Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips diagnosis

Hi Macy
I tend to agree with hannon -i too have been or was diagnosed with fibromyalgia many years ago and told to "distinguish the difference" between that pain and the pain of arthritis - and live with it. Anti-inflammatory Froben seemed to help + 650 mgs.x2 of tylenol SR morning and night. Last year i was diagnosed with a more serious spinal issue - spinal stenosis - and just recently when i read the cat scan - i noticed this thing called AS - i have been misdiagnosed for 10 yrs. Since coming to this sight i have also found out that my continuing eye problem is also related to the AS.
So now i am on oxycodone, due to allergy to codeine. The perc's made me sick - so a cancer doc told me about the SR oxycodone. its been working well - but knocks me out - so i am playing with the dose to get it right for me. - this week i will only take one before i go to bed - as i am still working.
I was able to join Curves after i got the facet joint block shot of cortisone and I have lost 50 pounds- which has helped considerably. Now i am hoping to get back to Curves but still be on the oxycodone and not kill myself - lol.
I am so glad i found this sight - better late than never........

Zark & Catm,
I get swollen lymph nodes too; mostly in my neck and armpit. Thought I read something about it being related to AS and the body's ability to remove toxins. It might have been in the candida section...Peace&Light, Lori

yup, the lymphatic system allows our immune system to remove toxins and infections.

here is my point of view :
In AS I think the lymphatic system, kidney, liver and gut tend to be the most compromised. The liver and gut being the biggest problem. The liver needs to excrete toxins via bile.. and I think that dark leafy greens help to carry these toxins out of the body ?

"To live by medicine is to live horribly." - Carl Linnaeus, 1707-78

Hi,

I am being treated for psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis and fibromyalgia for quite a while. I currently take Humira which is an injectible and vioxx. Lately my lower back is so painful that I can't sleep and have terrible spasms all night long. I was tested for the HLB27 gene and it was negative. Does that mean I cannot have AS or can I still have it without the positve gene?

Between 5-10% of AS ers are HLA B27 -ve, PsA, and the other SpA's have higher incidences of B27 -ve sufferers.

Ankylosis can happen in all the SpA's slightly differnet signs on Xrays! and other tests and signs.

FM is diagnosed when inflammation, infection etc is found to be missing, but there are specific sore points on the body 11/18 possible and it is chronic!......this is similar to IBS a condition but not a known cause!

David

janet,
davo did a pretty good job of answering the question i think :-). And perhaps it will surprise you - but they do occasionally make mistakes with the gene testing. Psoriasis and fibro do seem common enough with AS. But I don't know much about psoriatic arthritis .. what is it like?

regards,
z

"To live by medicine is to live horribly." - Carl Linnaeus, 1707-78

Re: Fibro & AS

It's possible to have both. I do except my fibro is less than my AS. There are certain markers for AS that fibro doesn't have, such as inflammation in blood culture and C-Reactive Protein being high. Fibro doesn't show this as far as I know. Show your doc your blood test. If you have high inflammation and high C-Reactive Protein plus other AS symptoms (scacroilitis, etc) then you're positive for AS.

It always amazes me how little doctors know about this disease.

Julipe

Macy- it`s an age old story of doctor incompitence. get yourself referred to another specialist I had to find out myself via the internet what was wrong with me and by then it was too late to correct my posture. Nobody beleived me for years. I was even prescribed beta blockers at one point, god knows why. Also I was told it was a psychological thing a few times.
Don`t take this crap-you be a pain, INSIST on being listened to.
Best wishes,
Kaz.

Hi,

It will not do you any harm to consult another doctor.

Also try not to think a lot about it, i know from my 17 years experience of AS and crohn's , the best way to control the symotoms is t to try to ignore them and to continue with your life. I have read in a book years ago that a patient was able to conquer his pain by just Laughing.
I have tried this and it worked for me. ofcourse the pain is there but some how you do not feel it.

Wishing you good health

Regards

Fadi

it took me 8 doctors and 14 years to be diagnosed with AS and I even have been tested for the gene and don't have it. The 2nd rheumy I went to basically treated me as a 'pain pill' popper (someone just looking for pain pills) But thankfully the next doc after him has been a godsend. He looked at all my scans adn even after they didnt show and fusing in my spine, they did show partial fusing in the SI joints and bone changes in my shoulders, knees, ankles and a few other places I can't remember. The last thing that made him think it was AS was my responding positively to the prednisone. I hope that you are able to be diagnosed, but it sure makes me sick to read all these posts that state it took 8+ years for all of us to be diagnosed. Hopefully some day will come where we aren't treated like we are 'crazy' and believed about our pain. THey make such a big deal that the medical community is more accepting of people's complaints about pain, but I have yet to see that.

Good luck to all

tela