Zero curve in cervical spine
 

After being rear-ended twice with two cases of whiplash, an x-ray revealed (when I was seen for second accident) that I have zero curve in cervical spine and the doctor acted like it was really a big deal and recommended me to a "spine specialist".

I was feeling OK and didn't go as it was also at the time that our family's world was turned upside down and I had to care night and day for my daughter and little man, as well as unborn grandchild.

I've been having on and off semi-numbness, pins and needles, and tingling down my left arm on the outside (elbow down to ring and pinkie fingers), but also at times down into my left foot (most of the time it was the outside toes as well but now it just starts there and will move all the way to big toe and include top side of foot). Sometimes both feet are involved, but mostly it's the left.

You know the feeling when your leg has fallen asleep and you've just changed your position to get blood flow back to it...that pins and needles, tingling with still some numbness there? That's the way it feels...though sometimes my outside toes will feel completely numb, minus the rest.

Also, every single night in bed I'm doing it now with my arms. I can only lay in one position that one of my arms or hands won't do that.

I've found, now, that I'm holding myself very stiff as well...shoulders always high and tense and I don't know when this began and I can get dizzy out of the clear blue. It's like I'll turn or move quickly and my body stops turning/moving but my brain doesn't. It's strange and only lasts a few seconds.

I know I should follow-up with the specialist now that things are calming down in my world (I couldn't have done PT or anything regular if my life had depended on it before), but I just wondered if showing zero curve in my cervical spine is as concerning as the doctor's face showed it to be...he almost seemed shocked...repeating there was absolutely none.

Does anyone know anything about this that they can share? I wonder if this could it be a cause for the semi-numbness, pins and needles, tingling and weird "dizziness" that I feel?

When going through all the upset with daughter's illness, etc., I chalked it up to stress, tension, etc. It's not gone away though, but is even more persistent, it seems. It's now becoming an issue that I don't think I can put on the back burner or ignore.

Anything shared would be appreciated. :)

KD

hmm, some of what you mention could be a form or start of thoracic outlet syndrome... whiplash, and other car accidents can be a factor in cases of it.

Have you ever done chiropractic? {expert one of course}
You might need a c1/c2 upper cervical adjustment and most likely the whole spine and some PT sessions with soft tissue work.

let me know if you want more info or the useful sticky on the TOS forum post # 1 has chiro, triggerpoint, bodywork- all kinds of helpful info.

the feet and leg stuff could be tied in to misalignments only lower in the spine.

I was afraid the the feet issue might be separate. :( I've never really had issues with my back, but lower back, hip and leg arthritis runs heavily throughout my family as one ages.

That said, a chiro did say many years ago that I have definite scoliosis of the spine, but it wasn't severe and could be addressed later...that was about 15 or so years ago?

I'm petrified of certain things with dr's. and when they wanted to treat my first case of whiplash, they put my head in traction. I never went back. That couldn't happen again. See about five years prior, there was an incident with a dr. who put my head in a devise after an injection (he was later convicted and lost licensing forever with serving jail time as well-by the time the police acted there had been many women with my being the first to file a police report. The poor young woman who helped the police by wearing a wire died before the case and her civil suit was completed. She did know, though, before her death that he would never "practice" again).

I don't know how much I could tolerate of PT or chiro. :( That's sad, but true. I feel weak for it, but can't stand the thoughts of it.

Now if someone goes with me, I might be able to tolerate it. We'll have to see what the specialist says.

I feel stuck and I've realized typing this it's probably another reason I've put off treatment and following through. :(

Thanks for the information, Jo. Again, I feared they were two separate issues (never occurring at the same time, etc.) as my lower back screams at me if I sleep longer than 5-6 hours, etc. Ugh, getting old bites! LOL

Thanks again.

KD

HI KD,

:hug::hug:. I had the same thought as JO, that some of the sx sound similar to TOS. And based on how stiff you are holding yourself could be putting pressure on some of those nerves inthe cervical area and brachial plexus.

Be careful at the computer not to lapse into forward head posture. We all do it but I have to be conscious of it because prolonged periods make me sore. And make sure you have an ergonomic set up.

The spine doc I recently went did say that the higher up the injury on the spine, ie cervical the more untable your whole spine becomes and then other areas of your spine compensate for the instability and could be causing some of your leg symptoms. For example do you hurt sometimes between the shoulder balde? I do but nothing wrong with my thoracic spine. But what happens is my thoracic spine is it is a broad area and it then take the load for keeping me stable when my head is floppy :p (hmmmm I think floppy head affects my brain :D) Just a little cervical humor there.

