I don't have an update yet, but I'm getting the epidural steroid shot tomorrow, and I have a question. Over the past couple of months or so, while I sleep, I get woken up by a burning sort of numbness that runs down the outside of my right thigh. It's hard for me to explain exactly how it feels, but the best I can do is that it is very numb to the touch, but it also has an uncomfortable burning to it. This burning happens when I sleep with my right leg extended out, and when I wake up from the discomfort, I move my right leg around and keep it bent, and after 10-15 minutes, it goes away. I was wondering if anyone had any explanation for this. I assume that a nerve is being compressed, but I don't know if it's something to worry about.

Also, there's something I haven't really paid attention to, but it dawned on me that I should explore it -- my upper spine/neck region is also painful and has been for over a year. Whenever I bend my neck downwards (chin to my chest), I get a pain in my neck, upper spine, and mid-spine. I can also feel pain in my lower back on the right side (where most of my major pain is). It is at its worst when I wake up in the morning, to the point where I can barely move my head. I was wondering if you guys thought I should explore getting an MRI on that, or if you think it's just the symptoms of DDD.

Finally, I've been reading up on ankylosing spondylitis, and a lot of it sounds like what I have. There's the obvious lower back pain, but I've also had joint pain in my knees, shoulders, and hip, and unexplainable breastbone and rib pain for years (the symptoms of costochondritis). I also have pain that basically runs down both sides of my body, like where the muscle attaches to the bone and general fatigue. None of this is particularly debilitating (except the lower back pain), and I guess I haven't thought much about it because I've been dealing with it for so long that being in pain is my new normal. I'm going to bring this up with my neurosurgeon on the 17th, but I was wondering if you guys know anything about this disease.

I know I'm asking a ton of questions, so if anyone can help with any of this, I totally appreciate it. I don't want to start sounding sappy, but you guys have been so awesome to me, and you've really helped me get through this whole process.