Sclerosis of the right SI Joint

Agape

Hi everyone, this is my first post and would really appreciate it if someone could help me understand what this means and if there would be any progression over time with this problem. I have a lot of pain in my SI and I am now suffering with pain in my thoracic area, just can't seem to get comfortable, I also get pain when lying down in bed.

Many thanks for any replies,

barbara12

Hello Agape and a warm welcome from me
Have you had an MRI scan on your back,I see you mention Sclerisis in the S1 joint, I have heard of it but sorry I cant offer any advice.
I am just wondering what treatment you have had for the pain, I do hope someone will be along soon with some advice for you.

MrOptimist

Hello Agape,

I'm sorry to hear you are suffering in this way. It would be impossible to offer any kind of prognosis without being able to refer to your medical notes or tests. I would suggest you make an appointment with your GP to express your concern. A GP is there to help and to explain things too

dreamdaisy

Hello, it's nice to meet you and I hope that we will be able to help with encouragement and support.

I have an auto-immune arthritis which has affected both SI joints (and a fair few others too). They're continually painful and sore, but sclerosis is another type of trouble about which I know little; I believe it's a thickening of tissue, yes? I concur that you need to see your GP to talk things through with him but regarding prognosis none of us have a crystal ball either for our conditions or yours. One thing we do understand, however, is living with continual chronic pain, it's a challenge to say the least. What meds have you been given? DD

Agape

Hi Barbara12, Thank you for your warm welcome, it's so good to be able to chat to others who can relate to similar problems.

MrOptimist, you are right about my GP.

Dreamdaisy, nice to meet you too, I hope that we can both bless and comfort one another.

In my eagerness to post I forgot to give some background information. I have an autoimmune disease, Sjogrens Syndrome to be precise. I have suffered with what one doctor said was asthma and a nurse who then said I didn't have asthma :!: I have had bronchitis a few times and last year ended up in hospital with pneumonia for 10 days, then came out and caught another chest infection. 5 weeks later I went back to work. My bloods show positive for ANA and high RF factors etc. etc.

My right SI has been painful for years and the symptoms of Sjogrens have lurked for about the same, but have only been diagnosed in the last two years. I have always worried about taking strong meds so on my visits with my Rheumy I tell her that if I can avoid taking something horrible I will, but this back pain is getting too much and so I called her office today, I wait to hear what she suggests, I would love to have an MRI. At present I only take co-codamol for pain relief. I tried Hydroycloriquine (think I have spelt that right!) but I had a bad allergic reaction and had to be taken off.

So... I am not sure if my pain is part of SJS inviting other friends to party in my back or a different and new problem. The X-Ray was ordered by my Rheumy and she will look at the results tomorrow!

I apologise for the long post but perhaps this will help you better understand where I am coming from.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

Agape

Hi everyone, sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but I have had some major problems posting on the forum. Thank you for your patience and here is my reply to your kind posts.


Hi Barbara12, Thank you for your warm welcome, it's so good to be able to chat to others who can relate to similar problems.

MrOptimist, you are right about my GP.

Dreamdaisy, nice to meet you too, I hope that we can both bless and comfort one another.

In my eagerness to post I forgot to give some background information. I have an autoimmune disease, Sjogrens Syndrome to be precise. I have suffered with what one doctor said was asthma and a nurse who then said I didn't have asthma :!: I have had bronchitis a few times and last year ended up in hospital with pneumonia for 10 days, then came out and caught another chest infection. 5 weeks later I went back to work. My bloods show positive for ANA and high RF factors etc. etc.

My right SI has been painful for years and the symptoms of Sjogrens have lurked for about the same, but have only been diagnosed in the last two years. I have always worried about taking strong meds so on my visits with my Rheumy I tell her that if I can avoid taking something horrible I will, but this back pain is getting too much and so I called her office today, I wait to hear what she suggests, I would love to have an MRI. At present I only take co-codamol for pain relief. I tried Hydroycloriquine (think I have spelt that right!) but I had a bad allergic reaction and had to be taken off.

So... I am not sure if my pain is part of SJS inviting other friends to party in my back or a different and new problem. The X-Ray was ordered by my Rheumy and she will look at the results tomorrow! (Results back! X-Ray shows that I have Osteoarthritis in my right SI joint.) :-( Not sure if this will spread, get worse or what, so I will have to start reading the fact sheets on this website and also speaking to my GP/Rheumy.

I apologise for the long post but perhaps this will help you better understand where I am coming from.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

stickywicket

Hello Agape. I hope your rheumatologist comes up with something helpful.

