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Ankylosing Spondylitis

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 6/13/2008 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Since I was 20, I'm 35 now, I have had intermittant lower back pain that last few a few weeks, months then goes away but then comes back a few months later.  My lower back is tender to the touch when this happens.

In the morning my lower back is so stiff and I have limited range of motion.  After periods of inactivity, my back hurts worse.  I also cant sit on my butt when I have this because it hurts so bad.

After I stand up I have to stay slouched over for awhile before I can straighten up.

My doc said something about AS and ordered an MRI.  Is there any other tests that would check for this?

Thanks

 

Posted 6/13/2008 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
At your best time of day when you are as limber as you get-stand with your heels against the wall and stand as straight as you can-then measure (have someone else do it) the distance between the back of your head and the wall. If you can touch your head to the wall you either don't have AS or are catching it early enough that not much damage has been done-The greater the distance the more likely you have AS and damage associated with it.
Not a very sophisticated test but it is the one my doctor used to "screen" for AS before deciding whether to order spinal X-rays and all that stuff. (Remember I am not a doctor and this is not a perfect test nor should it be used instead of the MRI the doctor thinks you should have). Hope this is helpful
Sj
Posted 6/13/2008 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
I must politely disagree with sjkly. I can stand against the wall and touch my head and I have AS. I also have permanent damage at various places in my body from the disease.

A MRI of the pelvis is a great place to start. If inflammation of the SI joints is found, that is one of the hallmark symptoms of AS. In terms of other tests - a majority, but NOT all, people of caucasian with AS are HLA-B27 positive. The percentage is lower in other ethnic groups. This is a blood test. Also, frequently the doctor will check a person's Sed rate and CRP value. Unfortunately there is not a single test to diagnosis AS.
Posted 6/14/2008 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
I do agree with Ides. I started when I was around 19. I'm 30 now. I have problems with my hips the most. I can't sleep at night because I get so stiff. My doctor worked with me for 18 months before he made his diagnoses of AS. I had blood work looking for HLA-B27 (postive), I had two MRI's and I also had a CT scan with dye. Ides is completely right that there is not a single test to diagnose AS. However, I have never tried sjkly's theory so I don't know about that. Good Luck I wish you the very best!
Posted 6/14/2008 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your help!  I really appreciate it.  I am really confused.  I read the symptoms and think that I have alot of them, but then I think I dont.  sad
Posted 6/14/2008 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi MellyMell,
I too agree with Ides, an MRI confirmed my diagnosis, although I am HLA-B27 negative, my AS was due to Crohns Disease.
Good luck with you MRI and keep us posted.
Take care
Joanne
Posted 6/15/2008 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there MellyMell.. first off, welcome to the forum! Are you being seen by a rheumy? Sounds like you've gotten lots of good advice here.. I had to go through a series of test before I got my official diagnosis of AS.. MRIs, CT Scans, Bone Scans, X-Rays.. bloodwork.. When is your MRI? Please keep us posted and let us know how you are doing..

Duck
Posted 6/19/2008 1:24 AM (GMT 0)

My MRI is tomorrow afternoon.  I am not seeing a rheumy yet.  Although, I think I am going to insist that he refers me to one.  I have so much joint pain its not even funny.

*My back hurts and worsens after periods of inactivity.

*Sitting down and lying on back on a hard flat surface causes alot of pain

*Back is stiff in the morning

*My lower back in the middle is always tender to the touch.

*Right hip hurts and is tender to the touch

*Knees, ankles, toes and wrists hurt, swell and are tender to the touch

*Neck grinds when I move it and is tender to the touch

*Fingers are stiff and hurt all the time

*I cant straighten up right when I stand up

Sorry about the long list. 

Thanks for the suggestions and support.  I will let you know how things go.

