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  • Ren24
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    Post count: 21

    Hello doctor
    I have posted numerous times and I am greatly concerned about my recent rheumatologist/immunologist visit. She ordered me a lot of bloodwork first of all and XRays of my thoracic and lumbar spine and SI joints. Hoping you could answer some questions for me. First of all I had a positive Igg/Igm titer for Lymes disease but a negative Western blot with only one reactive band which was 58KD. I know this isn’t exactly your specialty but do you have any idea what it means as I have several weeks until my next appointment and I’m concerned obviously. Now into an area that you are probably more comfortable with. I am going to tell you what my x-Rays said and I was hoping you could tell me what you see as problem areas and what it means.

    Lumbar: vertebral alignment well-maintained mild reductions in all disc spaces and lumbar spine vertebral body height well-maintained some facet arthropathy changes at L5/S1 irregular density seen in medial aspect on right kidney measuring 1.2 cm and diameter impression mild degenerative disc changes at all levels of the lumbar spine and a 1.2 cm renal calculus (which a year ago was 9 mm )

    Thoracic: vertebral alignment maintained mild reduction in all disc spaces of the Thoracic spine Vertebral body heights maintained no fracture or subluxation impression mild degenerative disc changes at all levels of thoracic spine

    SI joints : bilateral SI joint spaces fairly well maintained. Some sunchondral sclerosis bilaterally especially along the iliac side of the right SI joint Inferiorly. Small osteophyte along the inferior aspect of the right SI joint no erosion evident. Impression: findings suggestive of the generative changes involving bilateral SI joints

    I would appreciate anything you know this means or may lead to. I have done a lot of researching. I know it’s the Internet and I’m no expert but from what I have been reading it all leads me to the same thing; Ankylosing spondylitis I didn’t get my bloodwork result for hlab27 but it may not even mean anything. I do not have an elevation I need rate. Crp. Aldolase. How can I have so much pain and. Or have any inflammatory markers? Only a positive Lyme titer. I’ve been told I have fibromyalgia. In the last 6 months since my C5-6 discectomy with allograft and plating all my pain has increased. Approximately 1-2 yr ago I started having heel pain and was told I have plantar fasciitis and needed injections in my feet which I have needed numerous times until I started daily stretching my calf muscles. Now I still have outer ankle and Achilles tendon pain and stiffness. The. I started having neck pain and stiffness and worse headaches than ever. Then was told I have DDD in my cervical spine with bulges at C3-4/4-5. And ruptured the disc at 5-6 last July. Dx with asthma. And since my surgery constant pain and spasm in my neck and shoulders worse in the right radiating down into my right upper arm with some accessory nerve damage? To sensation right upper arm. Developed carpal tunnel. Which was negative last October and now all the sudden positive oh and don’t let me forget about the trigeminal neuralgia in the right side of my face which tegretol helped with but it made me nuts emotionally and I stopped it and now I just let it hurt Found out all the above issues from XRays I am constantly hurting and fatigue quickly also developed tennis el ow and I assure you I don’t play tennis and haven’t worked since a strain of my neck at work in November. I was placed on lyrics and thought it was working. Especially for the tennis elbow but it is slowly creeping back in again. Last weekend I ended up in the ER with severe right neck and shoulder pain. Was given pain shots and decadron IM which worked wonders and I felt almost human within 1-2 days but now it is all coming back. It tough getting up in am. I am so stiff and sore especially in lower back. Don’t sleep well. Seems once I’m walkin and moving I can do things with some moderate pain but after I rest and try to move I can barely do it and if I do too much I’m down for days. It’s hard to even get turned around enuff to wipe between my lower back and right shoulder(not to get too personal) I have started physical therapy. My thoracic spine on the right between shoulder blade and spine is so tender I can barely stand to have it touched and therapist said it is swollen and I have a huge lump or knot approx T7-8 or so. I have been reduced to staying home and doing only whatever my body allows after growing up on a farm. I’ve always been active. A single mother with two t kids. A 12&14 yr old. My own home and a home health RN out myself thru school. I have no idea what’s happening to me and would appreciate anything you can tell me. It just seems one thing after the other is happening to me. Doesn’t this week like some kind of arthritis or connective tissue disorder. Please. I know this was quite long winded but I’m scared and need help. Thank you

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    I just wrote a new thread on the spondyloarthropathies that you are worried about. Please read this.

    You note heel pain along with possible sacroiliac joint involvement. Look especially at the segment on Reiter’s syndrome although this is normally found in males.

    Lyme disease can also cause many of your symptoms.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
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