[andrewuk1976]

Hello All,

My name is Andrew and I live in Taiwan (previously in the UK).

I registered a while ago but I didn't post. I have been to several medical doctors (orthopaedic, neurology, rheumatology, rehabilitation and physical therapy) but no one really knows what's going on :-)

Back in Jan 2010, I started to have plantar fasciitis pain down my right foot. A couple of months later, I started to have burning sensation all over the sole of both my feet. Another 2 months later, I started to have cold sensation and pain down my buttock and also pain in lower back. Since 2011, I have also had neck and shoulder pain.

I had 3 MRIs (one on feet and two on whole spine), ultrasounds and several blood tests. See attachments of the most recent MRI.

MRI of my spines shows degenerations of disc and a couple of bulging discs. But all specialists told me that non nerve is pinched and the disc is not pressing the spinal cord either. So just degeneration and a couple of bulging discs that do not press or pinch any nerve.

MRI also shows my spine loses it's natural curve.

Ultrasound showed inflammation of Achilles tendon and plantar fascia of both feet and bone spurs there. The rheumatologist initially suspected Ankylosing spondylitiis. But all my blood tests are normal (HLA-B27, CRP, ESR, Rheumatoid factor. But my ANA is elevated) All other blood tests were normal, including Vitamin B12 and thyroid.

One month ago I went to see a muscularskelatal specialist. And he wanted me to have Vitamin D checked. It turns out to be low. 17ng/ml. (17ng/ml was after 6 weeks of 5000iu of Vitamin D3 and daily sunshine...) But my calcium and magnesium levels are normal and bone density is normal too. He said my wide spread pain is caused by low level of Vitamin D, and perhaps osteomalacia. So I am on Vitamin D3 Calcitriol for 3 months.

My symptoms are - stiff muscles and weak muscles. Pain in lower back and sacroiliac joints, feet pain, weak muscles, neck pain and also buttock pain (where I sit). My muscle is very weak that even 5 minutes holding newspaper, my arms, neck and shoulders are very sore.

I go to a physiotherapist who gives me gentle massages twice a week. Once the muscles are relaxed, my symptoms are pretty much gone..... But after 24 hours, the muscle starts to get stiff. And when the muscle gets stiff, my lower back, neck and feet starts to ache....

I did try to take Lyrica. It helped very well in the first week. Then the muscle stiffness returned after one week. And it no longer worked....

So I am curious if anyone can share his/her opinion on my case and if I should proceed with a rheumatology or ... Does it sound like osteomalacia? is Vitamin D 17ng/ml low enough to produce all these widespread pain? Any neurological disease that can cause these? Or is it merely spinal disc degeneration that causes these symptoms?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Andrew