Saying hi

WindMystic

Hi all. Just joined the group as searching for some advice and support and have already learned so much from just a few posts. I’m on the path to a full diagnosis as still not sure exactly what’s going on but x Ray shows ‘severe facet joint degeneration inferiorly of L3’. Still trying to learn all the lingo 🙈. Got a consultant appointment next Friday so I’ll see what his advice is. Feel like this has taken me by surprise a bit tbh. I’m 53 and up until fairly recently I was doing a fair amount of exercise. I got into triathlon in my late 40s and have always been a keen cyclist - albeit everything I did seemed to be tinged with some discomfort but I just ignored it. I hit menopause last year and then started to get increasing levels of pain in my low back and hips. Again I ignored it thinking it was menopause related. Then earlier this year, it just started to get worse and worse and from mid June I’ve had pretty much constant pain and fairly frequent muscle spasms in my thoracic area. GP has been great so far, although seems a bit lost about what meds to prescribe, as I’m very sensitive to anti-inflammatories and they flare up gastritis. So at the mo, I’m just surviving on paracetamol and ibuprofen several times a day with some Co-Codamol thrown in when needed for good measure. Although this week nothing seems to have helped the pain. Sad reading some peoples stories on here, but in a strange way, comforting knowing that you’re not alone. Look forward to getting to know you all, and hopefully in the future, offering some advice and support of my own.

Chris_R

Hi @WindMystic

Welcome to the online Community so glad you have found us.

You have not been diagnosed yet but maybe severe facet joint degeneration,you write that you have an appointment next friday so will hopefully have a greater knowledge then on what is going on in your body.You also write that you are in a lot of pain and that Paracetamol and other pain control medication is not helping it.

Here is a link that may help for the time being as you wait.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/managing-your-pain/

Please let us know how you get on and do go onto our forums and chat to others who are friendly and helpful and supportive.

All the best Christine