In 1995, I developed sciatica. It behaved like mechanical back pain, in the sense that it was worse with activity and better in the morning.
Starting in 2005, I began developing enthesitis/tendinitis at one location after another, always bilateral. I've had the tendinitis-like stuff in about 30 different places by now; some have healed, but most remain mildly problematic. They are irritated by activity and don't feel worse in the morning. I have at times had pain in my SI, but lately only when it is misaligned. It misaligns easily, but if I realign the SI it quits hurting.
In the last year, I've had an MRI of the SI with contrast, and MRIs of the neck and lumbar spine, a bone scan, and X rays of the ankles and feet. None showed any sign of inflammatory arthritis, but there were some signs of osteoarthritis in the neck.
I'm HLA-B27 positive. At last check, my ANA was elevated, but it has been normal in the past. CRP and sed rates have always been normal.
It's been 14 years since I first had back issues and 4 years since I first began having peripheral issues. The rheumy at Mayo said that if I don't have any radiological evidence by this point, then I almost certainly don't have an inflammatory process like AS going on.
I repsect what the rheumy said and the education and clinical experience behind it, but she didn't entirely convince me. I'm not saying she is wrong. She may very well be right. In fact, I hope she is. I'm just saying there are still niggling doubts and concerns in my mind.
How long did other people take to show radiological evidence?
Karen