When it comes to the lumbar area which is probably causing your leg symptoms, try to notice in the midst of normal activites how you pelvic area is positioned. If your posture is trying to stabilize your neck you could be forcing your pelvis backward to compensate which can put you into something called kyphosis (flattening of the back curve) which will put pressure on those lower discs.

The spine and back are an amazing machine and sometimes to stabilize we dont even realize how we have to hold oursleves which is making other areas stressed.

I googled zero curve a little. Is there any kind of brace they can give you to help change the curve slowly that you could wear at home etc. Our head is heavy and those poor muscles around that area get fatigued holding it up. There is constant tension to keep the head balances. Maybe a brace intermittently would help. Maybe a zero gravity chair to relax in at night? They have some at relax the back. Or cervical pillows to sleep on to help the curve.

To hold yourself right you have to havestrong abdominals. This is my problem. I have no strength there. Makes my posture worse.

SOunds like chaning the curve will take time. And be a little uncomfortable.

One gentle thing you could try is Cranio Sacral Massage. I get nervous around chiros and neck adjustments when I read an article about if they jerk too fast they can damage the blood vessels in the area but cranio sacral helps me even if it is temporary. Although a chiro might help you with some exercises for the posture. My chiro had a contraption that changes curves that you could do at home. I will try to find the name of it. I think it cost like $300.

PT might help. Atleast they could give you some exercises to work at home. Dont let them talk you into surgery as the 1st step. Try PT and a combination of things. :hug::hug:

Oh, wow, thank you so much for the information! I'm going to bite it off in bits and pieces because there's alot of great advice there! :)

A couple of things standing out to me is your mentioning the area between the shoulder blade....OH MY GOSH. It's not smack dab between them but off to the left side (same side and interesting, yes?) I have the most amazing, insane tingle itch that I could literally scratch the skin off my back and it wouldn't be satiated. I've narrowed that down to when I'm sitting at the computer for a longer period...night time. I've scratched sores before...but it's a burning itch/tingle...feeling a weird numbness on the very surface of my skin. So strange. I figured it had to do with my posture at the computer and that might be a complete explanation for that.

Several times recently hubby has lookd at me and said, "Kim, honey, sit up. You never did that before and you look almost doubled in half." :( My shoulders roll forward significantly and they're so tight and tense.

The muscles in my neck hurt literally at any given time...that's the truth. If they don't hurt me, all I have to do is touch and have soft spots (mostly on the right though...strange), even up into the lower part of my head.

When I was typing this last night, I tried to relax my shoulders and let them drop down (but not forward) and it hurt...when i pushed it, I almost started spasming. It actually even had a "pulling hurt" but not bad just bruised feeling, it the front of my chest! Now, if I let them drop forward, it doesn't hurt my neck but my back between my shoulder blades will ache, then soon after I'll go into that insane burning itch over the left.

It makes so much sense what you said about the lower back compensating. :(

If I move my neck around too much (say twirl it around to try to work it...loosen it up), I'll actually get lightheaded/headrush feeling. If I turn my head at a 90 degree angle and hold it, I'll get lightheaded when I bring my head straight again...like a small headrush or something. It always hurts on the right side, back of neck to do that.

I appreciate you all sharing so much. I'm really apprehensive about all of this...especially know that I have no good excuse not to address it now and I figure knowledge is the best power in preparation to combating the massive anxiety I'm feeling with the treatment potentials. :(

See, I haven't allowed myself to think much about it, but as I'm typing this and it comes together, I really need to bite the bullet, don't I? :(

Thank you so much because I'm beginning to have a bit more understanding and that always lessens my anxieties about something. It's very good to know that I won't be alone while doing it.

KD

:hug: kimmy, there are good and bad chiro's like there are good and bad dr's.

talking to the chiro and getting a non spinal or cervical adjustment first is a good idea. you may have an ankle or a knee that is out of wack or an elbow. it will give you a "taste" of how the dr treats and their bed side manner. also help aliviate any fears.

boy howdy with my back problems i have to be super careful. i did tons of research. we had a clinic at he club, so having a personal relationship helped, but i still have never had any adjustments near my injury.

the zero curve....it's getting to be a major issue with computer use. it's seen in young kids now too. :(

i haven't read the whole thread...so i might be giving you advice you have already gotten.

but think of the releif like when a joint you have feels stuck..like an ankle or elbow and it "pops'. the ahhh feeling. it can be just like that.

