enough symptoms....not enough answers

[rachi1987]

So it all started when I was around 8 years old. I had an outbreak of sores and I was brought into the ER. They tested me and had no idea what I could possilby have at such a young age. The sores lasted about 2 weeks and then went away. About 4 years later, I was in 8th grade and the sores came back, again for about 2 weeks, once again the doctors had no ideas of what was wrong. They tested me for several things, and thought that I may possibly have Bahcets's syndrome, but there wasnt enough symptoms at the time that would correspond with that. Soon the sores went away again and I was fine.
In July 2006 I was at work, just making some pizzas, when my left arm/hand and wrist started to feel numb, with a tingling sensation. The sensation soon spread up into the left side of my face and then my back all of a sudden "went out" on me. I fell forward from the hips up and had to hold my position until the pain subsided. The pain eventually went away, but practically every day since then, my back will have sharp pains running through it and it will "go-put" on me from time to time as well. Since the back pain hasnt left, I have seen several doctors and rheumatoid specialists and some have thought I have rheumatoid arthritis, anklyosing spondylitis and then jsut muscle spasms. It doesnt hurt to be touched, no pressure points or anything, I can just be sitting down, walking to the kitchen or even laying down when the pain starts. At times, it feels like the pain worsens in the morning and evening hours, but at other times, the pain feels sporadic. My doctors have all noticed a trend, that my ANA results are off. I also take daily thyroid pills for hyperthyroidism.
I keep hearing the same thing..." we know there is something wrong, but we dont know what it is yet...." .or ..."you have an auto-immune disorder, but we aren't sure which kind because the symptoms you have are similiar to many other disorders" and then lastly....." since the sores(back pain...etc) isnt occurring right now, theres nothing we can do until something really stands out".
I would love to hear some ideas of what is going on inside my body. I am only 21 years old and I have never been injured, no broken bones, fractures, nothing....what is going on with me?

[txsilver]

Sometimes it is amazing how many doctors we have to see and how many years we have to suffer before we see the right doctor and a "Eureka!" moment occurs.  Tenacity will get you through this.  Hang in there and know that you can always count on us to be here for you!

[rachi1987]

Yes, I've posted this in the autoimmune disorder forum as well....Not sure if I did it in the "Ask a doctor" forum though, so I will double check that. It has been quite the emotional roller-coaster for me, so I am hoping I will find some answers through this site.
Thanks for your support on this.  :o)

[txsilver]

Wow, you have been through a lot and it started awfully young!  I wish I had some insight to offer you.  I hope someone here will be able to identify with what you have posted and write back.  Have you posted this in the autoimmune forum?  I suggest you post this there as well to maximize the exposure.