the loss of curvature????
http://www.nass.co.uk/questions.htm
What I am wondering is this correct??? and if it is correct do I just put this finding to my GP??? Or can a Rhuematologist only diagnosis this???
Thanks for reading this.
Regards
SES
Whats this topic got to do with Tramadol??? :lol:
Though i guess you might take Tramadol for a bad case of Ankylosing Spondylitis :D
Yes I take Tramadol too but I didnt mention that!!
OK :D
Its upto the individual consultant how they diagnose Ankylosing Spondylitis. I dont think a GP can 
HI there
That is the point she didn't want to listen as she didn't bother to look at my xrays etc so I just have to put up with my misdiagnosed symptoms.
Thanks for replying
Regards
SES
Nobody has to put up with anything, tell your GP her examination / diagnosis was / is seriously flawed and that you simply want another opinion
Hi there
Mechanical back strain is what she said I have, and yet I get it in my hands and feet????(as well as everywhere else) and I have started with this ailment(s) since nov 06????? She thinks as I haven't had physio that is the problem, but how is it these new tablets are working?????I feel all most normal again???? Surely the Doctor knew what he was doing when he prescribed me these too?????? (with these tablets being only for three types of arthritis) I feel like screaming, I told the rhuemotologist about my x-rays and my lost curvature but she obviously didnt take notice, and as I have said previously this is a classic sign of AS!!!!! the Orthopedic pointed this to me too as he told me the detail of my x-rays.
I just don't know what to do? I have had many it could be this or that but no diagnosis, and yet I am no doctor but my findings seem linked???? but I am no doctor and I cant diagnose myself so I will just suffer I think until someone thinks they have solved my ailments????
thanks for reading
Regards
SES :oops:
You're supposed to be pleased its only a mechanical back strain! :D
but how is it these new tablets are working?????I feel all most normal again???? Surely the Doctor knew what he was doing when he prescribed me these too?????? (with these tablets being only for three types of arthritis) I feel like
Which, the Tramadol? Theyre working because theyre pretty strong painkillers (with a small antidepressant action). I dunno if theyre safe for you to take but some Ibuprofen would go nice with um
Thanks for your reply Spock
I would be happy that it was just mechanical back strain but I have had x-rays to prove its not just that, and the Rhumotologist didn't care to look just took her assumptions on her clinical knowledge if thats what you call it for the day!!!!!!! I have a straight spine, loosing the curvature and degenerative discs along with spacing narrowed in my hip joints, so no I am not happy as such as this professional women didn't care to look at my clinical x-ray's.......I have had pain for almost a year (dec 06 it started) and as I have taken anti inflammatories before they only blocked \"some\" pain not \"all\" and so the Meloxicam and tramadol work well together as at the moment they take away the pain totally, along with the severe headaches I have had for months, I have dry eyes too and I was diagnosed with this from my optician! (having to put drops in my eyes) So you can see I know that the so called diagnosis has it question of doubt?
Regards
SES :roll:
Yeah its true, your symptoms have gone on a very long time for a plain old mechanical strain, its almost a year when it should only be a couple of months (at the extreme) if it is just a strain
hi ses the way you get tested for as is with a expensive blood test forget what its called now but i remember years ago my ortho doc said he thought i had that but wanted to rule anything else out first i didnt have to have the blood test cos it turned out i had very large lipomas down my back that were pressing on nerves so had them taken out very straight forward op and hey presto was good as new .
Thanks Gail
I am seeing my Gp after the 29th as he is on hols (lucky for him!!) I am not sure whether he will look into this test? I know the HLA-B27 has something to do with this? but as I have an appointment with the nurse on Tuesday I am going to get a list of the bloods/results I have had previously, then I can ask him if further tests can be done if need be?
I hope you are coping, I ask Mandy all the time how you are, as I have seen you on here, and my thoughts are with you, thanks so much for your reply xx
Kind regards
Sara
[quote:158cec670a=\"gail\"],,, taken out very straight forward op and hey presto was good as new .
Gosh a good backpain outcome :shock: :lol: I was gonna say get used to it because things only get worse :lol:
hi spock
only to that !! since then i,ve prolapsed discs in my neck now thats a real diffrant situation(see prolapsed discs)
Hi there
I do hope you are ok? I can imagine the pain your having, as I have had neuropathic pain, probably nowhere near to the pain I have with my ddd in the lumbar region and I can imagine its not very nice, as I think anything nearer to your head is worse pain (toothache I can't stand I would rather have a c-section any day!!!!!!!!!)!!!!!! As my mobility is effected and I have a young son (of nearly 2) I find it hard to do \"normal\" things and so my heart goes out for all fellow sufferers xxx
take care xx
SES
hey my two fav patient buddies! :lol: :cheerup:
sara said~As my mobility is effected and I have a young son (of nearly 2) I find it hard to do \"normal\" things and so my heart goes out for all fellow sufferers xxx
and a very cute son at that! :wink:
still can't see how you cope hun, but you do, cos you have too!!! i salute you, :ok: soooo glad my kids are big! lol,
take care see you on the other side, :hug: xx
:rose: mandy :rose:
Hi there Got my blood test results
FBC - HB 11.8 units g/dL range (12.0-15.0) Stat which is LO
Haematocrit - 34.3% (36-46) LO
Lymphocyte count 1.3 10*9/L (1.5-4.0) which is LO
WBC 4.2 10*9/L (3.4-11) NORMAL
other tests in this catergory were ok
Erythrocyte sedementation count 32mm (1-12) which is HI
Liver function test all came back normal apart from:-
Serum Gamma 159iu/L (<42) HI
As my thyroid function test had altered like I have said she wasn't interested due to the urine infection and my thyroid function test I had to decrease my medication as it had altered:
Serum TSH 0.20mu/L (0.36-4.1)
Serum T4 level 27.2 pmol/L (11.2-26.0)
and as yo can see no Rhuematoid factor was taken or HLA-B27 so how can this so called Rhuematologist make a diagosis????
Kind regards
SES
Why dont you write to / ask the Rheumatologist to explain how s/he came up with their diagnosis, or ask your GP to write / ask
Tell your GP you think the diagnosis is boll**ks :D
Hi there all
The Rhuematologist said as I was over weight that would help my back pain get better and as I hadnt seen a physio she wasnt interested....(due to the waiting lists) and as I was Hypermobile in my hands (as previously stated etc in my first post),by her visual findings that is how she made her diagnosis, I think the majority of these professionals cant be bothered I would really like to say I have lost my trust in them but as it is the NHS we are talking about they don't seem to care???? Or maybe its just my experience.?......
I find that after talking to a number of friends like Daisymoo :P they have to make excuses as my friend was not taken seriously at first because she was a lone parent but I bet if she paid for the service there would be a better relationship with doctor and patient????? and as I am not very mobile most of the days I cant loose weight as easily and my thyroid problem makes it harder but as it is again with me I have been given excuses also \"I need to loose weight\" I could have told them that, I can diagnose that myself!!!!!!!! but again if I went private I think they would take me seriously and treat me better also.......My doctor however listens to me so I suppose that is something????? :roll:
Regards
SES
Hi there all
I haver been to Physio and he say I have arthritis in my hip, so finally someone is listening to me!!!!!!!
Regards
SES