Hi, my names Mike. I'm new to this forum, or any AS forum actually. I'm 27, and I was diagnosed when I was 9 due to severe back pain/fatigue. Finally they found that I tested positive for HLA B27. I've been dealing with it ever since. My pain levels have fluctuated throughout the years, at time (though I can barely remember now) the symptoms haven't been so bad, but for a long time things have been bad, and only getting worse. I ended up getting stuck doing Construction/Landscaping for a couple years, as I had no other options, and fell into a rut with it. The abuse on my body has left a big impact. I've thrown my back out numerous times and been unable to walk etc. I was down to working only a day or 2 a week, doing lighter work, and I also started up with PT again (which helps a lot in the past). A week after starting PT I threw my back out again, and had to use a cane for 3 days just to get on my feet/walk. The pain was so intense it shifted my pain scale (and I'm already very used to being in severe pain). I threw my back out this time, by simply miss stepping in my apartment. I felt a slight pull in my lower back, and the next day when I woke up I couldn't walk.
I went to my DR and got more steroids and muscle relaxers to get through this, and it barely helped. I can literally feel my back muscles pulsating constantly, and even other muscles in my body are doing the same now. It's been a couple weeks since this most recent injury, and I'm still barely able to stand for 20 minutes, and those 20 minutes hurt, every one of them.
I'm going to PT twice a week and having no improvement. I'm going to my DR tomorrow and hopefully getting XRays. My last scan, I had no fusion yet. I think that may have changed now. I've always been afraid to try Humira or any drugs like it, for obvious reasons. I'm getting to the point where I'm considering it though. I've been fighting this for long and finally I feel like it's getting the better of me. I've begun sinking into a depression, which I haven't experienced in some time. I'm losing the strength to keep going every day. I need help getting past this.
I don't know what I should do, and could use some advice.
Please let me know what you all think.
Thanks
-Mike