Back Pain and general joint pain especially in feet

I have been having bad back pain for months now it tends to be worse at night and first thing in the morning although sometimes can last all day without easing.  The pain is in my lower back and up my spine into upper back and is causing me real problems at the moment and I have been unable to get a diagnosis as yet.

I am really fatigued all the time even though I am sleeping ok?  I also have a lot of pain in my feet and feel pain in the joints of my toes and they can go very red at times.  I also have a fungal nail infection which I am not sure if it is due to these other symptoms.  I also have chronic constipation which I am finding difficult to improve and have to take laxative to help with my bowels.

The doctor has done blood tests which have all come back ok but they did come back positive for the HLA B27 gene which is linked to a number of things he suspects Ankylosis Spondylosis and has passed me onto a rheumatologist to see if they can get to the bottom of this.  A few years ago I had reactive arthritis which was caused by a gut infection so could be a flare up of that?.

I just want to find out what is going on as it is causing me a lot of anxiety as I have not been able to find the cause if any one has any advise or has had similar symptoms it would be good to hear from you.

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. You need to consult a rheumatologist soon since HLA B27 is associated with ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The symptoms could be related to reactive arthritis where a joint reacts to an infection elsewhere in the body, usually in the gut or urethra. You need to be evaluated by certain tests like elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate; C reactive proteins and complement levels reflect inflammation. Radiographic investigations of the affected joints would help in diagnosis. Hope this helps. Take care.

[Hibbl]

Thanks for the reply I have been put on the waiting list to see a rheumatologist so hopefully will see them soon.  I am getting a lot of pain in my back at the moment especially during the night and it is not easing in the morning.  I am taking ibuprofen but it is not helping.  I have also developed a small painful lump on right side of belly button which is causing pain and very painful to touch what could this be?