Ankysoling spondylitis, fibromyalgia

[tracepain64]

I was diagnosed with FM 4 years ago, but the last year has been awful.  After every drug my rheumy prescribed for me did not work, I found a doctor who specializes is FM.  She did a full exam, which included a Schroeber test and 14 vials of blood.  She felt certain that FM was secondary to ankysoling spondylitis, an auto immune disorder and a form of arthritis.  Tests showed elevated c reactive protein and problems with my immune levels.I'm now taking a combined total of 5 medications for these diseases and feeling pretty hopeless.  I'm only 48 yo but feel like I'm 90 some days.  I've had to go from 10 hour days to 8 hour work days....today may have been the worse day so far.  After 10 hours of sleep I was so fatigued I could not go to work.  My body feels like it has sores underneath the skin.  My neck and lower back hurt so badly that sitting here typing this is hurting me.  My limbs are burning so badly that I can go from being cold to being hot in a minute.  I am so tired most of the time that outside of mustering enough energy to go to work, I have no energy to do anything else,

I'm wondering if anyone with these diseases has a HX of strep?  I've read a lot about both diseases and most recently read that there could be a correlation between strep and arthritis.  My doctor most recently prescribed sulphasalzine which acts as am antibiotic, but I've read that miocene was also used for RA.  I'm so desperate just to get well and not have to go out on disability.  If anyone can offer any feedback or advice on how to manage these disease I would be eternally grateful.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Sulfaasalazine is not an antibiotic and rather an anti-inflammatory that is used for a few conditions including inflammatory arthritis such as RA. Well, without a detailed clinical evaluation it would be difficult to comment on the situation. Possibilities that may need to be considered include infections, inflammations, autoimmune conditions, hormonal/ endocrine abnormalities, micronutrient deficiencies etc. I would suggest getting this evaluated by an internist or a rheumatologist for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!

[tracepain64]

Thanks so much for your reply...I think that the hardest part of this is that so many people don't understand this disease so they have no idea the daily struggles we have ... Have you already applied for disability?  Sometimes it's easier to work with an attorney...or at least that's what I'm being told.  I've worked for 29 years and it's very hard for me to accept the fact that one day soon working will no longer be an option.

Well, thanks again for just letting me vent....I hope that you are able to get disability soon...I know it's frustrating :(...take good care.

[Cindee56]

I am so sorry.  I have back, neck arm pain--burning all over.  Tons of other stiff--I can't walk now and swelling all over.  I am trying a rheumy also.  Sulfasalazine didn't help me much.  My muscles all hurt and my legs feel like they are tied in ropes.  I don;t know if that is from the back....I go around in circles with doctors.  I know how it is.

I'm trying to get disability too--what a nightmare!

I'm here to talk--