Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group I worry,

Tramadol game me all kinds of weird feelings. I literally felt like I was going to fly off the couch. Dizzy, light headed and all kinds of weird feelings. I would not take another pill for anything.

I've never been checked for MS. All doctors just brush it off as anxiety when I tell them I have neuropathic pain. And for anyone who's ever had it; You just don't doubt what it is. Nothing compares to those pains. Nothing.

As for medication, I use Anafranil (a tricyclic antidepressant) 40mg/day. It's a low dose. I should be on twic that if it was for depression, but I dont generally find depression to be part of my problems (apart from now I suppose) and at low dose it is reccomended for cronic pains. And I have known that since before they started reccomending it for it. I noticed increased pain tolerance back when I started using it.

The medicine it self has been nothing but benefitial to me since the start, although weening it off (and on) has quite severe sideeffects.

Thinking of you Gilth

Hi Gilth

I also have neuropathic pain, and it is a pain that you never forget. My skin burns like I am on fire, without the meds I take. Have you considerd Effexor or Cymbalta for pain. I take Effexor and neurontin and Amitriptyline. You need to see a neurologist and be tested . They would also check for MS. Do you have regular blood work done? Has your blood sugar been tested ?

I take it you found this site and have questioned if you have A/S. From what your saying sounds more like fibro which is a very painful disease. The numbness etc needs to be tested but very common with fibro. Neuropathic pain can also be from fibro. I would like to see you getting better pain control. I find the anxiety decreases when I have pain control. I worries me daily, what happens it this treatment stops working for me what will I do . I know I couldn't live with untreated neuropathic pain.


Janet


Janet

Yeah, I initially thought this to be a certain case of AS. But all tests negative, MRI negative.

It should be mentioned though that I have seen MRI's of both my hernitated discs, and they are clear-cut cases of corner-sign, that some here mentions as a precursor to AS.

It could have been psoriatic arthritis, as I found out I have arthritis, but the closest I have come to a jint showing up as arthritic is my right jaw joint, that was described as "Seen as arthritic changes: Sutur-like crevasses to the joint surface. Flattening of joint surface. Bone marrow edema. No fluid in joint". The rheumy was fixated on the fluid in joint thing, and with no fluid in the joint, apparently it isnt arthritic, but due to me grinding my teeth. (nevermind the grinding being due to joint and muscle pain in the jaw initially)


So well....for now at least I have all this stuff, and the joint and muscle pains, but there is nothing wrong with me as far as they can see. I'll try to get my GP to either get me a neuro appointment or order MS MRI's the next time I see her, but at this point I think they see me mostly as a hypochondriac.

Funny that, since all I wanted was some answers and to be able to continue working, since I love my job.

take a look at the paper i linked in this thread:

https://www.kickas.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=484910#Post484910

it talks a lot about undiff spondy, which I have, and which it sounds like you could have:

1. joint issues: back and peripheral
2. GI issues
3. Psoriasis

It took me 12 years and a trip out of town, out of state, spending my own money to get diagnosed. That seems rather typical for undiff spondy. A lot of good info in that paper I linked.

Don't give up. I'm HLAB27 negative, always borderline CRP and SedRate, nothing dramatic on the scans, but not normal either.

I hate the word hypochondriac. You just have to find a doctor, like the rheumy who dx'ed me, and the one I have now, who tell me "why would you lie? why would you make these things up." "I don't have to see you at your worst to believe you go through what you describe." "flaring is a real part of this." and yes, before these doctors, a number who treated me like you describe.

Come here and vent if you need it, but don't give up in finding a doctor more interested in treating you and helping you to feel better than in trying to prove that there is nothing wrong with you. I had several rheumies who did the latter and needed to find one who would do the former. What a difference a different doctor can make.

Not saying you necessarily have undiff spondy; just saying if you do, it can be a challenge to find a doctor capable of dx'ing it. So keep searching.