:hug:

maybe something like this would help-
http://www.healiohealth.com/tek9.asp...cific=jrpofpp8

took me awhile to find it , couldn't recall the name of the thing.

also i really liked the books by Pete Egoscue
in libraries - and his site -
http://www.egoscue.com/painfree/painfree.php


If you decide to see any PT or DC request a "get to know you" or eval visit before any treatment - tell them of your concerns due to the from previous care.

Oooo Jo I like that Helio thing!

The thing my chiro uses is below. Called the posture pump. Slowly uses inflated pillows over time at different levels to get the curve back.

http://www.promedproducts.com/s.nl/s...FRwbagodAQYgcg

Sorry have to run. Am showing someone around L.A. today :(

Kimmydawn,

OMG! And oh he@@ no don't let a Chiro touch your neck at all! I am sorry if I am so abrupt but it never ceases to amaze me when people have Chiro's adjust their necks. That is something you NEVER, EVER want to do!!! Hey, I have been through this cervical spine stuff for 8 years now and also have no curve in my cervical spine either. I do have two fusions though. :) I tried traction too in the very beginning. Bad move and bad mistake! All it did was to create more pain and more spasms. Oh, boy, if my PM could read this thread he would be blasting away about ANY form of manipulations. If anything, get thyself to a GOOD SPINAL pain management doctor. They can at least help you maybe through injections and with muscle relaxers, etc. THEN you could perhaps go into rehab or PT of a sort to help with your neck. My point is really...until you know PRECISELY what might be going on besides no curve, don't do anything that might aggravate it and that includes PT. If it is just muscular in nature then the PM can tell you as much. In the meantime yes of course watch the posture, etc. And even wearing a soft collar could help with spasms. It might help too if you go over to Braintalk and post this same message. There are plenty of seasoned veterans over there that could tell you the same thing I just did. Just NO MANIPULATIONS until you KNOW EXACTLY what is going on. I do agree with massage therapy as long as it is light. That is something else that the docs have warned me about....just to go very, very easy.

agree with Kathi
 

Hi

I have been active in the TOS forum as I have been diagnosed with bilateral TOS and recently had surgery on the right side which no doubt conirmed it. All nerve roots were compressed. I am having a rough time recovering and things are not going well for me.

I saw a chiro who thought he could "cure me". He still thinks he can. All he wanted to do was spinal adjustments and he didn't look at any tests or order any. He adjusted my neck a few times and OH MY IT HURT! He said "I was stuck". My problems just kept getting worse and I started having dizziness and ringing in the ears along with everything else. I stopped going to the Chiro and ended up having the surgery.

I also had cervical spine issues but nobody gave it much weight. My symptoms were so severe and they thought it was all due to TOS. Well now I still have the same symptoms and then some. I've been worse than I was. I have such bad headaches that I can't open my eyes. I can't even sit up anymore. I feel like my head is way to heavy for my body. My neck (spine) just BURNS and I feel like throwing up because it hurts so bad. I have numbness and tingling down arms and left leg. I have trouble now going to the bathroom, trouble walking, and my thumbs are killing me. That's a few the worst symptoms. I can't stand it!

I was sent for another MRI Thursday night and I almost couldn't handle it. It took forever because they couldn't get me comfortable (still sore from TOS surgery) then to top everything off....the machine broke and they told me to lay still til they fixed it..YEAH RIGHT! It took them 30 min! What a night. by the time I was done I was SICK!

Anyways...I have no curve at all. I have spondylosis, disc herniation C4-C6, degenerative hypertrophy and they are still looking to see how severe this all is as to whether I will need surgery. There were signs of all this on 2 previous MRI's but it has been getting worse. I don't know why. Everyone keeps asking me what's wrong with me and why is this happening. I truly don't get it.

I am scared and I dont know if I can withstand another surgery. I'd like to hear and learn more about spinal fusion surgery. I believe I need to prepare myself for this. I cry every day when I look at my neck from the TOS surgery and it is so painful. I just don't know if I will have any other choices at this point. I am on so much meds and it doesn't work.

I have been told none of this is "normal" ok...why and no what?

