DISH (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis) or Forestier's

Glad I found this group !!!! FEEL COMPLETELY ALONE WITH THIS OUT IN THE BOONIES because the local doctor implied I'm a hypochondriac or just trying to get pain medicine which I'm not I have never gotten any nor ask for any and the large city research Dr s said definitely DISH and the doctor in the small City said sae zero nada none NO evidence of DISH .....and they're looking at the SAME spine n ribs n back n the same TRABECULAR etc bone scans n report stating bridging a
Osteophytes and "DISH" , the same DEXA bone scans from several years, and the same recent thorasic x-rays, the same mri's of the foot with the Achilles turning to Bone, the same X-rays of the spine and the ribs and the lumbar, and the same head to toe MRIs but rheumatologist says no DISH and the other rheumatology research clinic says DISH ....the research clinic says definitely dish your back is "encased in a column" and it's all over your body hands feet ribs legs but the local rheumatologist says No signs of it AT ALL.?????????? Makes me wonder what's wrong with the medical profession ... So much discrepancy n so much shaming of active athletic healthy lifestyle patient..... and what the local agenda is to rule it out when the experts say definitely DISH. ???????????????????

I am 74 years old. I was accidently diagnosed by x-ray for another problem.

I was told I had. DISH disease. They said it was calcified in front of my lumbar spine. I have had trouble bending over for the past year. I still golf but require understanding friends who tee the ball up for me. The doctor told me to stay as active as I can . I use aspercreme on my back and take tylenol.

I was wondering if I had it in my toes since I have trouble bending my toes down. It is like they are stiff.

I have scheduled a total right knee replacement in mid September and will be doing the left knee 6 weeks later.

I am also have an upcoming consult from a spinal surgeon. I don't know if anyone out there ever had spinal surgery on the front of their lumbar spine.

Prayers and well wishes for all who have this disease.

Jim Cain

I'm new to the forum, so it wasn't me you saw, but I was diagnosed with DISH 4yrs. ago. Drs. around here don't seem to know whst to do with it except send me to PT. I'm in pain a lot of the time. I have medication I'm to take only occasionally for spasms. I get chewed out for having spasms too often. I have them virtually every day, so that's a problem. I've tried multiple times to get into a pain clinic, but they refuse me every time.

Do you have an option of another pain clinic somewhere near you? Be vigilant. We have to be our own advocate. I’m in the medical field and it’s in me to want to find out more. Do your best to continue to educate yourself and educate physicians about this disease. Everybody with this disease has a different areas where it affects them. For some of us it is throughout the body. For others it’s just in their back. I don’t know if you have gone back and read that I have done aqua therapy and water. Therapy is great if you have that option. If you live in a warmer climate, it can even be in a lake or pool. I don’t take any narcotics and very rarely take ibuprofen. I have an issue taking ibuprofen and it causes swelling with me. But the NSAIDs do help with some relief. But I do take Tylenol twice a day routinely, and may throw in another dose if needed. My suggestion is that you have to try different things and figure out what works best for you. But keep moving as much as you can. 🙏

Glad I found this group !!!! FEEL COMPLETELY ALONE WITH THIS OUT IN THE BOONIES because the local doctor implied I'm a hypochondriac or just trying to get pain medicine which I'm not I have never gotten any nor ask for any and the large city research Dr s said definitely DISH and the doctor in the small City said sae zero nada none NO evidence of DISH .....and they're looking at the SAME spine n ribs n back n the same TRABECULAR etc bone scans n report stating bridging a
Osteophytes and "DISH" , the same DEXA bone scans from several years, and the same recent thorasic x-rays, the same mri's of the foot with the Achilles turning to Bone, the same X-rays of the spine and the ribs and the lumbar, and the same head to toe MRIs but rheumatologist says no DISH and the other rheumatology research clinic says DISH ....the research clinic says definitely dish your back is "encased in a column" and it's all over your body hands feet ribs legs but the local rheumatologist says No signs of it AT ALL.?????????? Makes me wonder what's wrong with the medical profession ... So much discrepancy n so much shaming of active athletic healthy lifestyle patient..... and what the local agenda is to rule it out when the experts say definitely DISH. ???????????????????

Keep reading about DISH. It can affect all joints in the body for some. I pray for you that it’s only in the back.