I appreciate everyone's replies. I wanted to get an idea of what others have experienced. The rheumy told me that she would expect to see evidence on an MRI within a year of disease onset, certainly within three years. It's significant to me that nothing shows on my MRIs after either 14 or 4 years, depending on how you count.
Still, when I look at the list of ligaments and tendons that are affected in people with Undif Spondy, I see all of my hot spots.
BUT, I get worse with exercise and have no morning stiffness or soreness.
Trudi, as I understand it, just having a sore SI doesn't qualify as sacroilitis. In the early stages an MRI and in the later stages an X ray should show some specific changes, including erosions of the bone if there is true sacroilitis. A pulled ligament could also cause SI pain, but wouldn't be indicative of AS. It's sort of like saying a sore throat and a fever don't necessarily indicate swine flu. My SI MRI doesn't show those erosive changes.
Nevertheless, I have to agree with you that what you have certainly looks like AS and I can't believe those doctors aren't diagnosing and treating you appropriately.
mc, the technique for realigning the SI depends on how your SI is misaligned so I can't give you a simple answer. A good PT can realign your SI for you and then teach you do to it for yourself.
When I'm misaligned, it's always my right side tipped forward. To realign, I lie on my stomach on the bed with my right side along the side of the bed. I take my right leg and bring it forward until my right foot is flat on the floor under my shoulder and my right knee is bent 90 degrees. I bend my left knee 90 degrees so that my left foot is up in the air. Then I push down into the floor with my right foot and push down into the bed with my left knee. I do that six times for a count of six each time. It sounds quite complex, but once I figured it out I found it rather simple.
I've used other methods besides this one, but for me this give the best results.
Karen
