Posts by restlessstag71

I'm curious about this too, but I can't seem to find much info out there.

Sandra Vaughn50 said:Ferritin shows how much iron you actually have stored up in your system. If it's low (which isn't the case for you), it means those reserves are depleted and need to be replenished.

Keep an eye on your iron levels and CBC regularly. Depending on what the labs show, you'll probably need to start supplements soon enough. For now, I'd just hold off on the same thing for maybe 3 months until you retest.

Thanks so much for the reply. I honestly thought being right near the bottom limit meant it was already low. Thanks!

Correction - Iron Saturation 39% 15-50

Can someone please help me make sense of this:

Ferritin 16.9 ng/ml 5-148
Iron 26 nmol/L 8-30
UIBC 40 nmol/L 26-59
TIBC 67 nmol/L 49-75
Iron Saturation 39 % 15-25

I don't get it—if my Ferritin is low, how is my Iron level fine?
I showed my doctor, and she says everything is okay. But I don't trust a word she says because she totally screwed me over regarding something else before.

Maria Fisher46 said:Since this thread is getting massive and people are posting here almost every single day, I think it might be a good idea—whenever you get a chance—to start a separate dedicated thread. You could briefly outline what symptoms you dealt with and where the diagnostic issues were. That way, if someone else is searching for their own symptoms, they can find a specific thread more easily. 🙂

I’ve already posted on the vulvodynia thread, where I regularly update everyone on what's happening, and I'll post everything regarding my hip arthroscopy once I've had the first surgery.

Hey everyone,
I haven't posted in a while because I've been busy hunting down the cause of my health issues. Just to recap, I originally came here because of this insane back pain that eventually spread throughout my entire pelvis and upper legs.
I’ve seen pretty much every specialist out there—physiatrists, neurosurgeons, physical therapists, chiropractors, pain management clinics, immunologists, and finally an orthopedist. After a mountain of tests, I finally found out I have a labral tear in my hips and a super rare diagnosis called ischiofemoral impingement. Currently waiting on surgery.

Big thanks to bluefire for sliding into my DMs and helping steer my diagnostics in the right direction, and of course, thanks to Felix the Cat for all the answers and input.
Hopefully, this info helps someone else on this thread.

restlessstag71 said:And I'd ask one last thing, since I honestly don't know anyone dealing with this kind of stuff—is it actually possible for atrophied muscles to hurt that much??
Thanks!!

Maria Fisher46 said:I think that explanation is oversimplified, but the point was probably meant to be that the pain isn't inflammatory, but rather a mechanical cause of lower back issues, meaning physical therapy to strengthen the muscles is necessary. Whether that's what you're dealing with, I don't know. Pain is subjective—some people might scream from a needle prick while others barely feel it—so judging whether intense back pain can "just be from weak muscles" based solely on a diagnosis isn't really a valid way to look at it.

Hi,
Thanks for all the answers, the time, and the effort.
Just wanted to let you know—and maybe this helps someone else too—that I finally figured out what's going on. It turns out it's hemorrhoids and ischiofemoral impingement in my hips. I'm definitely looking at hip surgery, and as for the hemorrhoids, I still have to see, but surgery is likely there too. Also, just to mention, the pain was in my back, but mostly in my pelvis; I didn't realize that until things got worse.
Thanks again for everything!

Maria Fisher46 said:Your symptoms are pretty varied. Some of what you described could point toward a rheumatic disease. What I've noticed is that you're doing things in reverse order—you should see a rheumatologist first, then get targeted testing, rather than running subspecialty tests and trying to guess the disease based on the results alone.

To diagnose a rheumatic disease, a patient has to meet specific criteria. Lab results are just one part of that puzzle, so without a proper clinical exam, we can't really talk about a diagnosis.

If we all ran every possible immunological and rheumatological test, most of us would probably have at least one positive result, but that doesn't mean we actually have a rheumatic disease.

