muscle problem?

  • Thread starter Thread starter peteuk
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peteuk

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hi i've had a few back problems over the years and i suffer from ankylosing spondylitis.

of all the problems i've had, i still have one area in the middle of my back which feels like one or two bad joints/discs causing spasms and much pain.

having had xrays and even an mri scan nothing has showed up in this area.
now it has become so painful it wakes me after 3 hours sleep, forcing me to get out of bed until the pain subsides. even breathing is excruciating.

so i'm wondering if there is something muscular that could be doing this, seeing as nothing structural has shown up. Has anyone else experienced anything like this, or perhaps can anyone explain what could be causing muscular problems when laying still or in this case asleep?

i can't carry on like this, and the docs can find nothing on examination other than a few muscle spasms.

appreciate any help thanks
 
Hi, I can't really say what is causing that pain, but I can say that muscle spasms and also cramps can occur while at rest, even while sleeping. It happens to me.

Just because an MRI report didn't show anything, doesn't mean something isn't wrong inside. MRI's can miss things and the Docs who read the films & do the reports can also miss things. You might want to get your MRI films and try to get another opinion from a different doctor. Hmm, also, do you have a copy of your MRI report?

Aside from that, could the AS cause some sort of breathing problems? Isnt' a systemic disease (whole body)? Like maybe something from the disease might be affecting your lungs? I don't know, just guessing....

Do you see a rheumatologist for the AS?
 
When you had your MRI done , did they do your CT also?
They are two different tests, one shows more of a bone problem and the other one is muscular tissue in and around the area.
Unfortunatelly ex-rays show nothing much, we all know that, unless you have a broken bone.

Very hard to give you any advice via post, but one thing I can tell you for sure: if you saw the DR and you did not have your questions answered - don't hesitate to go for second opinion. Just remeraber to take your old reports and pictures (like MRI, CT, etc.)

Best of luck to you!:angel:
 
When they did the MRI, did they do a thoracic MRI? Also how long ago were these tests done?
 
Hi,

I can tell you that a CT scan and MRI don't always agree - which is why I had one doctor (who feels only MRI's are accurate refuse to help me) and another doctor who looked at both and told me the CT was much more accurate for bone issues. If it's an option for you, a CT scan would be a great idea.

Also make sure they don't approach it with pre-conceived notions of what to look for. My first doctor was only looking for lurabar issues and was confused - or didn't believe me - when I told him PT was causing mid-body muscle spasms. After he told me goodbye I ordered a copy of the radiologist's report of the MRI so I could read it myself. Seems I have a herniated disc in the thoracic region that he didn't notice when he read the films himself, and didn't bother reading the report. Although my new dr and I agreed we'll just ignore it for the moment while we take care of the far more serious lurabar spine, it taught me it's a good idea to be vigilant and learn as much as you can.

Btw, I've been posting here for only a couple of days - my fusion is in about 3 weeks, and I can tell you it's a great group!
 
I don't know what it might be, but I will tell you that I will be praying for you and for the Dr. to figure out what is causing the pain.

I hope you get some sleep tonight,
Lorie:angel:
 
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