to twisten....... - Pain Management Message Board

amyleigh28 · 09-24-2003, 03:21 PM

Hi just wondering about your crohns. When were you diagnosed and does you MD think that you many diseases are connected to each other because they are considered autoimmune diseases?? Asking b/c my granddad had crohns and I have been diagnosed as having an auto immune disease, just trying to figure out which one. Do you take pain meds for your TMJ? I also have that and had surgery last year for it. Sorry so many questions......

Thanks,
Amy

P.S. Anyone with any knowledge of autoimmune diseases or tmj are welcome to give some input. I could use all the info that I can get!!!

[This message has been edited by amyleigh28 (edited 09-24-2003).]

twisten · 09-24-2003, 11:09 PM

Hi Amyleigh. I'll try to answer your questions. Crohns is 'thought' to be an auto-immune disease but the way I understand not 100% sure yet. I was diagnosed in May of 2002 but have had intestinal problems since I was in my eary teens. I'm 39 now. How do you know you have an auto-immune disease if they don't know which one? Sorry thats got me kind of confused. I doubt my diagnosis of myofascial pain has anything to do with my crohns as it bothers my head, back, legs, arms and hands. The sacroilitis is related to the crohns though. No, I don't necessarily take pain meds for tmj. I get migraine headaches but the docs think its from the myofascial pain. Somehow (not sure how) my diagnosis of myofascial pain ties into my diagnosis years ago of tmj. They are somehow related. My jaw gets somewhat uncomfortable but has never been anything really painful so far. Did the surgery for tmj help you? I had surgery on both wrists for carpal tunnel a few years ago and have found out it that was related to this myofascial pain also so I think I'll forget about the jaw surgery!! Don't apologize for asking questions. I don't mind at all. I hope this helps some.

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Hmm where should I begin?? Crohn's disease, sacroiilitis-crohn's related, scoliosis, spina bifida occulta, chronic myofascial pain, tmjd and migraines. Still waiting for bone scan and bone density test to tell me what else is wrong with me!! Too many surgeries to list!!

amyleigh28 · 09-25-2003, 03:17 PM

I had a test called an ANA which if positive is indicative of an autoimmune disease but not specifically which one. Have to do more extensive blood work and all to determine that. Anyway, about the tmj surgery. Helped with the clicking and joint pain but was left with permanent nerve damage which if I may be so blunt IS A *****!!!! Oh well ain't life grand? Anyway how did you get the diagnoses of myofascial pain b/c I understand from my search of autoimmune diseases that MPS is under that category.

Amy

twisten · 09-25-2003, 08:36 PM

I didn't know mps was thought of as an auto-immune disorder. My doctor never said a word about it. I was only diagnosed with mps this spring. I wonder which did I get first, the crohns or the myofascial pain. I've had back problems off and on for 11 years that I know of for sure. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that just because the ana is positive that it doesn't mean anything? Do you have any symptoms of any kind? I've never had this test. Is it just a blood test? Sorry to hear of your nerve damage from your surgery. Here you expect to be better and look what happens. Very frustrating. I would suspect if your grandfather has crohns that is one they should be testing you for as it tends to run in families. Not mine though, I am the only one we know of. I just pray to god (and not lightly) that my kids never get any of the illnesses I am dealing with. One is bad enough but the two together are h.... You get the picture I'm sure!! TC and let me know what you find out about the ana test as I find it interesting.

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Hmm where should I begin?? Crohn's disease, sacroiilitis-crohn's related, scoliosis, spina bifida occulta, chronic myofascial pain, tmjd and migraines. Still waiting for bone scan and bone density test to tell me what else is wrong with me!! Too many surgeries to list!!