Multiple medical problems related?

[tia_elizabeth]

I am 26 years old and have become extremely familiar with my local health network.  I am at a point where I feel as though all (or at least some) of these medical problems could possibly be linked in one way or another.  I find it hard to believe that someone my age can be told "we don't usually see this in people your age" as many times as I have.  The following is a brief list of my medical history and the age I suffered from the problem:

Fourth reflexive metatarsal (sp??) (surgery on my foot to correct) *I was told that they don't usually see this on my patients my age* - 14 y.o.

Torn maniscus (sports related)/athroscopic knee surgery - 15 y.o.

"Lipomas" removed from lower back - 15 y.o.

Diagnosed with degenerative disc disease/bulging discs, no trauma or previous injuries to my back (treated with physical therapy) *I was told that they don't usually see this on patients my age* - 17 y.o.

Ovarian cysts (continued to have problems through remaining teen years) - 17 y.o.

"Lipomas" removed from lower back again - 19 y.o.

Laparoscopy-Diagnosed with endometriosis (multiple treatments, including the depo shot to force menopause) *I was told that they don't usually see this on patients my age*- 21 y.o.

Hysterectomy (after all else failed) *I was told that they don't usually see this on patients my age* - 23 y.o.

Shoulder pain -  MRI, advised of slight disc bulge in neck, told nothing to be concerned about. Reffered me to an orthopedic doctor. *I was told that they don't usually see this on patients my age* (no prior shoulder injuries or trauma) 25 y.o.

Back pain started again, I went to a surgeon thinking it was lipomas again. He did an MRI of my lower back and said he doesn't think it was EVER lypomas and that it was the degenerative disc disease and the pain I felt was my sacral sac. Referred me to physical therapy for bulging discs. *I was told that they don't usually see severity like this on  patients my age* 26 y.o.

Orthopedic doctor advised that I have instability in my shoulder and that it's causing the joint to slide partially out of place.  He prescribes intense physical therapy to strenthen my shoulder. *I was told that they don't usually see such instability on patients my age*  26 y.o.

About a month and a half ago, I started physical therapy for my back and my shoulder.   My physical therapist said he did not think the PT was needed for the disc bulge but that he thinks I have SI Joint dysfunction. PT for my back went on for over a month but is currently on hold since my pain level had not decreased at all.  

Today, the doctor prescribed a 6 day corticosteriod and muscle relaxers to help me sleep and would like to take a look at the MRI of my lower back before any physical therapy continues.

My life has been taken over by doctors appointments, physical therapy and testing.  I have such a hard time believing that this list of conditions, as well as the line "we don't usually see this on patients your age" are not somehow connected.  

I hope someone got through this whole thing and give some insight.  Please help.. I'm exhausted.

[tjsb21]

forget something.....they do say that female probs can tend to worsen back conditions. Sometimes the medical experts will go so far as to say that your female probs ARE the reason for your back issues.

Dont let them talk down to you. You know your body, you know what you feel, and you know how you feel it.

One therapist {safe to say not my favorite} tried to tell me on a daily basis that he was 100% that I had female probs that were MAKING me have back problems.

He was wrong. So yes, your connected, but not always related. Or issues may be related but not connected.

I'm really sorry your so young having so much going on.

I just recently started having other medical problems.....some of it probably is related as I do take medicines.
My husband is famous for this saying in our house.
No matter what the medication is being taken for, and yes you may have positive effects from it, he always says there is an adverse reaction also. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.......isnt that how its said?

Good luck wiith the meds, and dont be afraid to get a second opinion.
i hope it turns around for you, and you get relief!

[tjsb21]

Hey there! Did you go peeking thru my medical records???

For the exception of the shoulder, and lipomas and the surgical procedure to confirm endometriosis we share alot in common.

I had severe problems with my utures and finally was dx'd with uterine prolapse. And after 4 kids thats to be expected to some degree. Mine just decided to fall out a little further than usual. I finally had to have a hysterectomy in July-'08.

On 3-27-1997 I had a slip and fall injury at work. I injured my lower back, left hip, and broke my tail bone.