Good night all

Hi Kimmy,

I had no curve in my c-spine, either. My doctor didn't act like it was a big deal, though, for whatever reason. I did have ACDF surgery in December and lo and behold - my curve has returned. He pointed it out in my last x-ray. I'm really not sure how all of that is connected - surgery and curve, but it looks more normal now. I didn't really have any issues from the lack of curve - at least none that I was aware of at the time. I'm doing fine after the surgery, though - for me it was quite easy. One night in the hospital, six weeks off work (excessive, but my surgeron is very conservative) and I am now back at the gym and working with no problems.
good luck,
Kelly

Here's a nice site for some basic stretches and explanations about TOS and carpal tunnel etc.
if you go to the home page there's much more too, but here is the TOS pages -
http://www.bodymindresources.com/car...acictheory.htm

this one is for the heal thyself series page -
http://www.bodymindresources.com/doorways.htm

Kimmy,

I just went and re-read very carefully everything you said. I don't think a straight cervical spine would cause all the numbness, tingling in fingers and dizziness. All of that just tells me there is more going on than just a straight cervical spine. It could be facet arthritis, bone spurs, herniations..whatever. I would definitely try to get into to see a GOOD spinal pain management doctor. They are trained to detect subleties that no other doc can. I found that out fast. And if need be, can refer you to an NS or OSS. But they are GREAT about finding out the source whatever it might be. It sounds to me and of course I know nothing other than what you have stated, that IF there is nerve root irritation or spurs, etc., injections might be very beneficial to diagnose the pain generator(s) and to help relieve some pain and spasms. I will just put it this way...I trust NO ONE other than my own spinal PM to touch my neck. After 3 years of pure you know what...he was the one that saved me from further grief. I wish you well with all of this.

The numbness/tingling could be paresthesia, which can be caused by radiculopathy, nerve root impingement or compressed nerves - C-spine and/or L-spine - from things such as Kathi cited.

If bone spurs, many people get those with time and with age. If removed, chances are greater that more will appear than not. So, it would be a repeat to have them surgically removed. (Only way I'd consider it is, if the procedure is minimally invasive.)

I'll have to re-read after my doc appointment today.

Arthritis runs strongly through my father's family (who I mainly am like...looks, build, etc.). I would say that's a strong possibility now that I'm 44...especially after the two rear-ends? Thanks for mentioning that because it's been lurking in the back of my mind.

I've really been watching myself this last week so I'd have something to report to y'all (you all really amaze me with your knowledge and sharing it). I'm beginning to think it's ALL my posture.

Being a co-admin at two websites, I'm online (especially reading and clicking) alot. With being right-handed, I lean continually on my left elbow so I can manipulate the mouse.

I'll never forget when I worked as a project coordinator at the last firm I worked for. I was on the phone most of my time there. I would write and lean on that left elbow again. I remember dealing with quite a bit of pain there on my left side, and was worried about it. It got better when I had to quit, but then I think I've traded for a new position leaning on that left side!

See I need to get a chair that doesn't have an arm on it and I think that will help me remember my posture. For instance, I pulled a kitchen chair into the livingroom computer and automatically, I don't know how many times, went to lean and nothing there so I adjusted myself another way. I was majorly surprised at how much I do that. When leaning on the arm of the chair, my shoulder gets pushed high up, elbow rests and hand then hangs. Doing this hours a day??? I really think that's it and why it mostly on the right side!

I have to say that I'm very relieved to think it's no so much my neck doing it all.

Now, with the feet...I don't know? It doesn't do it nearly so often, just sometimes when I'm on my feet a long time (i.e. hand washing dishes) on hard floor. Oh, and to walk the mall or something? Sometimes I can spasm so bad that it goes around front to feel like medium labor pains. These things aren't often, though, and are always relieved when I sit down and relax.

I walk alot...walking boys outside, etc. and it's not often that this happens. I've mainly noticed it on certain flooring, so I'm wondering if cushion insoles will help when I know I'm doing those certain things...the kind with shock absorbers and good cushion?

I really, reallyknow little about spine and back because I've been so blessed there. I've always been physically strong, and always taken advantage of that...realizing as I get older and in hindsight.

My husband has horrible issues with herniations, bulges and arthritis (with sciatica involvement), and my daughter has followed him at the tender age of 18 with two herniations and sciatica involvement. I can relate with nerve pain due to the TN, but can't imagine what my baby and her daddy goes through.

