Hi Magic,
I guess that you weren't entirely surprised, since one of your doctors had told you AS at some point in your past, but I know it must still come as a shock to you, since you believed they had ruled it out again. What a rollercoaster!
I guess this does sort of make you a newbie, although you are not new to KA!
My guess is that the fusion to your SI joints was probably not quite as fast as you suspect - maybe it just wasn't obvious enough before, to whichever doctor was viewing your previous xrays?
Yep, having one side more affected than the other is normal in the beginning. Symmetry seems to try playing catch-up in later decades.
Some of my knuckles get larger and painful at times, for no apparent reason. Not a stupid observation at all.
Glad you will be seeing your rheumatologist this month. This should give you some time to read up on some of the possible treatment options.
