BACK INFLAMMATION

chile168

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I have not being posting but I have been having chronic fatigue, bones aching all over.

I have been having a lot of back pain and waiting to hear if I will be referred to a Spine Specialist by GP as recommended by Orthopedic Consultant. Anyway, since yesterday the pain has felt different, its sitting around waist and slightly above it which hurts when I breathe. This evening I went to the doctor and saw nurse practitioner. She said it's inflamed.

Has anyone had this and how long does it last? Were you given anti-inflammatory medication?

Thanks.

Eve

dorcas

Oh Eve,
sounds as though you are having a bad time with pain...I am so sorry!

I wondered why your consultant didn't refer you himself to the spine specialist? surely that would have been quicker than going back through GP referral?

I don't have advice about the pain in your ribs but I did read somewhere on the forum of another peep who had inflammation of the muscles between the ribs...I can't remember what the treatment was but maybe he/ she will read and answer your post.

keep your chin up Eve! irisx

skezier

Hi Eve,

I am sorry you got this. I get swelling and inflamation in my spine and neck, it comes up gets very hot and hurt like hell and well its usually cus I have done something it doesn't like with the lumber (thats mostly oa) but the neck well that's oa and pa and that just does it. It last a while or as long as it wants rally.

I have injections into my neck that help and eat anti-inflammatories and it just runs its course really. I think the intercostal muscles in my case also get unhappy as does the ribs and sternum but thats down to the pa (I asume ) the lumber swelling is always cus I have done something it doesn't like. It doesn't always mean I have done much but sometime...... well I can ask for it :roll: You rest it cus that helps and I find warmth as well and I hope it soon comes down and goes quiet for you. ((( ))) Cris x

mellman01

Hi chile my problem is in my neck and I get constant pain due to disc problems but it's not the same thing as your problem, I find Nortriptyline knocks it on the head fairly well, a bit ironic as I was given that for my knees. it doesn't seem to do any good for them?.
Also chilli cream helps take out the low level pain.

bailey27

Hi
I have a sponyloarthropathy - which have been told it is liekly to be AS but not a firm diagnosis.
The pain I get is around the bottom of my back jsut above my hips bones, in the middle and to the sides.
Recently I have been having probs with breathing especially when I take a deep breathe in. It feel like I am having heart pains but after a visit to the out of hours Gp as told it was an nflammed sternum and ribs which apparently is all to do with the back. I am awaiting another MRI to see if the inflammation has spread up my back as this can happen with AS.
I have had this flare up since beginning of december. It has eased off but doesnt seem to want to go completely at the moment which is frustrating.
I always find a hot deep bath helps. Because I find that deep breathing is painful / uncomfrtable I notice myself taking shorter breathes which I am sure is connected to the chest infection i currently have.

chile168

Hi Everyone,

Thank you all so much for your replies, I truly appreciate it.

The Orthopedic Consultant cannot refer me as GP's hold the power so only he can refer me but if he doesn't he will have another thing coming as he constantly denies me referrals.

Bailey, my pain sounds very similar to yours. At times I have so much pain on coccyx and all positions hurt, I cannot even lie down to rest. Mine is still hurting even though I took 2 lots of codeine last night and paracetamols today. Like you said it hurts me even more when I breathe in. Can't wait to see the rheumy nurse on Monday.

What is AS? Not looking forward to this lasting for weeks and sorry to hear you have been having this pain since December.

((((((((( to everyone )))))))))))) thank you x

Eve

bailey27

Hi
AS stands for ankylosing spondilitis.
I don't get any problems at all with other joints other than the spine.
There are a few different types of spondyloarthropathies so a definate name for is has not been given although my gp has mentioned it along with my physio. It isn't pleasant when I get flare up as it literally effects my whole body. The fatigue is terrible because with this I have to keep active otherwise my back gets so stiff it is excruciating especially whnen the back muscles go into spasm. The problem is that I need to keep moving but am too tired to do anythiing so end up going around in circles. The pain and stiffness is worse in the mornings and often takes me a few hours to loosen up enough to even get in the car and go to work.

woodbon

Hello,
I have a compressed nerve in my neck, caused by the disks sliping and pinching the nerve & also the same problem in the lumber spine as the bottom of my back. It also gets sore in the middle! :roll: My physio says that these problems often go together, as when one thing happens, the back has undue pressure on the rest of it. I sometimes find that I get a bit of discomfort when I breath if my back is going through a really bad phase, but it soon goes for me and I haven't asked about it, but I don't like to add even more to the list, when I go to the docs!

It sounds very painful for you, I hope that you will be sorted with adiquate painkillers, I expect the rheummy will be able to help. Also, physio can help sometimes. Its good that you have seen someone about the pain in your chest, as at least you know its not something that needs urgent attention, like you heart.

I hope that you soon get sorted out and find some good pain relief, when you go to the hospital. Make sure you tell the full story and don't make light of the pain or miss something out. Can someone go with you? I find that it helps me to remember whats said and reminds me of what has been said, my husband comes with me. Or if not I write a list, even if I don't take it out of my bag, I think the fact of writting it down, seems to make it stick in my mind better!!

Hope you soon get sorted and feel a lot better,
Love Sue

PS I've come across the hospital discharging me and telling me to ask my GP to do a new referral, when changing departments, seems a bit daft to me!!! :shock:

chile168

Hi Bailey,

Thank you for explaining AS and will note it down so I can speak to the rheumy nurse on Monday.

I still wake up stiff in the morning and takes a while for me to move properly or better. 5 years ago I used to wake up so stiff that I would be bent over at 45 degree angle which would take anything between 1-2 hours before I could straighten up. I have since bought I higher bed and a very very thick orthopedic mattress. Now as I roll out of bed I'm in a straighter position which helps and doesn't take as long to get moving as it used to. I used to have to wake up earlier when working so I could drive so understand the problem you are having. My sister who also suffers with back problem tried my bed and has bought one exactly the same. I admit that it is expensive but I highly recommend it.

Hi Woodbon,

Thank you for your reply. I have problems with my L4/L5 as discs are slightly reduced in height and think they are becoming really troublesome. I hope the nurse can prescribe me stronger pain killers than codeine. I took two and OMG the dreams were so vivid and because muscles were relaxed, I could not wake up - it was horrible.

Hun why are you been discharged? I agree seems ridiculous to go back to GP just to be referred to another department. Is your GP supportive? I hope so hun.

To All,

Once again thank you so much for all your support, it certainly has helped me through this as Im feeling rather low at the moment with pain and everything else going on at the moment.

(((((((((((( hugs to everyone )))))))))

Eve