horrific back pain on waking

[redannie118]

Hi hoping from some help from you lovely mnetters as I really dont know where to go next. Little bit background, I was diagnosed with systemic sclerosis last year I have a rheumatologist and im currently taking methotrexate and various painkillers. I have horrific back pain on waking so bad it wakes me up. It goes straight across the centre middle of my back and radiates around to the front of my rib cage. It hurts to breathe and the pain regularly has me in tears. The pain eases if I get up and move around and settles to a dull ache. My gp says he knowd nothing about my condition and I need to speak to my rheumatologist. My rheumatologist says its not part of my condition and thats it. My husband wants me to go back to the gp but is there any point?I really dont know what to do next. Oh just to mention I also have some RA in my hands too. Thanks so much in advance guys

[redannie118]

Bump :)

[maggiso]

Did not like to read and not reply when no one else has. I am not a medic and do not know anything about your condition, but I do have a bad back - more later. It sounds like your sclerosis specialist has said your back and chest pain are not likely to be caused directly by your condition - or ? the medication to treat it (may need to check that last point). Therefore I think you need to go back to the GP with this advice.
Since the pain starts in your back - perhaps that is what needs looking at. Could your GP refer you to a physio to rule out a back problem?
Your post caught my eye because I do sometimes get woken by my upper back locking up- I think when I turn. It is worse laying down than standing I think because there is more weight on the locked joint when laying - I presume.- I have mild scoliosis so my back kind of locks up and traps the nerves and affects the movement of my ribs ( which pivot at the back on the spine). Breathing can be miserably painful and my arm can be painfully numb. Sometimes it half sorts itself out - just leaving the kicked in the back feeling - other times I need to visit my chiropractor to 'untrap' or otherwise get things working well again. My back gets worse if I do too little or too much (gardening/ hammering in fence posts etc) and typically ceases up a few days after, when the muscles tighten or spasm. If this fits with whats happening to you ( except the arm - my lock ups happen at that level) then you might want to see a physio, chiropractor or osteopath. Although my lock ups are cause by the scoliosis I have heard others (with straight backs) talk of muscle spasms causing locking up.
Hope you sort it out - it sounds very painful.

[redannie118]

Hello maggiso thank you so much for your reply :) what you say makes a lot of sense and will help when I have my gp app next week, hope your back is feeling better and thanks again for the lovely reply :)