Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Grade 2 sacroiliitis?

Last SI xray was initially reported by NHS as showing "minimal sclerosis", then re-reported by NHS as being "normal", followed by a much more detailed specialist musculoskeletal radiologist report of the same film that then showed "partial ankylosis and reduced joint space" on one side, with "some concern about the presence of sacroiliitis" even though there were no surface erosions.

Latest report (two years later) from NHS shows "mild degenerative change with some sclerosis on the iliac side of both joints but no evidence of erosions".

Question: is sclerosis on the iliac side of both joints enough to confirm Grade 2 changes now, especially given that SI pain responds incredibly well to steroids and NSAIDs?

I am trying to get a copy of the actual film so I can send it to the rheumatologist or the private musculoskeletal radiology specialist that did the second opinion report of the first, so I can get more than a one-sentence report and a bit more detail.

Sorry I can't answer your question.
I would just like to wish you luck in getting hold of the films.
I too have experienced this change in reports on the same films.

I can't answer your questions either. But I do wish they would just treat the inflammation and stop worrying about all the technicalities. I know what it was like for the first 12 years when I kept running up against doctors who were bogged down with those kinds of technicalities. And then finally doctors that knew I had an inflammatory disease based on systems, finally started treating me, and this year, I finally feel like I've gotten my life back somewhat, because of the pred for flares. Just keep at it, as you've been doing. Wish it didn't take so long for so many, but eventually it works out.

Yes, I wish they'd just treat too, even though I am fast running out of options. Should have been started on methotrexate at the same time as reducing steroids, but I'm three weeks into reduction now, and no sign of any connection with the rheumatologist to order the MTX,and given that Christmas is coming up fast I don't hold out any hope for getting anything before the end of January. I just feel like I am continually being put on the back burner, and everyone is doing the absolute minimum as slow as they can and I am forever playing a waiting game. When I hear folk in the US complaining about having to wait two or three days for a response from their rheumie, it just drives home to me how bad it is here when I wait months to be seen, and weeks to get any kind of response through GP, which is never as good anyway because its second hand questions and answers.

I think it really has got to complaint stage now, but I just know I'm not the only one, and I'm probably nowhere near the worst either.