Advice please

Hello Heidi...I think we will echo what I have to say...we are all long suffering with this painful situation. Mine first started when I broke two vertebrae in the base of my spine...30 years ago. Instead of getting better it just got worse and over the next 25 years I couldn't walk or sit for more than a few minutes. Doctors all told me to be patient and in time it would get better. After so long I was desperate for help so I saw a specialist in Thailand who helped a little with cortico-steroid injections into my spine, groin, hips and hands. Then I went to another hospital here in Bali and found a neurologist who did an MRI and diagnosed Ankylosing Spondilitis.  By this time I had very severe pain in my lower back, mid area ( thoracic ) and neck ( cervical )...down my legs and arms. I had muscular spasms also...very painful. I was given Tramadol for pain and antidepressants also Diazepam to help me sleep. It has been downhill from then with all sorts of other symptoms making my life hell at times. Tramadol does ease the pain...but it's a roller coaster..sometimes good...mostly bad. This site helps me manage my thoughts and gives me friendship and hugs from everyone here...Let us know how we can help you...Hugs...Gloria

Goes to show you, if you read all these, how different the disease can manifest itself. Personally, I fractured my clavicle and seperated it from my breast bone. Still had pain for 25 years. Compressed vein in my arm, broken ribs, shifted my rib cage. They never did an xray of my neck. Which would have shown that I fractured all m cervical vertebrae. 25 years later it started in my lower back, went to PT, therapist says"walk over there", she said it's not your lower back it's in your neck. Then I had a cervical spinal fusion and I was good for 4 months, then BAM, everything came back much worse, starting getting incredible fatigue, every joint hurt, seems that going 25 years without paying attention to my neck, triggered the AS. The spinal fusion kicked it into overdrive. I only get a little heel pain, the enthesis(maybe spelled right) gets my wrists, ankles, and my neck-mostly. Morning stiffness. I never knew my c5-c6 root nerve was compressed, now it's just damaged. It's like the flu, ya know when you get sore and feel like you've been hit by a bus. Well the bad areas get it worse, weak points, so I walk around feeling like I am trying to balance a bowling ball on a toothpick. Sounds like you know the feeling- like someone took a hammer to your pelvis. Can't really feel my right leg, unless it's full of pins and needles. My eyes are incredibly light sensitive. And no your not alone, some people here, including myself, felt like they are completely alone, Your not, empathy all around, any questions, just ask.

Hi all I went to see my gp and she thinks I have fybromyalgia. Can't thank you all enough for all the advice.

She is doing blood tests to rule out other things, at least she is taking notice of what I'm saying.