Hi everyone, this is my first post and my first ever forum for anything. I have always plodded along self supporting since my health started to change over 22 years ago.
In brief I will try to explain what happened years ago and then what my current situation is, I will be as brief as possible and then perhaps someone might be able to point me in the right direction…
At the approx age of 38 I started having weak legs whilst walking, my knees became very painful. At first I thought it was a weakness caused by my occupation that was from the age of 16 I was a floor and wall tiler. I had changed my job and was now in financial services so really I had not been heavy lifting for over 12 months or so.
I saw my GP who advised a visit to a consultant and in short I had an MRI on my spine and had fusion. The fusion is not at the base of my spine but slightly up. A few months went by and I started having left hand grip problems - another scan, and a neck fusion. I was told it’s discs again… In another year 6/ 8 months my hand once again started loosing grip so they refused my neck with a cage, this worked… approx 12 months later more leg problems and more fusion above the first area with rods… All this then settled down for many years to date…
If we go back say 10 years from now, I started having joint pains ( I had returned to construction) and thought aching, elbows, ankles, wrists, etc were work related… I was then diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis… I have seronegative I think it’s called, only my hands swell, I get joint pain etc. I take Cimzea injections to help stop progression.
So, to the point.
Since approx 8 years ago I developed tingling on my face, shoulders arms, to the point I had to go to be with ice packs on my body to try to keep me cool… I am still to this day getting tingling, most days it drives me mad… It’s not washing power, deodorant, shampoo I have tried everything but I still tingle/ burn/ itch…In the last 2 months I started getting weak legs again, painful back, I thought “ not again” …Went to the GP, referred to spinal pain clinic, had to see an oesteopath as this is the route we have to take in my nhs area. I had my MRI and was told it showed nothing but some stenosis, so the oesteopath decided it was my lower back giving me the weakness. The fatigue I have I am told is due to the pain, in back and abdomen and the arthritis. The rheumatologist has said Its also fibromyalgia…I have not worked now for over a month with no income as I am self employed… I enjoy work and managed before now to work 5 days with my pain but I would rather work than sit around.
I have now had to buy a walking stick as my legs get so weak at the knees/ ankles calf spasms, when I walk my wife worries I am going to fall. I get some not so bad days where I simply shuffle along using my stick most of my time I am a home resting. I am taking Ibuprofen when required, codeine. The GP put me on Gabapentin up to the max 6 tabs a day but it gave me headaches so I stopped it…
My symptoms are confusing, I am stuck with… is it another back issue, constant leg pain with tingling, back pain, face and other body parts itching/ tingling, constant fatigue which I have had for a long time. If I walk around the supermarket I am worn out once I get home.These new symptoms have taken over my life from the Rheumatoid. Could this be MS? Both are autoimmune disease. Should I see a neurologist or a spinal consultant, we are happy to pay for a consultation but can not afford private health.
The osteopath thinks one more manipulation will work, after the first it did nothing, symptoms are the same, I have no confidence in osteopath… I am now stuck in a circle of confusion not knowing the next step, next manipulation is end of January
I am sat at home struggling, no income…Luckily my wife works so we are not yet in any financial problems.
Please excuse my typing,I would appreciate any thoughts on my matter… What ever this is it certainly has taken over my life dramatically…regards…