I was just diagnosed with muscle spasms in my back, by my family physician. I asked him if he thought it was lupus related and he suggested that people with lupus also have "normal", non-lupus related illnesses and he didn't think that my back pain was lupus related at all. He did think it could be stress related. My fatigue level has been very bad lately, so I can't help but blame lupus, but I could be wrong. Anyone have any ideas or opinions about this? I have an appointment with my Rheumatologist on May 18th, but may have to reschedule it, because of my work schedule. (That's yet another issue...job related stress)
My doc said mine was weight related and probably worse since I don't move around as much as I did. So Lupus related in a round-a-bout way.
I have been having back spasms since before I began getting tested for and diagnosed with lupus. Since every luppie’s pain/symptoms can be different I say anything is possible. I usually start getting spasms before a flare so I just chalk it up to being lupus related.
I have had this for years, recently a MRI showed erosion of my SI joints, the Rheumy is now testing me for Ankylosing Spondylosis and Psoriatic Arthritis, as a possible cause for the back muscle spasms.
Both of these diseases are autoimmune…
Mine lower back and left hip sometimes hurts so bad I can barely walk. Was told it was arthritis (degenerative joint disease ) in doctor language. Hurts a lot no matter what name you give it.
Tara, did he just X-ray it, or guess? Doctors do that, it is called a throw away diagnoses. The area should be checked out with a MRI. After my MRI they found another lumbar vertebra, that is pressing in on the right side of my SI joint!
X ray and mri
But the chiropractor rook another xray and said my spine is curving to the left and pushing my left hip up
That would be scoliosis, which could be causing a lot of the pain. You might want to get a second opinion on the X-ray and MRI from a Orthepdic doctor.
Have dr check to see if you are HLA B27+
Lupus does not normally affect back and ribs to what you describe. Possible another autoimmune disease. After many months of swelling of my sternum and pain in back, my doc tested. Helps them look to rule out or in additional autoimmune dis like ankylosing spondylitis
My back ache has been there for years, before I knew about lupus. I spent on-off periods in hospital with "enlarged kidneys" that needed to be flushed. But now that I connect the dots, the issues with the back ache, my degenerative discs and scoliosis of the spine was always a nag and Im sure its lupus related. Just about ready to pop myself a few pain pills after sitting at my desk for a while now.
I would also think having a look at your kidneys and spine might help if the aches continue and get more troublesome.
Get well soon!
I have osteoporosis from long term steroid therapy. In 2011 my lumbar laminectomy collapsed, resulting in a compression fracture from L3-5. I broke my coccyx (tail bone) the same year.
Since December, I've had increasing leg pain and back pain. My rheumy thought it was arthritis. The ortho thought I sat on my butt too much--grrr. A lot of docs never think outside the box.
It's luck that I had only a little pain. April it was so severe I could barely walk. L3-5 and S1 vertebrae are squeezing the already inflamed nerves. My spine collapsed even more. Last week I had an epidural and my psychiatrist put me on an antidepressant that helps with pain. Both have taken off the sharp edge--tolerable now.
Round-about way of saying, you can ask to see see a physical medicine specialist or a neurologist. Also have you had a bone density scan taken, ever? I don't think your rheumy or your FP is going to be spot on when all he/she is thinking "inflammatory" something or other.
Don't let them get away with a throw away diagnosis.
You got to hold on.