u/GazelleDirect3965

I havent seen my new ortho doctor yet. I am not sure if all the hassle comes from being too early in whatever this is or not.

Between March and August of 2025, I had about 20 days where the left side of my hip hurt so bad that I could not stand, walk, or put any kind of twisting pressure on myself at all. To get off the bed from laying down, I had to flip onto my back and slide off the bed onto my feet. A pushup was impossible with the pain in my hip. 9/10 in pain, the wrong position was unbearable for more than a split second.

Eventually this stopped entirely and became a small aching pain in my left hip and lower left back every few days, and by the end of August it was a daily ache. By September it was a constant 24/7, every second of the day pain, and I noticed sciatica in my left leg while driving or sitting too long. 1–3 out of 10 pain daily. Thought I sprained my hip. Late October I finally saw a doctor who recommended PT. PT saw no results so I got an MRI.

MRI showed sacroiliac dysfunction and slight edema. Doctor said right away it looks exactly like ankylosing. February I see a rheumatologist. Still pain daily and NSAIDs reduce pain by about 20–40%. Twisting back hurts, light costochondritis from time to time. Seems to hurt with activity, walking, bending, etc.

Rheumatologist tests for antigen HLA-B27 or whatever and it's negative. Says she believes it is AS but the pain coming from activity rather than inactivity leaves her unsure. Try different meds.

Cortisone shot in my ass, hurt like hell, exacerbated pain horribly for 3 days but focused it in the lower left back. Pain continues, doctor tries new NSAIDs. They don't work, pain daily.

Around April, the pain becomes an all-over-the-back thing. Sometimes my whole upper back hurts, sometimes whole lower, sometimes sciatica, sometimes just lower left back. Stiff and slow going down the stairs every morning but pain still increases with movement.

In July, pain becomes horrid every time I wake up. When I nap for 30 minutes to 6 hours, waking up feels like being sick with the flu. Weakness, aching, pain. 4/5/6 out of 10 every time I wake up. Losing sleep.

Rheumatologist suggests steroid oral dose. First two days are the best relief in my last year, but after that the pain comes right back as the dose goes down. She says she is unsure how to move forward.

Recently, upon waking up, my feet are sore and my fingers hurt horribly if pushed backwards at all.

I've been taking 2000mg ibuprofen or 400mg naproxen or 400mg Celebrex almost daily for 9 months. Rheumatologist doesn't want to move forward.

X-ray in April showed 0 anything. MRI in June showed minor osteophyte on T4-5 and T6-7 but no spinal edema. Rheumatologist believes pain is mechanical.

Rheumatologist disagrees with AS now and sends back to PT. PT is useless. Rheumatologist at a loss. PCP refers me to ortho.

I havent seen my new ortho doctor yet. I am not sure if all the hassle comes from being too early in whatever this is or not.

Between March and August of 2025, I had about 20 days where the left side of my hip hurt so bad that I could not stand, walk, or put any kind of twisting pressure on myself at all. To get off the bed from laying down, I had to flip onto my back and slide off the bed onto my feet. A pushup was impossible with the pain in my hip. 9/10 in pain, the wrong position was unbearable for more than a split second.

Eventually this stopped entirely and became a small aching pain in my left hip and lower left back every few days, and by the end of August it was a daily ache. By September it was a constant 24/7, every second of the day pain, and I noticed sciatica in my left leg while driving or sitting too long. 1–3 out of 10 pain daily. Thought I sprained my hip. Late October I finally saw a doctor who recommended PT. PT saw no results so I got an MRI.

MRI showed sacroiliac dysfunction and slight edema. Doctor said right away it looks exactly like ankylosing. February I see a rheumatologist. Still pain daily and NSAIDs reduce pain by about 20–40%. Twisting back hurts, light costochondritis from time to time. Seems to hurt with activity, walking, bending, etc.

Rheumatologist tests for antigen HLA-B27 or whatever and it's negative. Says she believes it is AS but the pain coming from activity rather than inactivity leaves her unsure. Try different meds.

Cortisone shot in my ass, hurt like hell, exacerbated pain horribly for 3 days but focused it in the lower left back. Pain continues, doctor tries new NSAIDs. They don't work, pain daily.

Around April, the pain becomes an all-over-the-back thing. Sometimes my whole upper back hurts, sometimes whole lower, sometimes sciatica, sometimes just lower left back. Stiff and slow going down the stairs every morning but pain still increases with movement.

In July, pain becomes horrid every time I wake up. When I nap for 30 minutes to 6 hours, waking up feels like being sick with the flu. Weakness, aching, pain. 4/5/6 out of 10 every time I wake up. Losing sleep.

Rheumatologist suggests steroid oral dose. First two days are the best relief in my last year, but after that the pain comes right back as the dose goes down. She says she is unsure how to move forward.

Recently, upon waking up, my feet are sore and my fingers hurt horribly if pushed backwards at all.

I've been taking 2000mg ibuprofen or 400mg naproxen or 400mg Celebrex almost daily for 9 months. Rheumatologist doesn't want to move forward.

X-ray in April showed 0 anything. MRI in June showed minor osteophyte on T4-5 and T6-7 but no spinal edema. Rheumatologist believes pain is mechanical.

Rheumatologist disagrees with AS now and sends back to PT. PT is useless. Rheumatologist at a loss. PCP refers me to ortho.