Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Spinal changes before fusion?

Hi. Trying to figure out what is happening with my spine and other joints. Does this happen before the fusing? What labs can be run to confirm- AS or other?

Osteopenia
Scoliosis to one side ( new in last five years)
Right SI joint more prominent in back than left with great deal of pain
Right hip /leg higher/shorter than left.
Plantar fasciitis in bottom of right foot. Really hard, painful ball of soft tissue and bone spurring on top of foot/feet.
Lumps ( 2 inch diameter) appearing on lower shins near feet.
Bone and joint "sclerosing".
Degenerating joints /disks everywhere.
Profound swelling with any surgery.
Central and side disk herniations.
Kyphosis upper spine ( bottom cervical)
Swollen areas of intense muscle spasming along spine and up into neck and shoulders.( Actually bulge out like bones so large)
Profound generalized pain and weakness with myofascial tightness.

Does this sound like AS before fusing? Best tests to confirm? Thanks for help.

PA pain

Hi,

You most be in so much pain and discomfort! I've found that attacking a few of them gives me some room and a break for a bit and then I get the strength to work on the others. If I leave it it worsens to being unbearable even on the meds.

I've found that the SI legs feet etc are with delayed by 15 minutes after IBD activity,


The long muscles sound like traps they're pretty big and the ones the rhemmie checks everytime. These respond well to TENS, and if you can work it up you can get enough power in to ease the pain spams and give them enough twitch to exercise and restore some movement and length. Good for myf release stuff, SI relief.....

For the feet and ankles I used to ice/ massage/heat massage and the put NSAID gel on them, this worked a treat. Better to get the IBD under control that seems to trigger it in me.

TENS and pressure massage on SI especially Illiac crest on the back, preddy enamas really brings this down in minutes!!!! You can also ice this area or heat. I prefer heat myself but sometimes there's a time and a need for ice.

I do ankle exercises every day, that's helped heaps when the tendons/joint crack thats what I'm after.

As for bone spurs there and on my knees....aghhh they hurt mine have disappeared now after being on preddy for a while.

I think aif you battack one that'll give you some breathing space from the discomfort and then you'll get the strength/encouragement to attack the others. You can't ignore this stuff otherwise it'll bit real hard.

Ohb yes. hot baths/spa and stretch afterwards. Gentle but form.

Hope you find some relief


David

Hi there!
I have only fused at l5/si joint. some docs have said it was congenital, others say it was the spondy that caused it. i give up as to which.
i also have:
bulging disc at l3
a little bit of oseto at thoracic
had a herniated disc at l4 that was fused by lammenctomy surgery
have dextroscoliosis
and lumbar spondylosis
plantar fascitis
tendonits
enthesitis. which rheumy said was common with spondy. said it was inflammation around the tendons and muscles next to the joints.
I have had mri's done and xrays. I have had a slightly elevated ANA test and a positive hlab27. My sed rate varies and is only around the mid 20's. Doesnt make much difference as to what my pain level is. My doc confirmed with the family history of arthritis, colitis, positive ana, and hlab27 test. He said xrays showed all the damage from spondy even though I dont have fusion anywhere else. My xrays also showed something like moderate hypertrophic changes to facet joints in thoracic area. whatever THAT means.
Best of luck to you and hope you can get some of your pain under control.
What tests have you had run for your AS dx?




Buggy

Hi. Thanks for the info. Could you explain your scoliosis? My doc only did xrays of spine. Had MRI over a year ago. Due for new one given my symptoms. Is your spine twisting at all? My right side where all my pain is focused is very spasmed and my SI joint in back and front is twisted forward and up. Pulling leg up. Is this whas AS does?

Can this be stretched or massaged back into position?

I hate this.
Thanks- PApain

Hi. Thanks for info. Did you mean to say your bowels can trigger back pain and/or vice versa? Mine works that way. Bloating and GI problems seem to relate to back pain,etc.

Please explain . Thanks.
PApain

Hi !
I wish I knew how to explain..this is all mumbo jumbo to me.
All i know is that it means curvature of the spine...and my spine was last seen as curved and leaning to the right. It looked terrible. Not sure what it looks like now or if the fusion surgery corrected that part too. That was mid back. The lower back is where I had fusion for the herniated disc.

I also get terrible colitis Ibs symptoms as my back gets worse. I mentioned to my Gastro doc and she thought it was hormone related. I dont think so because my everytime I get those feverish flashes and feel like I'm going to faint then chills..then nausea and vomiting...it's from the colitis attacks. This has been happening since when I first had the h. pylori bacteria and gallstones. She did say that I had a dilated duct where my gallbladder was removed. WHATEVER that means and WHY it would be dilated who knows.

I have had PT done three times. Nothing has changed it. I have learned stretching exercises and better sleep methods but no cure yet.

Oh and doc gave me Nexium to help with my stomach.

Best of luck



Buggy