cowboydoc:

I have osteo-arthritis in the severe degenerative stages along with severe neurological hurts. I have a Medtronic spinal stimulator implanted now to help with the pain. I still take Vicodin three times a day along with Neurontin for the nerve hurts.
I have had surgery eight times on my spine, three on the cervical spine, I have to “cages” implaced, one is in the degrading stages now and has severely hurt my nerves.

I have 32 screws and 32 wires implanted along with, four cadaver bones, four of my own bones from the hip.

Everything went to hell when I was 48 years ancient, I went on Social Security disability, it’s been downhill ever since.

They will tell you it’s handed down through your mothers side, the “Y” gene. Check with your relatives, your cousins etc. You will probably find some of them as terrible or worse. I have three sisters with the same thing as I have.

Pierre:

There are a few possibilities:

1- Ankylosing spondylitis where, over time, your spine would become rigid, preventing you from bending forward;

2- A gastrointestinal rheumatic disease like the Inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn’s disease which are modeled on Ankylosing spondylitis, classified as Seronegative spondyloarthropathies because they affect the spine just as much as the intestines;

3- Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, just like for myself, where the 4th and 5th vertebrae of the spine are squared, but where other symptoms affect the whole body.

Rheumatic diseases are the result of a defective gene and collagen inflammation, regularly from a chronic infection. Collagen is present right through the body, from the eyes, skin and joints to the heart. Hence, the multiplicity of symptoms, depending on the location of the most affected internal organs or body parts.

I have had seronegative rheumatoid arthritis for more than 27 years. The telling signs of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis are the following:
- Joint pain in the feet (or cracking ankles) in the early 20′s or late teens;
- Fatigue, especially after a moderate exercise like a 30 small walk;
- Blood test showing a negative or low level of Rheumatoid factor;
- Joint deformities of the fingers, after a few years, a specific sign of rheumatoid arthritis;
- Consecutive X-Rays, over numerous years, showing bone erosion, a importance of rheumatoid arthritis;
- Generalized arthritis, involving the whole body;
- Elevated levels of C-Immediate protein and Sedimentation rate, as evidenced in blood tests.

NSAIDs like Voltaren, COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex, acetaminophen like Tylenol, and codeine are all used to control inflammation and relieve the pain of arthritis.

Regular exercise like walking, biking and swimming is also helpful for most patients. Make sure that you are not overweight as carrying too much weight can only increase the pain of arthritis in the supporting joints of the hips, knees, ankles and feet.

For any form of arthritis, you should consult an Orthopaedist who will order blood tests, joint scans and X-Rays to better diagnose the type of arthritis from which you suffer.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons at http://www.aaos.org maintains a public online directory where you can find the take up and phone number of orthopaedists who belong to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Orthopaedists are listed by geographic location and family name, inside the USA and in most countries.

The connection directory of the AAOS is located at:

http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm

Lyme disease could be a possibility. Question your doctor to test you for the bacteria causing Lyme disease.

Are there any other cases of arthritis or rheumatic diseases among your relatives? Chronic forms of arthritis are usually prevalent in families where a defective gene is passed on by parents to their children.

There are a few hundred types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. The excellent news is that science is progressing rapidly in its understanding of rheumatic diseases.

Antibiotics are now used to realize full remissions for at least 40%, if not 65% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. For more info, please join our group at:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/antibio