Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Anyone else have these problems?

I was just reading the "toe fusion" post and that prompted me to ask about a couple of other odd aches and pains.

I have a lot of trouble with what feels like the muscles in my upper arms. They ache terribly. Sometimes it hurts to the point that I can't use my arm at all. It feels like what I would expect tendonitis (sp?) to feel like but I don't know for sure as I have never had tendonitits.

Also, I have a lot of problems with mouth sores. They always pop up around the same time that one of my lymph nodes under my tounge swells up and hurts. It usually lasts a few days and then goes away.

One more - My gums ache sometimes and it feels like someone is trying to pull my teeth out. It only lasts a short while but it's awful. It happens 5 - 6 times a year so I'm use to it but I definately don't understand it!

I have asked the docs about these problems but everyone seems to shrug it off as "in my head" or "a fluke thing". I hate to sound whiney but these issues cause me concern. If anyone can give me info or atleast validate that I am not alone in these experiences I would love to hear from you!

Stacey

Hi Stacey,
I've had the achy arms before, so sore that I couldnt turn a light bulb on or wave, hang washing up etc, I am not sure where the pain was coming from (neck.shoulder???) - my aches come and go so I haven't really had the arm pain checked out but if it comes to stay - I will. My arms would ache (pain up and down the arm) and if I attempted to lift anything heavy I would get a sharp pain at the top of my arm, near the shoulder. I haven't suffered from mouth sores but I have read that some medications can cause them. I hope I have been some sort of help to you. Take care and best wishes from Debra.

Hi Stacey,

Are you taking folic acid? Some meds will cause the mouth sores (sulfasalazine and mthx.) and folic acid should help with this problem. I am on sulfa and started taking 2 mg of folic acid per day when I got the mouth sores. You can get folic acid over the counter at any drugstore. What meds are you on?

Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness.

Stacey,

In reply to:

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One more - My gums ache sometimes and it feels like someone is trying to pull my teeth out

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I have had that happen to me before but just brushed it off. I don't really know if it has to do with AS. It is hard to pick things out sometimes when you ache all over. I have a lot more weird stuff I never really mentioned to my doc because I didn't think it linked to AS. Since I have been on this site alot of stuff has been mentioned. Just like IBS I don't know if I have it but I sure have some of the symptoms and all this time I just thought I was one big stomach bloat from acid reflux. Other symptoms of that I rather not mention. Ok, I admit some of the bloat is my doing,too much pop and sweets.

Scott

p.s. I will ask my doc about the gum thing.

I am on Sulfasalazine but I only started it five days ago. The mouth sores have been around a lot longer than that. I take a multi vitamin everyday but I will try the follic acid - thanks for the tip.

Stacey

Oh yeah - I'm on Piroxicam also. But the mouth sores pre-date that too.

Hi Stacy!
I often get unexplained "throbbing" in my teeth. No dentist has been able to explain it. Sometimes it could be from clenching so occassionally I wear a mouth guard the dentist made for me. But sometimes that doesn't help either.
I don't have the sore achy muscles in my upper arm. but did have a time with my right forearm. The doc treated it as Tennis elbow, and so sometimes I wear an elbow splint, that I picked up from the drugstore. And ice the area if it's really bad.
Sorry that you are having unusual pains in your body. It's hard to know if it's AS related or not.
Hope you feel better soon!
Laura

Stacey,

Could the arm problem be in your shoulder? I have trouble with my shoulders when I move my arms certain directions. I was actually told tendonitis or frozen shoulder originally, but now am sure its due to AS.

As other people said, a lot of meds can cause mouth sores. If this is a new problem I'd blame that. I've gotten sores in my mouth longer than I've been on medicine, though...I think these are due to my immune system attacking minor cuts in my mouth. The best solution I've found is to just numb them until they go away. You can buy over-the-counter stuff for that, but my pharmacist will mix some stuff with malox, benedryl and lidocane. The bottle says stomatitis cocktail #2. I don't know if this is just her, or if other pharmiscists will mix this too, but it works really well.

I hope this helps some. I also had a question that would fit into this topic, but I'll make a new thread for it.

-Shack

Hi Stacey,

When I have the tingling sensation in my body, I get mouth sores too. I've linked them together at this point. I just read through the other posts and I noticed Deborah mentioned folic acid. I think that might be a good idea for both of us!

I get the arm muscle pain, too. And where the pain is, it is sometimes hot to the touch. Inflamation of some kind, for sure, but I haven't found any rhyme or reason as to why. It can happen when I overdo, and when I do nothing at all. Even weather has nothing to do with it. I was told it was FMS, but I wonder. I shouldn't complain, as my back pain was AIYH for 25 years.



Hugs,

Cindy

I am only one; but still I am one.
I cannot do everything.
But still I can do something;
I will not refuse to do the something I can do.
Helen Keller