OK so I had pain in my left side of my ribs the other day and it hurt to breathe. I thought it was nothing but everyone said I should see a doctor so I did...turned out it was J. bruised...probably from the sleepover Emmy had with her 2 cousins (three 5 year olds jumping arround could possibly= bruised rbs=) ) anyhow when I was there my arm when weak again (it feels like it takes 10 times the effort of my other arm to J. move my fingers sometimes), so I mentioned that its happened since I was younger but now every day pretty much, and the fact that I'm 29 but when I get up in the morning I'm in tears from pain lately and then it gets better then worse at night again. I've tried to ignore it because I feel like I'm whining or a hypocondriac (sp). It sounds crazy for a 29 year old to say I hurt everywhere. So I mentioned that and with the fact that my family has a genetic history of arthritis, degenerative disc disease and ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS (my dad and brother have all 3 of those) I got like 6-8 viles of blood taken (i stopped counting) and they';re testing M. for everything under the sun (lyme diseas, the markers for that long thing, protiens, blood counts...i'm not really sure what the tests are for) including ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS---(sorry I pasted it from google thats why its in caps) and honestly my brother has that and I don't want to know if I do or not. I'd rather not be afraid that my spine will fuse together at some point and J. be told to eat healthy or something.
Does that sound incredibly crazy? Anyway does anyone have ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS?
and a side question. Is there anything you'd rather not know the results to? Have you ever felt this way about something?
I was tempted to ask not to be tested for it, because it seems like ever since my brother found out it;s consumed his life. Hes 31 and can barely walk without immense pain, can't drive...all the doctors do is prescribe pain killers because they say his is severe and really painful and they dont know what else to do, so they know hes hooked on pain meds for 3 years but say theres nothing else they can do...that and he gets injections weekly at home for it. He used to get a 4 hour course of some meds through an iv monthly but it didn;t work....IDK I'd kind of rather J. deal with the pain and not know I had it...so am i crazy? Anywho I'm praying its something silly and not anything serious thats going on with M...i have to get an mri within the next week as well they said....oh the joys of getting older=)
BTW I already know I have some arthritis , when I got hit by the drunk driver last year they saw it severely in my lower back, and when i got hit by the other drunk driver 3 years ago after the mri it did not show it, so it seems like its progressing fast, but they nevertold M. to follow up so ive been ignoring it
Momma L-I'm so sorry for your family, but happy that you dont have it!!! ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS- apparently ussually comes with all diferent types of issues an diseases including severe arthritis...it attacks your spine I guess? and then eventually if its severe your bones can fuse together, so the pain could be arthritis related even if I have it...my brothers is severe as is my dads, and its mostly genetic so I'm afraid the odds arent with M. although its more prevelant in men. You're 3 times more likely if youre a man although its 90% genetic
I am one of those people that want's the results , cause then even if they are bad, you have an answer and you know how to attack the problem. There isn't any guessing or wondering anymore.
I actually know *exactly* how you feel right now. As I write this, I'm waiting for results from a biopsy I had done yesterday. I want to know, I NEED to know and at the very same time, I am terrified every time the phone rings. Two weeks ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my right breast. A subsequent MRI showed a mass in my LEFT breast, which is what I had biopsied yesterday. A very large part of M. wants to curl up in my bed and ignore everything and pretend NONE of this is happening. But my logical (and stronger) side says "GIVE M. THE RESULTS SO I CAN START FIXING IT!" No matter what happens, knowing is better than not knowing.
But I DO absolutely understand what you're feeling right now...hang in there.
Nothing has ever been fixed by sticking your head in the sand. Problems do not solve themselves. They only get worse when neglected. Stay positive and focused. Good luck and best wishes on your results.
Hi J.,
Even though there is a genetic predisposition it doesn't mean you have it or if you do, can't get rid of it. It's an autoimmune problem and believe it or not, those fights can be fought and won. Good nutrition (I don't mean what you learned in school), the removal of synthetic chemicals which break down your immune system and cause it to go haywire, maintenance chiropractic care (which will build your immune system, not simply "straighten" bones) are all ways to combat this miserable thing. Your bones DO NOT have to fuse if you have this. It really can be prevented.
Fear also breaks down your immune system. Stay strong. If you'd like to PM M. or even call, let M. know. I had a long term disease that the doctors mistreated for decades.
God bless,
M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk
How stressful. I'm so sorry you're going through this. My brother has ankylosing spondylitis and moved to a warm, dry climate, which helped him immensely. I'm not sure what he was taking, but before he moved, his doctors found something that made him "feel young" again. A few years after moving, he started to reduce his meds, and he now goes without any on a daily basis, but does use them for flare ups. He also occasionally gets an eye infection which is somehow related (maybe 3 times in the last 5 years). Regular, low impact exercise helps.
As for a diagnosis, yes, I've waited for such news. In my case, I was actually diagnosed with the thing I was dreading, but (thankfully!) a more thorough examination proved that wrong. Whew!
Good luck. I hope you get some good new.
I know you want to hear the results - but you will NEED to hear the results.
I found this link. I don't know anyone that has this. So I can't offer personal advice. http://www.spondylitis.org/
I did look it up and it appears to be an autoimmune disease. Please do research, ask your doctor for support groups and things you can do to help with your arthritis.
My prayers are with you. I hope it's only arthritis and nothing more.
I work for a chiropractor and we treat several patients with that. In those that I've seen personally it's managed fairly well with chiropractic, massage, and acupuncture.
Hang in there. Regardless of the results you will have your answers and can tackle the problem. I will keep you in my thoughts!
I have had a blood test show positive for the predisposition of this condition and I have had that pain near my ribs that makes it hard to breathe and arms tingly or weak. For the rib pain, I went to a good chiropractor who thought at first that I must have pulled a muscle or been leaning too much in one position. The only way I could account for that was from playing frisbee or surfing the internet, but these things didn't account for the pain in my opinion. When the pain continued even after his treatment and my avoidance of frisbee, he suggested I sleep on my right side with a pillow in front of M. to raise my left arm a bit. I was amazed at how much doing this eased my pain! It is interesting how many of your symptoms and conditions I share. I had not really thought of them as being linked together, but reading your post makes M. wonder. So this is where I'm at now: 1. Finally after 25 years I have a sort of diagnosis for my joint pain that makes sense-- it is in the family of fibromyalgia because it is migratory, but it is not fibromyalgia. All that tells M. is that doctors are getting closer at understanding my condition, but they are not there yet. 2. Since getting a CPAP machine and therefore getting more oxygen during sleep, I have less joint pain, numbness, etc. but I still am unsure what is blocking/closing my airway when I lay down or fall asleep 3. When exercising, if I attempt to side kick with my right leg, or even J. a side raise of that leg while in a standing position, bones in my lower spine rub together and make a popping sound, causing back pain to follow. I'm 33. I don't know, maybe someday I will end up with metal in my back. I am interested in how things turn out with you. Please keep M. posted!
JM, hope so much that you get good news and that this pain is with you short term. Hugs to you~
Dawn