I really think my posture, mixed with the fibro, it causing alot of this. :( I'm going to give a good concerted effort to change my posture when at computer and get back to weightless exercise for the fibro (yoga and swimming).

I really let myself go this last year and a half when daughter was so ill...eating VERY poorly with no vitamins consistenly, very little sleep, extreme anxiety and stress, etc. Combined with that, and my not caring properly for myself, I think I'm paying the price and only I can change that part of it.

Part of that will be to follow-up with the spine doctor (as well as other doctors for checkups, etc.) and check into good computer posture.

I apreciate you guys so much! You helped me realize what I might be doing and have control over to change...feeling empowered is always a good thing...combining that with increased knowledge is great. :)

I can't thank you enough and will let you know!

KD

PS-If anyone has any information regarding computer posture, etc., please share. Also, knowing that it's such a huge habit, I wouldn't be opposed to buying a special chair or device. I've tried the special keyboards and hate them, but if they're that important, I'll get another one (it sounds like they're really important).

HI KD,

Be sure to try to focus on those abdominals and core too. It will help strengthen the spine overall and take pressure off. I'll look in my water aquatics books to see if there is an exercise.

Google, forward head posture. That is what they call people that get it from their computers.

I think and ergonomic ste-up is important. Maybe its not the lack of arms on the chair but that they were too high. I have an ergo chair with adjustable arms.

Posture is a hard thing. I think I should take a little of my own medecine when it comes to this :rolleyes::p

You might check to see if you , and family, might be hypermobile.
Years of postures & habits can make subtle changes inthe body and if hypermobile even more so..

Hypermobility
http://hypermobility.org/beighton.php

I've had these for a long time so I hope they are still good links
Ergonomics links:
http://www.working-well.org/index.html
http://www.remedyint.com/ergoanswers/wrist_hand.html
http://www.office-ergo.com/alternat.htm
http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/ErgoTi...tationmain.htm

Kimmydawn,

Yes, please follow up with a spine doc.

I was an IT analyst and I believe Bobbi is as well. I know I asked for special chairs, went to PT, had a new chair purchased at Relax the Back for my home and did everything I could possibly do to improve my posture. I even went so far as getting new glasses because of the dizziness. Now, this was all a long time ago and I still go to PT from time to time. I retired and no longer work.

I forgot to say earlier that the L5/S1 is the dermatome that follows the path you are speaking of in your leg. I have that going on as well.

What my PM told me a few visits back was: tingling and numbness = nerves! So, too can burning sensations but mine were more along the lines of PN and/or Central Pain Syndrome. I don't necessarily believe in Fibro, but that is just me. And I came to that conclusion based on what my PM said. He said pain does not come on without a reason. And I believe it. Besides there is more literature out there now linking Fibro to actually neuro problems which makes a lot more sense to me.

By all means try everything you can posture wise. But do yourself a favor and please speak to a spine doc and rule in or out what may or may not be wrong FIRST. THEN, let them tell you what types of things you should be doing. I say that too because I was doing all kinds of things that I should NOT have been doing. Plus, there were 3 years there that were wasted in chasing myself. Sorry, I do not mean to sound abrupt. And I am NOT speaking of rushing into surgery or anything like that. I just wouldn't try to approach this by myself. I did that and I was soooo wrong about a lot of things. For instance, I didn't need new glasses because of headaches and dizziness; I needed a fusion insead!!! :)

Oh my gosh! How telling that was!

OK, I don't have *any* hypermobility...anywhere. Thanks for that cause it answered something.

HOWEVER, I went to a couple of "forward head posture" sights and WOWOWOW. I did the thing where they said to stand in mirror (using second mirror) and ear, shoulders, hips and ankles should be aligned??? Ummm...

My ears are forward and hips aligned with them almost and shoulders back and aligned with ankles.

Then I read a bit about some consequences of this and they mentioned tongue! I didn't tell y'all about my tongue because I forgot about it. When I whistle or something similar, it can feel like it's tight...almost charlie horse tight (in the back and close to tonsils). That scares me when that happens, then also my neck/throat can get "muscle sore" in the front there...sometimes "popping" before the soreness.

Wow. Yes, I do need to get to specialist, don't I?

I can't thank you guys enough because I was close to "waiting and seeing" again, but I really don't think I should.

