Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group just venting

I got results of my recent xrays from my rheumy. I have been having lots of spine stiffness and pain in my lower back and neck. This is what the report says:

Lumbar spine: Compared to xray of 3/10/11 there has been progressive narrowing of the L5-S1 disc space. There is new vacuum disc formation and new 4mm anterolisthesis relative to prior study. Faint calcification in upper quadrant.

cervical spine: Straightening of the normal cervical lordosis with multiple degenerative discs of the cervical spine.

So what my rheumy says there is there is a normal curve in the spine of the neck area and mine is straightening causing the pain. The only thing I remember her saying about the lumbar is there is mild curvature concave to the left. I can't remember all she told me.
She wants me to start methotrexate injections. Because it doesn't go thru the stomach like the tablets it is more effective and she is raising the amount I currently take with the tablets. I have been on Enbrel for 7 years and I have been doing so good. If the mtx doesn't work than she will look at changing my Enbrel. This pain came on very suddenly and toradol/kenalog injection did't touch the pain. I am taking Soma and Norco thoughout the day and one of each at bedtime. They make me a zombie but it makes the pain tolerable and I can sleep.
I am so frustrated and angry. I am mad that I have been on Enbrel all this time and damage to my spine has still progressed. I haven't been able to do my regular activities and this makes me more angry. I am usually a "go with the flow" type of person. I don't want to feel this way it only makes me stress and focus more on the pain. I know many of you have felt like this and with far worse problems.

Thanks for letting me vent!

HLA-B27 positive
AS diagnosed 2007
Fibromyalgia diagnosed 2007
Lupus diagnosed 1984
Enbrel inj, methotrexate, zoloft,wellbutrin.fosamax, calcium, folic acid. Soma and Norco as needed.

I have an MRI scheduled too

Sometimes you've just gotta vent!

Times like these, I always end up reflecting on the good things. Whatever it is that makes you happy in your life, focus on that. Do you have kids? Parents? Friends? The kind of people that enrich your everyday? Call them and tell them you love them.

Just keep pushing and don't give up. Sometimes the meds don't work the way they should and it's horrible to know that you've lost time on them. But it takes time to properly tune yourself to certain medications before your rheumatologist can even verify whether or not they're effective. It drives me crazy, too.

Keep your head up and always know that you aren't alone in suffering with this disease.

I can understand your frustration and pain. It is unfortunate there is no real cure. All of the medications are used to "manage" the symptoms. Nothing more than try to slow down the progression of the disease.

Don't feel too bad. I had high hopes for medication, only to find out for my Rheumatologist that only 40% of AS patients actually go into remission. My rheumatologist tried to encourage me to feel better about my condition and mounting problems, since I'm probably not the worst case. He cited a patient of his who required a bilateral hip replacement at the young age of 25.