Ankylosing Spondylitis

thesinger
thesinger Member Posts: 36
edited 15. Feb 2010, 18:28 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hello All, Up to now there is only one other member using this site who like me has Ankylosing Spondylitis a form of RA. We are in contact with other but are frustated that we do not know other AS sufferers to interact with. Are there other members with AS ?. :) Brian.

Comments

  • thesinger
    thesinger Member Posts: 36
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello Alanmancunian, Thanks for your reply. It seems that it depends on who your rheumy is at the time of being given a diagnosis which label they give you. I first had an eye condition uveitis in 1985 and was told my blood type HLA B27 left me prone to arthritis. In 1991 after having a lot of back pain i was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis. This condition is just another form of RA which affects my eyes and in fact most of my body from head to foot though thankfully not all at the same time. Presently my ribs/clavicle area are affected the worst. I have had to cut down use of nsaids because they are affecting my kidneys. I have been prescribed Butrans pain relief patches because my painkillers have not helped much lately and now wait to see if the patches are going to work for me. I hope you are well. Take Care, Brian. p.s. Are you a United fan ?.
  • bailey27
    bailey27 Member Posts: 689
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi
    I have been told I have an inflammatory arthritis / spondyloaropathy. MY Rheumy told me he thinks it is probably AS but doesnt actually know for sure. I am being treated for it but he says sometimes you just dont ever know what type it is.
  • babette
    babette Member Posts: 128
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi

    Just to clear things up, Ankylosing Spondylitis is not the same as spondylosis which is what people who have OA can get in their lumbar ( lower) and cervical (neck) spine. Doc's are very confusing on this one! AS is an inflammatory type of arthritis like RA and as the singer says a clear indicator is having the HLA B27 gene, I was checked out for this myself and was negative. Doc says I have spondylosis not AS. AS is also more severeand progressive than spondylosis and you are more likely to have it if you are male and under the age of 40.

    B x
  • gickygawky
    gickygawky Member Posts: 478
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Brian! :)

    As you know I too have Ankolysing Spondylitis. :roll:

    I do not have the Rheumatoid Factor in my blood work but a variety of scans have shown up the usual AS indicators thoughout my body.

    Although many people think it only affects peoples backs, necks, pelvis etc it can actually affect almost all your joints and areas of connective tissue.

    One problem linked to AS that I have is Iritis/Uveitis where my eyes become very quickly inflammed and needs immediate hospital attention.

    Unfortunately AS can also affect peoples digestion and heart but things have been quiet for me in this area touch wood.

    I have been on Enbrel for a year and Methotrexate since September and I have started to feel human again over the past two/three weeks. I don't want to say it too loudly in case something happens but I am feeling much more positive about my treatment and my future health now. :D

    Good health to all of you who read this!

    Arna x
  • clink2002
    clink2002 Member Posts: 7
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    thesinger wrote:
    Hello All, Up to now there is only one other member using this site who like me has Ankylosing Spondylitis a form of RA. We are in contact with other but are frustated that we do not know other AS sufferers to interact with. Are there other members with AS ?. :) Brian.

    Hi, ive also got the dreaded AS. Im 35 and was diagnosed c.5years ago.

    I played football up until 18 months ago, but had to hang the boots up, not for health reasons but was just getting too old and wanted to spend more time with my children.

    But this is when my problems really got worse. i have constant pains in my legs and cant get a reason for it!

    Anyway im new to this board, so trying to find my way around it
  • naseebapnaapna
    naseebapnaapna Member Posts: 201
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    hi all,

    may i join in, pls?

    i don't have a/s, but my son was 18, couple of years ago, when the rheumy said he most probably had it. a few mix up with test whne he requested them, so have been told to treat as if, but he's stopped taking anything htis past year.

    may i ask the ones who havehad it for longer on what sort of treatments to expect, adn what to do/not do.

    at 20 he doesn't watn ot know, but a his mum, i feel i need to be prepared.

    he also has raynouds, though that's been ok this past wintere as well

    sangita

Categories