Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group can you remember..........

Hi all,

I've been thinking since Brett's post mentioning mystery pains early on..........
My son is having a lot of pain in a couple of areas and of course, there seems to be a logical explanation of why it "could" be hurting. That phrase mystery pain reminded me that early on my pain didn't act the same as now.
In my very early 20's I just had sporadic burning of one shoulder. A stop me cold kind of fire that lasted about 30 seconds and then was gone.
Later some IBS problems, very occasional. The back problems and arthritic symptoms didn't show up til my SI joint was fused, the inflammation was getting bad and I had lost a good deal of flexibilty..

So I keep asking him, does it hurt more when you rest and he says no, but I'm remembering my AS symptoms weren't recognizable in the beginning.

Does anyone remember what the warning signs were? He's 24 and I'd like his blood tested but the gene test doesn't really tell you anything anyway. I don't have it. I'd like him not to have to wait for a diagnosis, but even more I'd like him not to have this at all.

Thanks.....................

peace,
linda

Linda,

Early warning signs are:

Onset of pain before the age of 35 years.
Association with early morning stiffness of the spine.
Improvement with movement.
Subtle/slow (aka "insidious") onset.
Duration of symptoms longer than three months before seeking medical attention.


My pain began in my SI and was unmistakable - there was something VERY wrong. A search on http://www.nih.gov should tell you a bit more about the diagnostic criteria.

Hope this helps

********
Kristin

Hi Linda,

My AS started out as constant knee pain when I was about 12 or 13, I had no other signs until the severe SI pain that started when I was 23 and it hasn't let up since (that's 6 years now).

I only just found this out. Apparently (according to my PT) the most common sign of AS in children is constant knee pain in the front when bending. Has he or did he have knee pain?

Hope this helps you.

Kiril


Don't forget to do your stretches!

This is very interesting. I have had a lot of trouble with my right knee. It was not the first sign, but one of the first. Very good addition, Kiril!!!



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Kristin

Thanks for your input,Miss K!

I didn't have any of those symtoms til I was in my 40's......
We are all different, aren't we?

linda

Hi Kiril,
Interesting.....actually, he says he has knee pain on the sides of his knees and his calves are tight. He's thinking it's more muscular than skeletal, but he's complaining so much of different kinds of pain lately that my worrying motherly little ears perk up?

Thanks for your response...

peace,

linda

Yeap I guess that would have been my first sign. My Dad started taking me to the doctor when I was 13 for my knees. Our family doc treated me for a year or two for tendonitis and who knows what else. I finally stopped going since I thought all the meds were messing up my stomach. It wasn't the meds but a good old fashioned case of IBS or whatever that stuff is.

Tammy

Hey there Linda!

Early on for me it was the burning shoulder blade pain.....a couple of years before the dx. Then whammo......the classic si joint pain which was like nothing I had ever experienced before. Not anything like a pulled muscle in the back. As it has progressed I have noticed the mobility and having to move around to feel less stiff.

I pray that it is not the case with your son........but if he does have AS he will be fortunate to have a loving mother who knows firsthand about this disease. How long has he been experiencing symptoms?


Toodles!
Angie

I know this won't sound reassuring, but my early symptoms were not the typical AS symptoms. I had a more generalized mid-back pain that was constant, day and night. Slowly over the years it creept donw to my sacrum and pelvis, and is now going into my hips, sit bones and knees. The fatigue was a very slow progression.

I'll be praying for Brett

Daniel


Keep on keepin on Kicking some AS

Hey Linda,

I was in my early twenties when I really first knew something was wrong. I had severe pain in my legs and hips. I don't even remember it starting, but seemed as all at once I could hardly walk for the pain.

David