Good news and not so good news..... But!
 

Well had the CT Scan this morning and they were able to read it right away and get the ball rolling. Here is the skinny of it, as well as my blood test.

Blood test: Came back Neg for Lupis and Rhuemitiod Arthritis! yeahhhhh! Went over the pictures I have been taking of these swollen joints and the diary I've been writting. Doc is not sure just yet, why, but my Immune system is attacking it's self, thus causing these pain, reddish spot, heat, and swolleness of the joints. Gave me a shot in each of the butt cheeks, Toredal and I can't remember the name, it was a steriodal one tho, burned like a MOTHA! Basically wanted to flood my system with anti inflamitory to chill out the monster and hopefully reset the system, we shall see. It's been 5hrs since the shot's and I am starting to feel the effect's, body is relaxing. Thank god! And he is also not feeling like this is MS, now. :cool:

CT Scan: Well now, this be another story. In a nut shell, my neck is hosed! C3, C4, C5, and C6 are not well.

Slight Stenosis in C4 and C5.

Gnarly spurs on C3, C4 and C5. Nerve pinching in C3, C4, C5.

Degenerating disks, C3,4 C4,5 C5,6.

And severe Arthritis throught the neck.

In a nut shell, he say's, "you WILL have neck surgery to repair/stablize the issue's at some point soon."

And it looks like I need to start looking for a new career (basically started this). As a Welder/Fabricator, this line of work is now coming to an end. :(

Have an appointment with a Rheumitologist (sp?) to go over a few other things with my neck. We shall see how that goes.

I would like to thank everyone here for the well wishes and information, very helpfull :hug: . Since it looks like "pain managment" is what I will be learning to control, I'll be sticking around eventho It's not MS. :)

Curt :sunchair:

Well, Curt, I feel funny saying congratulations but at least you have a better idea of what's causing your pain. I hope the steroid shots help.

There are lots of folks who come here who don't have a definite diagnosis of MS so don't hesitate to stick around. There's lots of good information here and lots of support.

Hi Curt,
I just wanted to ask why you have rods of steel inserted into your back? Did you have an accident?..or a fall injury..defect of some kind, and then surgery?

Your problems do sound like wear and tear from your job. Welding is repetitious. Unless the Rheumy Dr can figure out why your body is attacking itself. Like a form of Arthritis but they ruled out RA you said.

Perhaps more blood work. I hope you find the answers. We are here for you too.:)

You could check our Thoracic Outlet Syndrome forum here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

I had many of your symptoms (besides MS) and had extra ribs removed. I was born with 5 extra in the neck, C-spine area which is cervical, like in Cervical Outlet Disease or Syndrome.

I am glad you have not been dx'd with MS, but you do have a chronic pain and sounds like some nerve damage going on. It is a drag that you are dealing with this and that is where we are all 'alike'. We all are living with 'crappy' pain that puts a wrench in our daily lives.

You will probably run into us 'MS' folks in other threads, and until we meet again, may you find relief from your pain and that your body continue to 'relax'. Take care of yourself Alaskan!

You have that joint issue too!:eek: I get the same thing in all my joints - it's not limited to just the hands or one joint or any that suggests RA and my ANA came back negative. My next one came back slightly elevated and I need to get a recheck sometime. I would definitely be interested in hearing what they find out for you. Do yours only last a day or so? Mine seem to just last for a few days. I just got over a swollen ankle joint - red, swollen and sore but no heat with it.

I'm sorry to hear about all the C-spine issues.:hug::hug: Pain management will be so important for you to keep you comfortable.

Just a suggestion . . . If you cannot return to work as a welder/fabricator you can get some retraining through your local DES office. They will help with retraining options through their vocational rehabilitation program. Your dr. can help you with this as well by setting your limitations on what you can and cannot do.

Hang in there!:hug:

First off, I can't tell you all how nice it is to be here in this forum. It's a shame we all must meet in this fashion, but it is what it is, and my heart goes out to all whom have to deal with all this crapola! It is NOT fun, at all....

LADY, I broke my back :D (T12 VERTE) when I was 17 (39 now), they had to do a bone graph off my pelvis, fuse L1, T12, T11 and add 2 stainless steel herrinton rods in to support it all. I've had issues with the upper thorasic and neck for some time, but nothing like this, it all came on at once 4 months ago like a light switch.

AMYBLAKE, Thanks for the kind words, as much as I hate to meet people in the same boat, it's nice to know they are around. Sounds kinda horrible to say, but, after all, "we" are the only ones that truly know what "we" are going through. :hug:

KITTY, your a sweetheart! :hug:, thanks so much for the warm welcome in such a freaked out time in my life. You don't know me but yet I feel like we are friends from far past. I wish you well, and yes, I will stay to try to offer any help and share hope!

TKIRK, Yep! Joint pain like nobody's buisness! Kind of like looking up at the stars, and watching them explode from one to the other. From one joint to the next like clock work! I will say this, after the 2 shot's (one in each butt cheeck) yesterday, today I have ZERO PAIN! First time in 4 months! And I enjoyed every minute of the day! I am just leary on how long it will last :o. But, if it takes a shot in each rump once a month, I'LL TAKE IT! Mine lasts for 2-3 days before moving on to the next as well, like clock work and very frustrating! :hug:


I took a fancy to bodybuilding last year, lost 52lbs and became in great shape. My goal right now for work and life,(welding is out) is to teach people how to eat healthy and live life healthy! I'm working on my PT (personal trainer) cert with ACSM (American Collage of Sports Medicine) and enrolled up here at UAA (University Of Anchorage Alaska) for a Major in Nutrition. I'm a "healer", "fixer" type of person and living healthy is just so much easier then people realise! I had no idea till I learned how and did it!

It's been a tough 4 months not stepping into that gym, I miss it dearly. I'm hoping to get back next week if I can continue to feel this good.

Again, thank you ALL for such a wonderful site! It truly does help! :grouphug:

Curt :cool:

I'm glad to hear the shots helped. I'm a needle-weenie so I avoid shots at all costs. Guess if I was in enough pain I might cave in and take one.

Pain can be so exhausting. Folks who've never had to endure chronic pain just cannot relate to what we experience. I've been so fortunate in that my MS has remained somewhat stable and my levels of pain are tolerable. I always remind myself that can change in an instant so I never take it for granted.

It's hard not to be able to do the things we once used to do without a second thought. Seems like now I have to think through all situations and plan ahead. That in itself can be exhausting! :rolleyes: It's almost like having a new baby again......you have to plan for what you know will happen and then things that might happen and things that never will happen but could. Good grief! By that time I'm just ready to stay home! :p

I'm glad you're feeling better.....enjoy it and I hope it lasts a l-o-n-g time! :)

Are you still around?
 

Hello AK49,
I'm new here and ran across your inspiring news. Seem's you haven't been here or I am just doing this wrong?

I have done the chronic pain thing for 21 years with RSD. I pray you are doing great and living life as it should be.
Would be grateful to hear back sometime. I have been to your wonderful state many times in North Pole-Fairbanks area. Plan to go again next summer for a 10 yr. RSD Group re-union. Maybe we can share some Northern lights stories. Did the dog sled thing and camped and hunted moose. Won the best Fish story in Valdez few years back and limited out everyday.
Came back so fullfilled. God lives there. What a magnifisant land.

Hope all is good and look forward to hearing back.
Peace & LUV, Andrea
RSD from Mars with LUV Lending Unity for Victory.:cool: