Hi Deanne,

Quote:

it is interesting, though, that i don't respond so well to NSAIDS. i mean, it's not like they don't work at all...but they just barely take the edge off the pain. and at night, when i've been awakened at 2 or 3 am with intense pain, they don't work much at all....but nothing does. i think sometimes the pain is just too intense for the NSAIDS, vicodin, and muscle relaxers.



In my opinion, that qualifies as a 'positive response' to NSAIDS. When we have a lot of inflammation causing intense pain, for many if not most of us, NSAIDS will only put a dent in the pain... take it down a notch. Rarely have I heard anyone say that NSAIDS help significantly. And certainly not in the middle of the night. If you are going to take them (after pregnancy), it should always be on a full stomach after a meal and with a glass of water.

So when you answer that question again, be sure to state something along the lines of ... 'yes, they helped a slight bit but just not nearly enough to be useful which would be truthful, by your own description. All the clues will help total a diagnosis and any knowledgable Rheumy should agree that biologics are proving to be most helpful if prescribed at the earliest stages of AS progression.

I'd also vocally communicate your disagreement with their term 'mild'. How fast would they like to see fusion before they deem it otherwise?

Best of luck,
mig