There are quite a few on here with Sjorgrens. I know both it and asthma are auto-immune conditions as are some forms of arthritis though not osteo.

I don't know if Sjorgrens gets worse if left untreated but I know auto-immune forms of arthritis do so, however much people are scared by the 'heavy meds', we normally encourage them to take them. Yes, some of the potential side-effects are scary but they are only potential, we only take low doses and we are well-monitored while on them. I've taken a combination of methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine for years and it really makes a huge difference. If, however, it's simple osteo, with no auto-immune cause, the meds are just anti-inflamms and pain relief.

I hope you can get to the bottom of things soon.

Agape

Hi Stickywicket

Thanks for your reply. I don't see my Rheumy until January and I am a little frustrated that she hasn't called to say if she will be asking for an MRI for further investigations or if she thinks that I should take some meds even though she knows that I am in pain!

Would you know why it is that some arthritis's are auto-immune and yet others are not! How would I know if I have an auto-immune arthritis? Would this involve another blood test?

Thank you, take care

stickywicket

I'm not a doc and I've very little medical knowledge but, as I understand it, sclerosis of the sacro iliac joints is caused by osteo arthritis rather than an auto-immune form, though the osteo itself can arise as a result of an auto-immune form of arthritis.

I'm not sure if there is any treatment for it other than pain relief and maybe anti-inflammatories and/or steroid injections and physio.

If you've previously made it clear you prefer not to take DMARDS your rheumatologist will probably assume that continues to be the case. It is these disease modifying meds that rheumatologists prescribe. If you just want pain relief your GP is the one to ask.

As for your last three questions – a blood test helps to determine the presence of an auto-immune arthritis and, as you already have an auto-immune disease, Sjorgrens, you will be having these from time to time. Why are some forms of arthritis a result of auto-immune problems and others not? I've no idea :? Maybe, as osteo sets in when RA etc goes untreated, they were originally all thought to be the same.

I think your best course of action is an appointment with your GP who will be able to prescribe some pain relief and answer other questions. However, when you next see your rheumatologist, I'd suggest you ask whether or not she thinks you should be taking a DMARD. Please let us know how you get on.

Agape

Hi Stickywicket

Thank you for your reply. I do take co-codamol for pain and they do help, but when I get home from work my SI really hurts and I have to rest.

However, whenever I speak to my GP about a repeat prescription I always get the impression that they are monitoring how many I am taking and that I should be careful not to have too many. I am hoping that now they will receive the information that I have some arthritis going on they may understand that I really do need to take them! However, saying this, I do not take lots of pain killers I really do wait until I just don't think I will be able to manage without them.

I did have some physio on my SI joint a few years ago, at that point I did not know that my problem was arthritis, but unfortunately it did not help. However I cannot complain as there are many a lot worse off than myself.

What are DMARDS? I am guessing these are non steroid tablets! I will google them.

I will try to ask my Rheumy to test my blood to see if I have an autoimmune arthritis.

Thank you once again for your help, I very much appreciate it.

stickywicket

I do hope your GP monitors your coco intake They must only be taken in the quantities prescribed otherwise they become dangerous. My GPs monitor everything I take and my prescription items all have a date on, before which I can't get more. They also review my meds regularly to ensure all are still needed and doing the right job.

It might be that you would find an anti-inflammatory more help than just a painkiller. Your GP could prescribe these.

DMARDS are Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs. Hydroxychloroquine is one. They act not by reducing the pain or tackling the inflammation but by actually damping down the auto-immune disease itself. Just because you couldn't take hydroxy is no indication that you'd have problems with others. This is one for your rheumatologist though. The GP can only prescribe them as directed by the rheumatologist.

I don't know how helpful a blood test will be in determining whether or not you have an auto-immune form of arthritis as you already have a high RF due to the Sjorgrens. It's worth asking though as it might work out differently. However, as you've already been offered a DMARD, I'm sure your rheumatologist would be willing to prescribe another.

I can't emphasise enough though that you really need to be talking these things over with both your GP and your rheumatologist.

Agape

Hi Stickywicket

Thanks for yr post. I too am pleased that my GP/Rheumy monitors my meds, what I meant was that I take the minimum that I can as I do not want to become addicted or have overdose issues and yet I get the impression from him that this is still too much! I take two in the am as I usually wake up in quite a bit of pain and then 'on occasions' two to help me sleep if the pain is intense.

I think your suggestion is a very good one, perhaps anti-inflammatory meds may be better for me opposed to pain killers, I will definitely discuss this with both GP and Rheumy, thanks.