Hi Beverley,

I just wanted to point out to you that a Radiologist is not a doctor/specialist and is therefore unqualified to rule out such a diagnosis.

In reply to:

I finally gave up on trying to talk to my GP and called to talk to the radiologist that read my MRI. I asked him what I do next, he suggested Physical Therapy, not surgery. That was a bit confusing, so I questioned him more and we finally had a meeting of the minds. He wrote "diffuse degenerative spondyloarthropathy" on my report. Doing any search online that brings up ankylosing spondylitis, I even bought a new medical dictionary and that also refers to as. He said, "Holy [####]!!" "You've only got the type of arthritis people get with aging! I've got a good buddy with as and you don't have that!"

My Rheumatologist specifically said to me (about my report), that the radiologist wrote 'degenerative' changes, although they are in fact really 'inflammatory' changes. She said a radiologist's interpretation is based on imagery only, whereas a Rheumatologist's interpretation is based on the same imagery but in the context of a full clinical evaluation.

Also, his 'good buddy' is likely male, and the rate AS progresses in males can often be different from that seen in females, particularly in relation to age. Being referred to a Rheumatologist would still make alot of sense, in my opinion. Hey, and there's absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about, in looking after your own health!

Best of luck to you!

mig


mig