1.I was finally given an M.R.I a year later. Where it was discovered I had herniations at T-11,T-12,L5-S1.

2.And I was also diagnosed with D.D.D {degenerative disc disease}. I was told that we start to "degenerate" at around the age of 10.
Our discs start to lose height, due to water loss, due to not taking in enough water.

3.Sacro-lization of the sacrum, low back and hip, if I understand it right.

4.I have S.I.J.D also.

5. I have nerve-impengement. Sciatica nerve no less. The main nerve that runs down the back side of your legs. It causes lots of problems.

About 15yrs ago I was in a car accident. I was a passenger in the front seat. We were rear ended at about 50mps. I had enough time to try and turn around and put my hand acrossed the car seat of my 2 yr old son. So, i suffered severe whiplash of my neck.
I have 3 nasty herniations in my cervicle {neck}.

Now i have been told I have the body of a 70yr old woman already at the ripe oloe age of 38.
The thing that gives me the most trouble, pain is the S.I.J.D Sacro Iliac Joint Dysfunction/or disease.
And the nerve impengement upon the sciatica nerve. Its all in the same area of my back foe me. The lower left side back, left hip, left leg.

I have tried PT { I learned alot from my therapist. Soak up as much as you can learn}, traction, work-hardening, Mylograms, CT scans, MRI, X-rays, Steroid injections into the facet joints, and into the SI joint.

All of that was very temporary concerning the pain. I am now in pain management.
And depending on your PM doctor then what ever meds they like to try.
Mine has me on muscle relaxer, anti-nerve pain meds, pain meds, anti-inflammatories.

And I wont take most of that except at bedtime. I hate it.
The steroid injections I havent had in a year, but for me they were worthless.
BUT, my pain management doc did try RFL {radio frequency something}. IT HELPED!!!
He basically goes in and fries the minor small nerves coming off the facet joints, which are the boney tips of the vertrebates{sp?} oops. And that has really reallly realllly knocked out alot of pain for me.

Otherwise i would have pain from the MIDDLE of my back down. Now its only from the very lowest point of my low back and tip of hip bone in back, and the pain down the back of my left leg due to the pinched nerve.

So yeah I've also been told we dont usually see something like this in someone your age.
But, it all goes to different people, different situations, different life experiences. Sometimes these things are due to genetics and out of our control.
Sometimes they are due to someone whose is out of control for just a split second.
Sometimes, our bodies just have a mind of their own. And when we have any of these....
We get to hear all sorts of wonderful medical opinions.
It may not matter how you got here. Or at what age.
Try to control the things that still make you feel young.
And i'm so so so sorry that you have this pain.

I would ask about a mylogram. If my memory serves me right, its a test to determine if you have any nerve impengement {pinched nerves}. That can cause muscle spasms.
Muscle spasms are the bodies defence against further damage. For what ever reason the nerves are telling the brain something is broken, so the brain sends a message to tighten the muscles around the "broken" item. It is trying to guard the hurt area and prevent further damage.
My doctor prescribed a muscle relaxer{10mg} at bedtime, Elavil {50mg} at bedtime, Neurontin {300mg} at bed time, and a pain killer every 6 hrs as needed.
I only take the muscle relaxer,lol. And from time to time the Neurontin when the burning on the back of my left leg is just too much.

If you let them, medications can help. But so does exercising, stretching, heat, ice, and other methods.

I'm sorry I wrote a book here,lol. I'm afraid I wasnt much help, was I? just comparing injuries!
I hope in some way I helped. If you have any questions, i'll try and answer 'em!

[SassyLassie]

Man, what age DO they see things like you have gone through?
Age really is not a factor in what you have had, it can happen to anyone. It sounds like you have had some of these issues for a while, and they are just starting to act up.

I would get physical therapy and also see a good chiropractor. Take your MRI's and x-rays to him, tell him all that has gone on, and he/she will take it from there. I see one, I have multiple bulging disc's and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, he is doing disc decompression on me, it helps some.

Good luck and don't give up, some doctors say this because they really don't know what else to say. Keep looking and again, see a chiropractor, you might be pleasantly surprised.