It isn't Vulvodynia

I saw a specialist, Dr. McClure, a few weeks ago. He was very interested in the degree of arthritis I have (very visible in my joints in my feet). At times I really find it hard to walk, and now I can't lift my right arm above my shoulder level - the arthritis in my shoulder has caused rotator cuff disease and frozen shoulder. All that aside, this was a clue before Dr McClure even did a physical exam. Within one minute he said, "you realize you got a false negative on lichen sclerosus because that is exactly what you have". It had been suspected I had lichen sclerosus (another auto-immune disorder) but I had a biopsy done and it came back negative. That is why my OBGYN, on doing the "Q-Tip" testing said it must be Vulvodynia. Dr. McClure said that lichen sclerosus is fairly uncommon but more common in arthritic women over 40, perimenopausal and menopausal women. I waited until I was 39 to have my first (and only) child and I can't even lift her into a carseat anymore (I feel like such an old mother!). So I am in my early 40's and probably getting close to being perimenopausal although I thought it might be a bit further away (I am showing symptoms like lots of leg and foot cramps etc). Dr McClure said that in order to get enough tissue sample to confirm lichen sclerosus you really need to be in the OR, which I may get scheduled to do just to be absolutely sure, although Dr. McClure said he is positive about this, it is something he can see. So for all you arthritic women who have Vulvodynia, you may actually have lichen sclerosus. I looked at lichen sclerosus and thought, "maybe I have that" and when I looked at the symptoms of Vulvodynia, I thought that was indeed what I had - they symptoms matched better than the lichen sclerosus symptoms. So now I am on a steroid cream that has not made intercourse any easier. I see Dr. McClure again in July to look at next steps. I guess a next step for me is to find a lichen sclerosus support forum!