Hi there,
Thanks again for the answers.
The back pain is still hitting me hard. I happened to have already gone through all those tests, so I started digging around and wondering if this is actually a rheumatic issue.
I saw a physiatrist who recommended physical therapy, so I started seeing a private physical therapist, and I'm heading to a chiropractor soon too, also per the physiatrist's suggestion. My physical therapist agrees with one doctor who thinks my muscles have atrophied and that's where the pain is coming from.
I also went to a pain clinic and got a block in my L4-L5 facet joint, but the pain is still there. I'll see what they suggest next time. Maybe I'll try a block in the SI joint just to rule it out, even though most doctors said it's not the SI joint.
So, I don't know. For now, the plan is to work out with the private PT and massage the sore spots, then hit the chiropractor in a week and physical therapy in a month and a half.
One last question: since I don't really know anyone else dealing with this, is it actually possible for atrophied muscles to hurt that much??

Thanks!!

Can someone please help me out? I’ve already laid out my back issues in previous posts. I just got some lab results back today, and here is what they show:

SE 8 (4-24)
CRP 0.4 (0.1-5)
RF Urate 227 (134-337)

I was leaning toward arthritis, but my RF came back at div>

Maria Fisher46 said:What you wrote isn't really clear: a) what specific symptoms you actually had besides "lower back pain," because just having that without other issues isn't a hallmark of systemic rheumatic diseases, b) what kind of arthritis you're suspecting if there's no joint swelling, c) who (not by name, but by medical specialty) referred you for these tests (HLA typing, ANA, and ENA panel), and d) how it's possible these tests were done before other basic screenings if there was suspicion of a systemic rheumatic disease?

Anyway, looking at the HLA typing, you have HLA drb1*01, which means you have a certain genetic predisposition for rheumatoid arthritis, but that doesn't mean anything on its own.

The ANA is positive at a low titer, and as such, it doesn't mean anything unless there's strong suspicion of an autoimmune disease.

If you have a moment, I'd like to ask you one more question.

I did some digging and found that HLA drb1*01 is linked to asthma, and I deal with major allergy issues and the onset of asthma.
Regarding that ANA result—you said it was positive at a low titer. Is it possible that could be due to allergies or asthma?
Of course, I'll look into everything regarding arthritis. I don't see my doctor until next week, so I'm messaging you because I can't wait, and I'm honestly terrified. Plus, I've been constantly anxious about these back pains for three months now. First it was a herniated disc, then spinal stenosis, then the sacroiliac joint, and now the thought of arthritis on top of these allergies... gosh.

Thanks if you can find the time to reply.

Just wanted to follow up on what I already wrote because I forgot this part, and it probably matters. When I had my baby, I had a C-section. We were on pain meds for three days, and honestly, I felt great. I didn't have any of these issues—none at all. Aside from the usual recovery from the surgery, which was nothing compared to this spinal stuff, I was fine. I was incredibly hyperactive (which is why I don't feel the pain right now) and happy, naively thinking all my back pain had just vanished along with the pregnancy. But after those three days were up, the disappointment hit me so hard I couldn't even function... 😢

Angela Moore63 said:No big deal, this could definitely be linked to your pregnancy. It's pretty common for women to experience increased joint, bone, and back pain after giving birth. No reason to panic... After this much time, CRP and ESR would still show inflammation if there was any present. Even if it turns out to be arthritis, it’s not the end of the world; plenty of people manage it just fine with regular exercise and a solid diet. I'd suggest taking calcium, magnesium, Omega 3, and Omega 6. Pineapple also has great anti-inflammatory properties. Obviously, that isn't a substitute for actual medical help, but it might help ease things. Just in case, check your urine pH levels too. Sometimes high pH can cause this kind of pain. You should definitely get tested for Waller-Rose and rheumatoid factor, and re-check your immunoglobulins, CRP, and sedimentation. Best of luck!

Thanks for the advice, Jason James3. I'll definitely make sure to get all those tests done. I was also wondering about supplements—you mentioned calcium, magnesium, and Omegas. I know they're good, but do you have any specific brands you recommend? I have some Solgar Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc on hand; would that work? And what about Omegas? Maybe Vitamin D too?

Maria Fisher46 said:What you've said isn't entirely clear: a) what specific symptoms you actually have besides "lower back pain," because just mentioning that without other issues doesn't point toward systemic rheumatic disease, b) what kind of arthritis you suspect if there’s no joint swelling, c) who (not by name, but by specialty) ordered those tests (HLA typing, ANA, and ENA panel), and d) how it's possible those were done before more basic testing if there was actual suspicion of a systemic rheumatic disease?

