hi magic,

as mig said, i smiled at the term newbie, as i feel like i've known you for a while now.

but having a dx to go along with a disease is better than having the disease without a dx. now better drugs options will hopefully open up to you.

the others have given you answers to your questions, so i'll just say: my shoulders "crack" (especially the left side where i have all the upper back problems). lots of other body parts (neck, spine, SI joint, "sitz bones joint", etc etc) and there is no evidence of fusing for me. i know things are right. that "hypermobility" that john talks about, i have that in a number of my joints (ribs and SI the biggest problem, thumbs lately to some degree, knees too if i torque them) and no evidence of fusing. if i really am not fusing and really have undiff spondy instead of AS, then i can say, i know these symptoms are part of my undiff spondy (inflammation) but not evidence of fusing. hope that helps.


sue

Spondyloarthropathy, HLAB27 negative
Humira (still methylprednisone for flares, just not as often. Aleve if needed, rarely.)
LDN/zanaflex/flector patches over SI/ice
vits C, D. probiotics. hyaluronic acid. CoQ, Mg, Ca, K.
chiro
walk, bike
no dairy (casein sensitivity), limited eggs, limited yeast (bread)