undiagnosed low back / right Sacroilliac Pain

I fell down in the bathroom 3 years ago and broke my sacrum. Since then I have pain sitting. However, almost 1 year ago, I started having pains in my hands, so I was referred to a Rheumatologist. I had an abnormal blood test that they questioned if I had lupus. After several more tests, lupus was ruled out. in the mean time, I developed pain in my feet, shoulders, wrists, calves, thighs, neck, lumbar and thoracic spine, abdomen ears and face. The rheumatologist said I probably have Myofascial pain syndrome. He said to check out my digestion problems and overall health by a family physician. My new family dr is an Internal Medicine dr and says I am healthy. She started me on Lexapro, an antidepressant, and referred me to a physical therapist. I just finished 6 weeks of strengthening exercises, self Myofascial release exercises and posture training. The therapists never treated me gently and treated me like I was an old lady who needed to get in shape, not like a patient with pain. I am not overweight and have always been a hard worker who exercised somewhat regularly. I have also been feeling like the drs and therapists don't care or really believe me.I have read Integrative therapies for Myofascial Pain, Fibromalgia and chronic fatigue disease by Celeste Cooper, which was very informative, and am presently reading The trigger Point Therapy workbook by Clair Davies. Hopefully whith continuation of some of the strengthening exercises my physical therapist taught me, plus the self trigger point therapy, I can start feeling better, along with constant prayer. Talking to others with similarities and understanding of the pain should also help with my depression. Let's keep in touch!

Thank you, I honestly don't know which way to go as I don't think any of the Drs I've seen are sure of any of the diagnosis they have told me. The inversion sounds good.....

I might try inversion, that sounds like it would be good. I really don't know which way to go.... Im in aquatic therapy with ladies much older than I..... Walking and steps in the pool.... Best wishes to you!!!

Again, my pain continues. Waiting for a steriod injection, I had about 10 days of agonizing pain in my right SI Joint, the last 72 hours of that 10 days was pure hell, pain had completely taken over. I spent hours literally, begging God to make pain go away. For the first time in my life, I had thoughts of suicide. I thought about how, where, all of it. Monday morning, April 2, 2012 (day 10) both of my sons (26. & 19) were here to help me, that time with my sons made me sad, to think of the thoughts I'd been having. How could I be so selfish and put them through that?? I thought about how my years of low back pain has already cheated them. The frustration of not knowing where to go to get the help I'm so desperate for. Tuesday April 3rd, the day I had been waiting for the 2:00 appt with the pain doctor. The 50+ mile ride was not going to be easy. The last 72 hours I could not get from down to up , up to down, take a step or stand without screaming out what I would call primal screams from the very depths of my core. My husband drove me, in the waiting room tears, ran my down cheeks like a running faucet. At 2:30 I get called to go back, its finally my turn. The nurse asked me the usual questions, I responded I had my pain notebook with me and I have kept good notes throught out the last 8 months. She went out of the room, another nurse came in and chewed my ass because I had seen 2 pain doctors in 2011... She said that Dr Sykes might not see me because of it... Oh my God.... I said to my husband, just take me to the ER, I cannot do this! Then the nurse said, "I will talk to the Dr & see what he says... Good Lord help me!! We waited a few minutes and Dr Sykes came in, he explained that "you don't go to 2 different Drs. (I didn't realize that was a rule). I explained to him that in Sept of 11 when I went to the Dr, I had called for an appointment an he (Dr Sykes) couldn't see me for 6 weeks, th. Other Pain Dr could see me the next week....what would you do?? The entire time I'm crying, my nose was thinning & I was in excruciating pain... He did inject my right SI Joint, gave me a shot for pain, and a couple of trigger point injections. I had some instant relief from the lydicane (?sp) the trip home was rough, but better than the trip there. I go back in 2 weeks for a follow up. Right now I'm 2 days post injection my pain level has dropped to about 6.5~7 the tears have stopped. PTL! Yesterday I went online and requested an appointment with Mayo Clinic in MN, as I know the injection didn't "fix" me permanently. My femur aches, my right hip is painful, but my low back is so much better.... Love peace hope faith to you all....Beth

Beth Clowa

I have had a lumbar fusion L-2 thru L - 5, done Dec of 2010. Helped a lot of the pain, except SI Jt area on the right side. P.T. says it is like a knotted muscle. Still looking for cause. Pain doctor doing trigger point inj. July 12. Will let you know how it goes!

Marcia/ ZORONE

Have you researched athletic pubalgia?

Hiya all. I know the pain. I have had it since I was pregnant with my daughter 21 years ago. It was off and on and I didn't know what it was, but last November 6th I woke up to unbelievable pain on my left side. I was scared and alone and I tried to walk to the ER as I only live a block away and could not make it past my neighbor. My primary care physician did not send me to a specialist so I suffered for 2 1/2 months before I finally just took matters into my own hands. I went to a specialist and was pain-free with a nerve block injection in a week! thank goodness.

What a terrible pain it is and indescribably to people who don't know, although most of my friends and family have been absolutely lovely. I wouldn't wish this on anybody. I am so completely angered by, what I feel, negligent behavior of my Primary Care Physician of 6+ years! They thought I just wanted Vicodin, I think. I had never asked for pain medication once in 6 years, but suddenly I'm a Vicodin Addict.

I was in the best shape of my life, training for a marathon, eating healthy, living well, no smoking or drinking. Then BAM! Instant excruciating pain. I kept a pain log thanks to a local Chiropractor down the street. I was getting nowhere with my PCP and literally walked down the street to Dr. T's office and he helped me even though he couldn't help me. Weird, I know. He is the one that ordered the MRI, which showed 2 herniated disks. My physical therapist helped me with alignment and exercises to strengthen my stabilizing muscles. I finally got a Nerve Block Injection and was pain free for about 3 months. I had surgery on my disks 3 weeks ago and still have the SI Joint issue. Even the anesthesiologist for my surgery said some doctors still do not acknowledge that this joint issue exists!

I could go on as I'm sure most everybody here knows. Back to the NeuroSpine Clinic I go. I also read recently that a Physiatrist may be an option for SI Joint Dysfunction. There needs to be some sort of patient advocacy program so people don't get accused of being an addict when they go to the ER in pain. I had to go twice within 2 hours of each other and couldn't walk out of the ER either time I was released. Can hospitals not admit patients for pain?

I want to thank everybody for sharing their stories. I don't feel so alone.

I'm still in the battle, I'm now a patient at Mayo Clinic. Going back in 2the weeks...

I've not been to this site for some time now. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm now a patient at Mayo Clinic. I have another appointment there the end of the month... Best wishes!!!

It sounds like AS , check out this web side ankylosingspondylity.org if your symtom match its hard to diagnose AS patient , good luck