KD

Kimmy,

I am soooo sorry. I didn't mean to scare the cr@@ out of you at all!

All I am really saying is...there could be more going on than what you realize. If you do see a spine specialist, and he or she says there is nothing there or that you MRI looks good, THEN I wouldn't hesitate in trying other things. :) But let them tell you that. :) I just hate to see anyone try all kinds of conservative measures on THEIR OWN without really knowing what may or may not be going on. Anyway, I tried everything you can think of besides what I already posted. Traction was one of them and I think it made me worse. Well, I KNOW it did. The thing is and as Bobbi pointed out, IF there is radiculopathy (nerve impingement), etc., you NEED to KNOW that.

And one last thing. I went into PT last summer because my NS thought my shoulder muscles were weak from the last fusion. He was probably right but there was a lot more going on than just that. Anyway, the PT gal, and she was VERY YOUNG, had me doing all kinds of stretches that just tore me up. I ended up at my PM's office and he about had a heart attack. He told me...do not let any PT pull or tug at you like that ever again. I had bursitis and also weak muscles. So, he gave me a shoulder injection which helped a great deal and THEN I was able to do some EASY stretches to get my strength back.

Sooo...I have learned some lessons the hard way. Now I see my PM FIRST before I do anything!

I wish you luck because I know this is difficult to sort out. And there is nothing wrong with trying to correct your posture. Just don't go overboard. Again, let a specialist, preferably a spine doc, take a look see and then proceed. :)

Kimmydawn,

I just wanted to say that I have read through this thread briefly....I agree with the advice that Bobbi and Kathi have given you...I think you can see by my signature that I have a cervical fusion at C 4/5,5/6,and 6/7...I always get just a little nervous when people recommend chriopractic care to people with cervical problems without first sending them to either an OSS or NSS...Had I gone to a chiro first I might be paralyzed from the neck down..There are good and bad chiropractors...and... If I had gone to a chiro that did not know enough not to do an adjustment he could have done a lot more harm than good......My cervical problems were so bad though that with just one adjustment he could have caused irrepabable harm...so please see a medical doc first...My OSS doc warned very, very strongly about staying away from a chiro...Some people are helped by a chiro...but it depends on the problem and only a doctor can determine that.

I don't have any curve either...
 

I am 28 years old and have to lean against a wall to bend over to put socks on etc.. Now I just wear slip ons. I've been telling my doctors of my back problems since 1995 (when I was 15) and, I believe primarily because of my age, physical issues were pretty much dismissed instantly.

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia when I was 17 and have deal with that off and on. It's been getting particularly bad recently and my SPINE hurts... I get weakness in my muscles.

I ALSO hold my shoulders high. The muscles in my neck and shoulders are constantly hard and sore from doing this... I'm not sure when that started, but I also have anxiety and I just assumed that was the cause.

I went to the OHSU Comprehensive Pain Center where I was asked a battery of questions (after filling out 15 pages of paperwork about my pain) by a nurse practitioner. After about the third question it seemed that she was disinterested... this happens to me with a lot doctors, partially because of my age and partially because of my mental conditions. I got my chart notes from the very first visit with my current GP and it referred to my "psychosomatic symptoms"... He didn't even test for anything! He, like most doctors I've seen, ASSUMED that because of my age that the pain must be in my head or because of my weight or fibromyalgia.. etc.. there's always an excuse.

If I spend too much time upright (usually in a chair is worst) my neck muscles get weaker and weaker until I'm sitting in my chair with my chin resting on my chest.

I also have a "buffalo hump" just under the base of my neck. I've mentioned it to several doctors and they all said it was just a fat pad and nothing more. They wouldn't listen to me when I told them it changes sizes etc.. sigh...

Anyway.. you aren't alone and I'm looking for any advice I can get as well. :-(

Anybody have any info on getting disability? Been struggling with that since 2004 as well...

Thanks everyone.

:thud:

This may be a long-shot, but I think something still worth asking, V-DubChick:

Have you had a HLA-B27 test?

I heard nearly the same as you and at nearly the same age; when my spinal probs. had progressed terribly, my rheumatologist referred me to a psychiatrist because he (rheumy.) had wanted to chalk everything up to psychogenic whatever. $700 later and... hmmm, psychiatrist didn't discern signs of psychogenic whatever. And... the physical probs. persisted.

