Hi Wendy,
Yes, I do have AS with fusion and kyphosis etc (the whole nine yards), but I always found it odd that my arthritis didn't start there in the classic AS effected areas first. I also find it odd that some doctors I see say I have RA, I think only based on my reumatoid factor.

I can remember some of my childhood doctors saying, "you will probably grow up to have Rheumatoid Arthritis, or you might grow out of having JRA." I wonder why they said rheumatoid, and not simply 'any type of arthritis'.

Quote:
"Interesting stuff, James. I hadn't heard of palindromic rheumatism before but if you have a high rheumatoid factor doesn't that make it more likely that you have RA as well as AS?"


I haven't heard term until now either. I might have, but I'm sure it's a new term.

Two doctors I have briefly seen within the past few years, although I wasn't under their direct care, said that I do have Rheumatoid Arthritis. One of those doctors, said that I don't have AS at all, but have RA. My rheumatologist doesn't address this. He just wants to focus on the AS and Osteoporosis mainly.

Here is some more interesting reading regarding JRA/JIA. It mentions uveitis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, rheumatoid factor, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juvenile_idiopathic_arthritis

It all baffles my mind... but it is interesting... I do have AS, no question about that, but I still question what's in store for being RF positive.

Take care,
James

HLA-B27+, JRA diagnosis in 1981, re-diagnosed as AS in 1988. Also iritis, colitis, and psoriasis. NSD + low carb helps me. My health makes it hard for me to post in a timely way.