[JayRo]

Yesterday I found out I had lupus. I'm not sure whether to be glad that I know what's wrong with me or upset with this diagnosis. My rheumatologist seems to be quite nonchalant about it and is diminshing the negative. I've had chronic back problems since I was 21 and finally had surgery (a laminectomy and fusion) in 2005. I still ended up with pain tho it wasn;t as intense. Now (since Oct.) I was diagnosed with temporal arteritis and the back pain has gotten worse and now I had muscle spasms along with sciatic pain in both legs. The MD doesn't seem to think this pain has anything to do with lupus, but I do. Has anyone heard of lower back and leg pain along with intense muscle spasms with lupus? Hope to hear from you.
JayRo

 

[pollianna]

Hi jay, I am new here too and newly diagnosed. I had an injury to the spine ( car crash) and also the pain running down my legs, leg spasms. I shuffled for a while and thought I would end up in a chair. That was in 2001 and I am pleased to tell you that although no one realised at the time half of what I went through I think was lupus too. I think we know our bodies better than anyone else . You trust your instincts. I got better but now of course the problem has shifted which is typical of lupus....

You have what you have and of course it will take time to come to terms with all of the implications but now your in a better position because you can get some treatment

 

[Joandublin]

Welcome to the Forum Jayro.

Im sorry to hear about your diagnosis and sorry you are in so much back and leg pain. Does your MD say what he thinks is causing the pain?

Has your Rheumatologist started you on treatment for Lupus? If the pain is being caused by inflammation, then taking an anti inflammatory should help with it. It might be worth asking your MD for a course of anti inflammatories to see if it has any effect on the pain.

You can get back pain from Lupus but it isnt as common as other symptoms. Here is a link which you might like to read

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=14584

I imagine its difficult to tell what is causing the pain given your history of chronic back problems. Whatever the cause is I hope you can get some help to relieve the pain :hugbetter:

Welcome again and I look forward to getting to know you.

Take care for now
Joan:rose:

 

[Pink Pearl]

Welcome to the forum.
You will find that the moderators here are just superb. They know more about this disease and its "hangers-on" than I have found anywhere. Doctors would do well to take a lesson from them.

What I found most beneficial when I was newly diagnosed was to write down and take my questions and observation comments with me to the doctor. My doctors loved to get the "love notes" my term for them. Keep a journal so you can keep track of what is hurting/not hurting on a day to day basis. That way you can follow a pattern and your doctor can help you better.

Take care of yourself. You have been through so much already. We are here to be a sounding board and for those of us who have been down this path for a while, may have ways to survive the goofy things this disease can throw.

The good thing.....the survival rate for lupus now is much better than other diseases. There is life....in...with....and through lupus. It may be a different life, but there are ways to survive its loops.
Sally