Advance some years, and a doc-friend suggested that my doctors order the testing for HLA-B27. I had the tale-tell indicators for Ankylosing Spondylitis or AS. Sure enough, the lab test came back positive. My doctors, either not wanting to believe or hoping to dismiss it, order a repeat on the test. Again, positive.

I think that, at times, and depending on the doctor(s), age (or youth) can be a detriment to accurate dx. Some of the tests that docs would not hesitate to order for some are just not considered for all - with like symptoms. Too, sometimes, it takes a periodic repeat on tests for the tests/results to actually display the things that enable doctors to make an accurate differential dx. (Take sed rate testing, for instance.)

Thanks to all the diddling around my doctors did - for about a decade - my spine is total crap, and I'm disabled. I both loathe and love my w.chair (because it does provide for more independence). But, if I had my way, I wish that the docs would have been more astute and ordered the darn'd test that is one of the main staples in dx'ing AS.


Keep on those doctors. Some times, it takes guiding them so that they believe it is their idea to order appropriate films, etc.

I can't even begin to tell you...
 

I have felt for many years that something is wrong with my spine and of course all my pain was either due to fibromyalgia or depression.

When I read your post I started to cry... I've been researching a very broad spectrum of my symptoms online and something I see over and over again is ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS ... :( I didn't think much of it at first, but because that particular disease keeps popping up repeatedly in all my different searches... I swear I'm seeing it EVERYWHERE! and it was just all of a sudden it appeared and it's not going away. 6 or more months ago I started seeing it and talked about it to my husband alot just because it's fun to say the name (maybe not so much if you actually have it.. :-/). But it keeps popping up and I feel like my gut is telling me this is a sign that I need to have that looked into.

I know that AS is not a very common disease and I know that it's even more rare for women to have it than men. If anybody would have something rare, it would be me though.

I am going to call my doctor tomorrow morning and ask if he will order the HLA-B27 test. Honestly, I'm scared ******** to have it done. Every time I tell my doctors I'd like a particular test or I think I have a particular illness they just assume that I'm a hypochondriac. What these assholes don't get is that I'm the only one who feels my pain. :(

Thank you very much for the information... I am glad you sent me this because now I am motivated to actually have the test done.

Thanks again.
:Noooo:

I don't really know how "rare" or the true rate of incidence of AS in females. One prob. with the data available to patients, as I see it: The known stats are likely skewed because, more often than not, there is a huge delay in doctors dx'ing AS in both males and females; it's estimated that 10 or so years is the general delay rate. Too, men's health problems have historically been taken and treated more seriously and swiftly than women's, i..e., heart disease.

I'm sure that, in your searching, you came across info. to this effect:

Results of HLA-B27 may be a part of the puzzle because many who test positive never develop AS; and, many who test negative can still have and develop AS. The testing, along with family history, symptoms, imaging results, etc., can help doctors make the determination and dx.

Mine should have been a no-brainer for doctors (had the HLA-B27 test been done eons ago). My body and symptoms? As testing displays (quite consistently): bilateral and symmetric, including the SI joints. Time was not working in my favor, since much of the stuff did not show up in customary X-rays, bone scans, etc., for years. But, when it did, it was with a vengeance, and quite progressive.


Please, don't worry about what doctors think of you; it could be that time might also be the missing key - in that things not displaying now could in the future. Sucks, I know, yet I'd not rule it out.

The same rheumatologist who farmed me to a psychiatrist years ago apologized profusely when I was re-referred to him after the HLA-B27 results. I'm not one to "rub" things in, so I had to do what was best (for my own peace of mind and well-being) and stated that he not overlook the possibility of AS in others. When everything is leading to AS, it's not going to hurt doctors to order all the tests in the arsenal to rule in/out various, possible conditions.

To this day, my rheumy. doesn't speak much with me about the boo-boo, and that's okay. I understand the ICD-9 coding he ships to my insurance, and AS stares me in the face.

Hang in there :hug:.

Your zero curve in neck sounds like cervical kyphosis
 

Hello,

I am not a doctor but have the same problem. Here is a website that I found that explains the conditon and the symptoms. You will have to put in the http and the :// before what's in the parathesis, the site will not let me post a link to the website.(backandneck.about.com/od/conditions/p/reversecervcurv.htm)
I hope it helps. It took me a while to find but now I at least know what it is. Hopefully know that you know what it is called, you can get more information on the subject. Good luck.