Posted 6/19/2008 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Melly, I would definetly insist on a rhuemy-with all those symptoms it sounds like an inflamitory arthritis and I would only trust a rhuemy to diagnos and treat that.
Sj
Posted 6/19/2008 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks!  I just got back from my MRI.  They didn't do it with contrast, is that going to be a problem???
Posted 6/20/2008 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Mell.. did they say how long it will be before you get the results? Probably a week or so? Did you get to ask about being referred to a rheumy? I'm not sure if the contrast is going to be an issue or not, sorry.. I know when I had mine, I had contrast, but I had other issues too.. Are you on any meds now? hang in there!
Posted 6/20/2008 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
Contract is not needed for the study looking at pelvic structures like bones and joints. Contrast is used when looking at things like intestines, the uterus, ovaries, etc.
Posted 6/21/2008 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
I saw a rheumatologist today per my gastro doc's recommendation. I was deeply disappointed with the appointment. He said I might have AS but Remicade is how it is treated and I am already on that. Is that how yours is treated? The appointment was such a waste of my time, I am not sure whether to go to another one or just give up.

Posted 7/11/2008 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
this AS sounds alot like i feel i have worsened in the past two years swelling ankles thighs, severe  back pain, with repprt of severe facet athropathy

l-5

-L-4 area ana i can tell, is just gonna keep worsening?

Posted 7/13/2008 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Sheryl, are you taking anything for the AS?
Posted 7/13/2008 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Just pain killers...
Posted 7/15/2008 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
,
I have "Arthritis" of the spine and have been dx'd with Anklyosing Arthritis.
One thing the doctors never talk about is Inflammatory Arthritis. I think they may have missed something.
Sjkly, do you know the difference between regular arthritis and inflammatory arthritis?
Maybe it's all inflammatory.
Pamela Neckpain

Post Edited (Pamela Neckpain) : 7/27/2008 12:47:40 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/15/2008 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
what is the difference?
Posted 7/15/2008 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
From MedicineNet.com:
"Arthritis can be classified as either inflammatory or non-inflammatory. Inflammatory arthritis features inflammatory white blood cells in the joint fluid. Forms of inflammatory arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus arthritis, gout, and many others. Forms of non-inflammatory arthritis include osteoarthritis, arthritis of thyroid disease, arthritis after injury and many others."

From CaringMedical.com:
"Many forms of inflammatory arthritis are autoimmune disorders, in which the body views its own tissues as foreign and reacts with inflammation. Autoimmune conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter’s Syndrome, psoriatic arthritis and arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory arthritis can also be caused by certain types of bacteria as withreactive arthritis or by deposits of crystalline structures in the joints as with gout and pseudogout. "

Hope this helps you understand the differences. It is possible to have both inflammatory and non-inflammatory arthritis at the same time. I have ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis, plus newly added to the mix - arthritis associated with lupus. My joints are a mess.

Posted 7/15/2008 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thank YOu!
Posted 7/21/2008 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad this thread is here.  I have the "hallmark" symptoms of AS (bilateral sacroliliitis, arthritis in the neck, very stiff all over, etc). I had the antibody blood test done last year and it came back negative.  I'm not convinced.  I know there is a percentage of people who are negative but still do have AS.  How then is it diagnosed if the antibodies are negative?

 

Also, how progressive is the disease for the average person?  Is deterioration and lack of mobility fast, or can it progress over a number of years? Can AS go in and out of flare ups, or is it normally a continual problem? 

 

My diagnosis of sacroiliitis came in 2005, and the neck arthritis in 2007.  I'm now dealing with horrible foot pain.  Not sure if that's related.....

 

My rheumy doesn't want to proceed with the AS possibility.  With all my issues, I don't know why she wouldn't want to make sure?

 

Lots of questions.  Thank you for any feedback!

 

Ginny

Posted 7/21/2008 10:57 AM (GMT 0)
Im with Ginny any feedback, I dont so much have neck pain , i do have shoulder pain and stiufness and arm and hand numbeness, but my biggie is  my lower back and legs sometimes now feelings in my legs very scary, i have degenergertive disc disc disease, ann i guess a more glorified name for it spondylosis whichis didfffent from as, isnt it. I do have the foot pain. bith my knees are arthritic and deteroiating, i have had surgery on both of them. I know everyone deterertiates but at this acccleratied of a rate it has worsened since last year more severely,. Any agoan any feed back os great.
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