By the way, your HLA typing shows you have HLA DRB1*01, which means there's a certain genetic predisposition for rheumatoid arthritis, but that alone doesn't mean anything.

ANA is positive at a low titer, and as such, it doesn't mean much unless there's a strong suspicion of an autoimmune disease.

Thanks for reaching out.
a) I'll try to keep my explanation of my symptoms brief. My lower back has been hurting for about 15 years now. For the first 10 years, it was just in the morning when I woke up, which wasn't a big deal. For the last 5 years, it's been worse in the mornings; I feel totally wrecked and need about half an hour to recover. I'd call it a feeling of stiffness. Also, for the past 3 years, my back has hurt badly after walking for about an hour. I gave birth three months ago, and now that one-hour limit has dropped to just 5 minutes of walking before the pain hits.
b) A friend told me that the pains I'm describing look like they could be some kind of arthritis. I'm always complaining to her about how everything feels inflamed in that lower back area.
c)&d) I had the immunology tests done because I was having trouble conceiving for a while. I was also diagnosed with thrombophilia. I haven't seen a rheumatologist yet. I have an appointment in two weeks with a physiatrist/rheumatologist at a major hospital in Chicago.

Since my friend mentioned potential arthritis issues, you know how it goes—you go online and start reading and reading, and I've already ruled out four different diseases, and now this one is left. And since I already did the HLA typing, I came across something saying HLA-B35 is linked to rheumatic diseases.

Also, my hand joints ache from time to time, but since it's nothing serious, I didn't pay much attention to it. And for some reason, my knee and right hip have been hurting for a few days now. So, naturally, I started thinking my issues might be rheumatic.
And then I realized that the ANA test could be positive, and boom—I've concluded I have undifferentiated spondylarthritis. Obviously, I need to talk to a doctor about all of this and get more tests done.

Sorry for the long post. And thanks for getting back to me.

Hey Jason James3,

Thanks for reaching out. I’ve got an appointment with a physiatrist/rheumatologist in two weeks, so I'll see what they have to say. I was thinking about just paying out of pocket for those tests you mentioned; it's not like it's going to break the bank. I had my physical about a month ago and my CRP and ESR weren't elevated, but I'm planning to redo all of that along with the stuff you suggested. I have to admit, I'm pretty freaking out. I also forgot to mention that I gave birth three months ago, and I'm not exactly a spring chicken anymore (36 years old), so I'm just hoping this is all connected and that everything "coincidentally" lined up this way.
Thanks again for checking in.

Nicholas Myers

I was hoping someone could help me make sense of these lab results.
I've been dealing with chronic lower back pain for years. I've seen two of the top neurosurgeons in the country, an amazing orthopedic surgeon, and a chiropractor—they all say my spine is fine. My MRI also came back clear. They told me I just need to work on my muscles since they've weakened.

But honestly, I don't think it's just muscle issues. I've started digging into this myself, and I'm wondering if it might be some kind of arthritis. I have appointments with a physiatrist and a rheumatologist in two weeks. Since I'm pretty impatient, I figured I'd reach out here and see if anyone can weigh in.
I took photos of the reports, but I can't figure out how to upload them, so I'll just type everything out.

HLA-A 3 11
HLA-B 18 35
HLA*DRB1* 01 15
CDC-REACTION DATE 00/00/24
Note: N97; AUTO CM IS NEGATIVE

result unit ref inter remarks
ANA (ENA) IIF homogeneous titer <1:100 1:100

dsDNA negative
SS-A 52 negative
SS-A 60 negative
SS-B negative
Sm negative
SM/RNP negative
DNA-topo 1 negative
Jo-1 negative
CENP-B negative
RIBO negative
aCI IgG 5 <10 neg
aCI IgM 7 <10 neg

I hope I transcribed everything correctly. From what I've gathered online, it looks like this ANA result is positive.

If you have a moment, could you let me know if you have any idea what this might mean?
Thanks in advance!