Diagnosis at last

mandy_b1967

I have had lower back pain for at least three years now and was told by 2 different GP's that is was my posture. I knew it was more than that and went back a third time and saw someone else. He sent me to the Rheumy who has sent me for various tests (including HLAB27 which came back negative) but today I had an answer......Spondylo arthritis. I also have Crohns disease and have had it for over 20 years.

My daughter, now 18, has an appointment next week to see the rheumy as she has had back problems for several months and after 6 weeks physio it has made no difference. Could she has Ankylosing spondylitis?
thanks
Mandy

vonski

Hi Mandy

Glad you've got a diagnosis at last but sorry that it wasn't something better. Have you now been offered treatment and meds etc. At least now you might be able to get the right treatment that could offer some relief.

Fingers crossed for your daughter.

Love
Vonski x

eckstardeluxe

Hi Mandy, what a relief it must be to finally have some answers. Just a pity what those answers were. It just proves we know our bodies better than those looking after us and I'm sure you're message will give hope to those who have found themselves hitting a brick wall trying to find out what's wrong.

It is true that once you find out what you have and learn as much as you can about it, you can learn how to cope and adapt better. I'm not sure about your query re your daughter though, worth further investigation though if physio isn't helping. take care

Eck

mistywillow

scottishlass wrote:

mandy_b1967 wrote:

I have had lower back pain for at least three years now and was told by 2 different GP's that is was my posture. I knew it was more than that and went back a third time and saw someone else. He sent me to the Rheumy who has sent me for various tests (including HLAB27 which came back negative) but today I had an answer......Spondylo arthritis. I also have Crohns disease and have had it for over 20 years.

My daughter, now 18, has an appointment next week to see the rheumy as she has had back problems for several months and after 6 weeks physio it has made no difference. Could she has Ankylosing spondylitis?
thanks
Mandy

Hiya Mandy,hope your daughters appointment goes well,hopefully she doesnt have ankylosing spondylitis, Do you know which type of spondylo arthritis you have?..i just happened to be reading an article on ARC to reply to a post from Bailey,and they describe spondyloarthropathies as a group of different conditions,that dont necessarily seem connected(although there is one connected with inflammation of the bowel)but this one is different from ankylosing spondylitis.
ive added the link here to see if its helpful to you.good luck.

http://www.arc-research.org.uk/arcBacktobasics-thespondyloarthritisstory.asp

Hi Mandy
Glad you have at last been given a diagnosis. Not one you woul have wished for but at least you can start working towards a treatment programme that will make you feel a bit better.
I really hope that your daughter's appointment goes ok.
Take care Gillx

mandy_b1967

Hiya Mandy,hope your daughters appointment goes well,hopefully she doesnt have ankylosing spondylitis, Do you know which type of spondylo arthritis you have?..i just happened to be reading an article on ARC to reply to a post from Bailey,and they describe spondyloarthropathies as a group of different conditions,that dont necessarily seem connected(although there is one connected with inflammation of the bowel)but this one is different from ankylosing spondylitis.
ive added the link here to see if its helpful to you.good luck.

http://www.arc-research.org.uk/arcBacktobasics-thespondyloarthritisstory.asp[/quote]

Thanks Scottishlass, she didn't give me an exact name but said it was related to Inflammatory Bowel having read the article you attached I now see thats how its referred. I am being sent to physio so that I can get my back moving again as its very stuff and painful. I will have excerises to do each day then.

As for meds....I only take paracetamol for pain as due to the crohns disease its difficult to find anything that wont upset my stomach. Its copable at the moment with rest. I also need to loose some weight but I have also been told recently I have underactive thyroid waiting on next lot of bloods to find out about medication for this.

Having read a few posts and a few articles I was wondering if thyroid problems are related in any way to spondyloarthritis???

To anyone that also have 'unexplained' pain I would say follow your instincts and keep on until they listen. I was sure over 3 years ago that I had arthritis in my back but felt like no-one listened. Infact one GP in Nov 2008, told me back pain was not uncommon, and didnt even examine me. I felt he was passing me off as someone that didnt want to work, even though I was self employed at the time and obviously wasnt going to get any sick pay from myself. I put in a complaint with the surgery about misdiagnose of my oesteoarthritis in my wrist and mentioned my back and they soon listened then.....

Mandy