Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group New Back Pain Test

The SAA has a new online AS test at BackPainTest.org.... Which I flunked. Blahahahahaaa!!! What a joke. And now doctors are going to be using this test as preliminary to diagnosis? Whatever.

i think i figured something out. if you check yes to numbness or tingling which could be either a disc problem or siatica, must be assuming its a disc problem vs siatica from the SI joint / piriformis involvement. i think it could differentiate between these two things, as the one would be disc involvement, the other could be SI involvement as well, big difference. just changing that one answer from yes to no changed the results for me from negative to positive. so i guess they don't mean siatica when they ask the question. on the other hand, if you say yes to that question and yes to iritis (which i don't have) then it comes up positive.

i liked that poster about inflammatory back pain from england that someone posted recently. to me it was very straightforward.

interesting.

Filled it out and got negative result. Went back and changed one field and the result said positive. The field? Changed it from female to male.

LOL

I filled it in, and then put that NSAIDS didn't help the pain in 48hours - because NSAIDS didn't touch the pain - it was so severe. That is what the Enbrel does.

So, yes, I then got a NO.

Clicked on Back, changed to No NSAIDS and then got a Yes

I wonder how many thousands of dollars they spent on this stupid yes/no program - it isn't going to help anyone.

James

I answered no to the nsaid and it gave me a negative. I changed it to yes and it said I was positive

I found this test to be very misleading. Especially after reading the results from our members. Like most of you I only got a positive by not being truthful on the test. I had to change the question on NSAIDs from a No to a Yes, and also change the iritis answer to yes even though I have never had any involvement of my eyes. By honestly answering each question I received a Negative result on this screening test.

I find it disturbing that the SAA is basically endorsing this as a screening test. Even though there is a long disclaimer it seems that they are giving this test their blessing..

There has been quite a bit of discussion about this on another group, and one of the key things that has come out of that is the incredible bias towards males on it, i.e. you can answer the questions the same way and get different answers if you put male, or female down. If this is truly a screening test for symptoms, then being male or female shouldn't actually come into it. Also, as commented, if NSAIDS don't do anything because your pain has gone well beyond that level, then that also is going to throw a negative. Perhaps a slight change in wording on that might help - like "have you ever had relief from NSAIDS". It isn't a good screening test though, and a real pity to have it on such a website.

Hmm, I simply answered the questions honestly, including the fact that I am a chick and got a positive result.

I admitted that exercising increases my pain and stiffness, rather than improving it. Iritis however, is highly specific for AS so that was bound to capture me.

It really drives me batty that they *know* approx. 1/3 of all ASers are female and yet continue to include this in their algorithms. While I comprehend how being male does increase the odds of AS, and that ticking off female does not tally a negative # into the calculation, just as saying no to iritis doesn't (whereas nsaids not helping does add a negative), I still find it objectionable! I worry that it perpetuates a myth and continues to prejudice some doctors from taking the complaints of women as seriously.

Well, at least they are trying?

They provided this link to an article about the development and validity relating to this test, here:

At onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Development and Validation of a Case
Ascertainment Tool for AS

You have received a NEGATIVE result on the back pain test.

What does this mean?

This indicates that your symptoms do not appear to be related to a type of arthritis that affects the spine called ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Consult your physician to determine the cause of your back pain.

Seems I am not qualified to be a member of this site!!!

(Did I detect sighs of relief??