Update on pain and the dr visit

November 2, 2006

Hello Everyone:

Well, I finally had a visit with a rheumatologist yesterday

regarding the positive ANA count and the all over body aches I have

been experiencing for the last few months.

He explained to me that 8 out of 10 people will have a positive ANA count at

some time in their life. Normal range is 0-100 and mine was 115.4 which he said

made him think that I don't have lupus or RA.

He said most people who have lupus will have a count in the 200+ range. After

talking with me and understanding my recent history of surgeries and wheelchair

use, along with physically examining my body for pressure points, he concluded

that he felt I was having myofascial pain.

He prescribed a muscle relaxer at bedtime and then wrote a prescription for

physical therapy that will be what is termed myofascial release.

He said due to my sitting in the wheelchair so much for

the last four years I have developed stress in my muscles that has

affected the myo (lining) of the muscles.

Also, now that one ankle is fused and I wear an AFO on the other I need to learn

to re-align my trunk to support my body since my legs can't/aren't functioning

as before.

I was really impressed with his approach to my problem and am excited to see if

the PT will work. This dr was Asian and I

believe his ideas are not as conventional as perhaps others have

been. Since I generally try to avoid meds due to weird reactions, I

was glad to try something different.

Speaking of which, does anyone take muscle relaxers? I took one last nite at

about 10:30 and I have felt weird all day. I was so " drunk " with it this

morning I could barely get ready for work and driving was pretty scary. Even

still, at 5:00 pm I don't seem to have good control over my fingers or my

thoughts. I may try another one tonight to see if I can get used to them and

get some relief, but I don't like the way it's making me feel.

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