Sacroiliac pain, thoracic stiffness, neck stiffness

[jjean]

I am a female-age 55.  I have these undiagnosed symptoms, getting worse since 2001: 1-Aching stiffness across the back of my sacroiliac, that is now spreading forward into my lower pelvis;  2-A band of tightness around my upper chest; 3-Stiffness in my neck and at the base of my skull;  4-Momentary pulses in my head, with vision darkening; 5-Inability to walk too long, because weight bearing causes leg muscle pain and heaviness;  6-Disability:  I can not kneel down and get up, or walk on my toes, or stand on one leg. 7-I feel very ill every single day; I have morning stiffness; The hair has stopped growing on both legs; I get itchy rashes on my chest that last less than an hour.   What the doctors found so far:  Blood tests; (CBC, MET, TSH, and TB, all normal. ANA by EIA method, low positive. Doctor said it did not mean anything.).  X-rays in 2003:  Osteoarthritis of hands, knees, ankles, and spine.  MRI of neck and lumbar spine in 2005:  Multi-level degenerative disc disease, foraminal encroachment, facet disease and mild stenosis (cervical and lumbar.)  Physical therapist visit in 2007:  Joint hypermobility syndrome, kyphosis, mid-thoracic joint dysfunction, sacral pain and sacroiliac joint dysfunction.  She also said I was ½ inches shorter since 2005, and could have osteoporosis.  She assessed me as 46% disabled, but did not know why?   At my doctor’s appointment in March 2008, I wanted to know what was wrong with my WHOLE spine, and sacroiliac area, and WHY I have loss of function in my legs?  The doctor said the stenosis was not bad enough to cause my symptoms.  I told him the pelvic pain had become severe, and he ordered another lumbar MRI to “see if anything changed.”  I asked him to take an MRI of my pelvis, and he refused.  The MRI showed:  Multi-level broad based disc bulging, borderline stenosis, and several benign hemangiomas.  (Could I also have them in my pelvis, causing pain?)  What else could be wrong?  Do I need a pelvic MRI?

[Prem Pillay, MD]

I would suggest that you see  a rhuematologist and get checked out for seronegative rheumatoid athritis among other possible causes of joint pain and possible sacroiliitis.
If this is all negative then you should get an EMG/NCS of your nerves. Aquatherapy with pain medications and low level laser therapy could be helpful in reducing your pain and getting you more mobile.

[jjean]

The doctor is ordering an EMG.  (I am very worried if it is painful).  Since my symptoms do not match my doctor's  diagnosis of moderate cervical and lumbar stenosis, I am seeking an answer.  Thank you for your advice.