Guest guest Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 OK people, put your brains together and lets play 'what's causing Marietta's back pain?' Specifically, the pain is in my very very lower back... in the area *right* above my buttocks. I don't know what you call that area. Anyway, I've had x-rays of my hip, it is not my hip. Is it my spine? I have never had arthritis involvement of my spine, including neck. My arthritis dx is going on 25 yrs now. Would it be nuts to say the arthritis is creeping into a new area? I know some types of PA affect the spine... but is this very lower back area something that many of you have found DOES get painful with PA? The only thing I've found helpful is using ThermaCare self heating pads on the area overnight (that's when it bothers me the most). Ideas? Thanks in advance! -Marietta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 PA certainly can effect one's spine, Marietta. You have 110 articulating surfaces (joints) in your spine. It is often known as the spinal involvement of PA, but it also gets called Ankylosing Spondilitis (AS) or more recently spondilarthopy (spelling questionable on this last one). A positive blood test for the HLA- B27 gene-site and a (second) bone scan confirmed it for me. I saw the picture of my back and it was lit up pretty much like a Christmas tree. If you go to any of the major arthritis web sites, you can look up AS. Generally, the sacro-illiac joints (where your pelvis meets your sacrum (lower part of your spine) are the first joints affected and often the lumbar spine is affected early to. For me, PA/AS is not predjudiced againsted my sacrum, lumbar, thoracic or intercostal regions of my spine and ribs - it battles them all equally. Today, it is quite literally being a pain in the arse and my lower lumbar and my third and fourth thoracic vertibrae. I often ice mine; and, I have often slept on a bed of ice. Heat is bad, as are cars, trains, planes, standing, lying down, and sitting in hard or poorly designed chairs (just about everything really). I have used a " tush cush " everywhere I go for at least 5 years now. It helps me sit properly. Hope this helps... Brent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 Dear Marietta, I hate to say it, but it sounds like Lumbar Disc disease. PA can aggravate it, or you could have PA involvement in your lumbar area, or you might have a slipped disc or something else going on. I’d see about getting an X-ray or MRI if the pain keeps up. Heat does help, but ice can too, if you can stand it for short periods of time. I never had problems with my spine either until I got PA. Now I have severe lumbar disc involvement, and cervical disc problems as well. I’m beginning to think all my joints are affected in some way or another. Elevating your knees in bed, might help some too, if it helps take the pressure off your lower back when you sleep. It really helps back sleepers. Good luck and hopefully it’s not any big deal. With PA, it always pays though to check it out. Take care. Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 Marietta, yes that kind of lower back pain could very well be the PA insinuating its ugly self into yet another area of your bod. That is exactly where my worst pain has been for the last 3 weeks or so. sherry z > > OK people, put your brains together and lets play 'what's causing > Marietta's back pain?' > > Specifically, the pain is in my very very lower back... in the area > *right* above my buttocks. I don't know what you call that area. > Anyway, I've had x-rays of my hip, it is not my hip. Is it my spine? > I have never had arthritis involvement of my spine, including neck. My > arthritis dx is going on 25 yrs now. Would it be nuts to say the > arthritis is creeping into a new area? I know some types of PA affect > the spine... but is this very lower back area something that many of > you have found DOES get painful with PA? > > The only thing I've found helpful is using ThermaCare self heating pads > on the area overnight (that's when it bothers me the most). > > Ideas? > > Thanks in advance! > -Marietta > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 OK people, put your brains together and lets play 'what's causing Marietta's back pain?' Specifically, the pain is in my very very lower back... in the area *right* above my buttocks. I don't know what you call that area. Since you say your hip Xrays are negative, the only other thing I can suggest is that it may be worth asking the rheumatologist if you have psoriatic spondyloarthritis. That is what I have. The pain is located smack at the sacroiliac joint (right above the buttocks, as you say.) My pain is actually much better now than it has been in quite some time. I had a severely degenerated hip aggravating the spondyloarthropathy and causing me to have severe sciatic nerve pain in the buttock on that side as well. Since I had the hip replacement surgery in late June, my SI joint still aches, but it feels a million times better not to have the sciatica aggravating it. When I was first diagnosed about 5-6 years ago, I had such severe SI and hip pain I could hardly walk (had to use two canes to inch around.) After beginning Methotrexate and working up to a dose of 25 mg weekly, my SI pain went into remission for awhile. Last year I began having more SI aching, and my feet, ankles, and hands became more swollen/stiff/painful so the rheumatologist started me on Enbrel 50 mg weekly and weaned the Methotrexate down to 15 mg weekly. There has been some improvement on this regimen. Besides Aleve and long hot showers, another thing that seems to help the SI aching is Lidocaine patches, prescribed by the pain clinic doctors. Take care, Wanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 > > OK people, put your brains together and lets play 'what's causing > Marietta's back pain?' > > > Thanks in advance! > -Marietta > Dear Marietta It sounds to me like your sacrosyllic joints (spelling?) are inflamed. It is the area that connects your spine to your hips. Mine hurt too sometimes. Feels sort of like a kidney stone that won't pass (but lower on the butt). Tell your doctor about it and they can xray the area. But it may not show any actual damage yet. Though I have periodic pain there, mine look fine on MRI and Xray.....so far. I hope you feel better Sandi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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