I was diagnosed June 2013. Have the usual sausage fingers and toes, but am wondering about the incredible back pain I have been experiencing. Started about 4 weeks ago with what felt like a stabbing knife in the right middle part of my back. lasted for days and then turned into just twinges and pretty much vanished. In the last two weeks, I have had really awful radiating pain in lower back and surrounding hip area. I am having trouble walking, but espcially just standing in place. I have sharp and unrelenting pain when I open doors, turn handles, try to put makeup on, brush teeth leaning over sink, etc...called doc yesterday and she prescribed a muscle relaxer , which seems to have helped. Anyone out there experiencing this kind of back pain in conjunction with psoriatic arthritis? I am currently on Cimzia. Have tried Humira and Embrel, too.
It isn't uncommon to have back pain with PsA and some people experience costochondritis, too. While that's typically felt in the chest it can radiate to the mid back. It feel like you're being stabbed with an ice pick. Often times gentle stretching and activity is the only thing to help with low back and hip pain.Physical therapy and aqua therapy can be very helpful in maintaining mobility and strength which can help reduce the pain. I do hope you start to get some relief on a consistent basis.
Hi Mari, i am sorryyou are suffering.. yes the back pain can be part of the PsA, i have the pain in my neck and shoulder and barely got any advice on what to do from my rheumy, finally after complaining about it at least three different times via emails she told me to take meloxicam-mobic for two weeks to see if that helps.. I just started last night..I am so scared that the methotextrate will not stop this disease from spreading.. I heard a study was done and it found that the mtx did not stop the debilitating disease, but that the results were inconclusive so for now keep taking it.. has anyone had luck in controlling the fatigue that comes with the disease with mtx? i am still on my 1st month on it and so far i am more tired and in pain then i was before...
janeatiu said:
Hey Mari,
It isn't uncommon to have back pain with PsA and some people experience costochondritis, too. While that's typically felt in the chest it can radiate to the mid back. It feel like you're being stabbed with an ice pick. Often times gentle stretching and activity is the only thing to help with low back and hip pain.Physical therapy and aqua therapy can be very helpful in maintaining mobility and strength which can help reduce the pain. I do hope you start to get some relief on a consistent basis.
Sorry to hear you are experiencing so much pain. This is definitely something to speak to your rheumatologist about asap. whether it's costochondritis, spondylitis, or another issue, your rheumy should be able to work with you to figure out the source of the pain and what you can do about it.
It's nearly certain it's another symptom of PsA. I've had a feeling like an electric shock is going through my lower, lower back--across the sacral region, that was horrible. P.T. helped, plus ice packs and heat, rest, TLC and time. Then there's the feeling like a drill is going through the top of a buttock, with pain radiating to the hip and down the leg. Again, P.T. plus all those other things....the pain in the mid back for me was because I have such a weak back. It hurt my mid-back to walk any distance (like more than half a block). My P.T. involved MedX therapy, which greatly improved my posture and neck and back strength. I went to IPPMC in Sartell, MN, and I'm not sure if there are many other clinics in my state who use this technique. They have a website if you want to read up on the MedX type of therapy. Back pain can be so scary because, like you said, it hurts every little movement you make. Good luck figuring out how to get rid of it. I didn't use many pain meds except OTC stuff--which doesn't much touch that kind of pain. Be really careful what you do--no heavy lifting--and try to get a good physical therapist--they will, hopefully, get you feeling better!
Not to sound like an echo, but it definitely can be part of the PsA. It really sounds like, though, especially since you were helps with muscle relaxer, that you need some good quality PT. Not only can PT help with your current predicament, a can help prevent it in the future.
Just about all of us do some sort of gentle stretching routine on a daily basis in order to keep things loosened up. Definitely should be something that you run by your doctor the next time you see him or even you could make a phone call. If he's willing to prescribed muscle relaxers by phone he should certainly be willing to give your referral for physical therapy.
Could it be your gall bladder? My sister, mom and g-ma all had their gallbladder taken out, and they all described it as how you described your pain. The pain in the middle right part of your back is synonymous with a gall bladder attack. Does it happen after you eat certain foods? Have you noticed a change in your bowel movements? My sister said hers hurt more than childbirth.
I don’t want to alarm you, and I’m certainly no doctor, but you never know, right?