Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion General Message Board for Ankylosing Spondylitis and Related Diseases Should I be concerned about sudden spinal pain?

I had alot of problem with my lumbar spine in my 30's, about 20 years ago, which I now know was AS (xray taken in 2011 showed various changes to the vertebrae and various bits of calcification, as well as mostly-fused sacroiliac joints and I seem to remember that one vertebrae or disc got a particular mention). After the 1990's, the AS beast wandered around my body for about 15 years before it hit with a vengeance nearly everywhere in 2011, but it seemed like the AS might have finished with my lumbar spine. But I've now had sharp pain there for about 24 hours - does anyone know if I should be concerned? I don't have increased referred pain in my legs or anything just muscle spasms in my lower back and focused sharp pain in a particular point of my lumbar spine.

I'm trying to work out whether I should just wait it out or get it checked out...I don't have an appointment to see my rheumy until July.

Shirley, sorry you're having such a time with this. Does anything relieve it??

Thank you. Paracetamol and tramadol take the edge off. It feels better when lying down.I emailed my rheumy who suggested waiting a few days to see if it settles down. I'm not sure if I can face going to work today to work on my comp uter and sit at meetings.

If you have osteoporosis, then I am sure I have been told that sudden spinal pain should get checked out in case its a spontaneous fracture. Hope it does settle down though.

Thanks cemc. I don't have osteoporosis as far as I know, but it is a while since my first bone density scan. I'm conscious of risk due to AS and my mother having it despite being overweight like me. And apparently avulsion fractures like I had are common in osteopaenic bone, so I was planning to ask the shoulder specialist about that when I see him next week (since I still have pain and reduce mobility in that shoulder three and a half months after the fall and scan showed what looks like multiple small bone fragments).

Hello, Shirley:

It is possibly a pseudoarthrosis--a break off of some fusion, which can be quite painful.

Regret I had an extensive issue with this problem that required epidurals until got in for fixation. Everyone with AS likely has degree of osteoporosis; we lose height faster than normal as a result of this, and are also subject to similar painful fractures.

HEALTH,
John

Thanks John.
I fear something like that, but hope it's not. As far as I know I just have bits and pieces of calcification in my lower back and mostly fused sij's, but it is four years since I had it xrayed. I emailed my rheumatologist, who said to see if it settles down over the next few days. I now have pain elsewhere as well, so maybe it's "just" a flare.

Hmmm well the latest is that the back pain shifted to my flanks and I feel generally shivery and yucky so went to see my family doctor. Turns out my urine sample showed white blood cells and blood so I've probably got an infection. He'll send the sample away but has put me on antibiotics in the meantime.

And I'm off to see the shoulder specialist on Monday because I have major loss of rom in my shoulder following my fracture in January despite a few weeks of physiotherapy. Getting a bit sick of medical appointments...

aarrghh. One thing after another. Hope you get some joy with the shoulder specialist, and get over that UTI quickly.

Thanks cemc - it has been quite a year! I'm also seeing the opthamologist next week as one of my eyes has been playing up - not really painful but watering on and off for ages and not responding antihistamine tablets/artificial tears, so assuming not allergies or dry eye.