I was an active child: horseback showing/volleyball/basketball/track ... and on... until I was thrown from a jeep at the age of 15 years. I started having migraines and back pain within the following two years. That was 19 years old. I'm 37 now and I've been going down hill for years. My question is this: Upon finishing this read, do you think there's a possibility of A.S. for me?

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in my early 20's. They ran tests back then for Lymes and RA and sed rates and such... but 15 years later... if this is fibro... it's incredibly progressive and aggressive now.

I have SEVERE pain ALL along the little muscles down my entire spine, along with knotting in nearly every muscle coming from those little muscles. Lower back pain has gotten so bad that it feels like a continual kidney stone getting ready to erupt (which I've had three now in the past 5 years). I'm getting to the point where I cannot sleep. Not just because of muscle pain and migraines... but because my lower back is hurting so badly that I cannot lay on my back OR my sides... I have to flip over to my tummy and put a heating pad on my back!

My (right) knee has this heart beat in it now... like it's swollen.. at night and day... and it hurts so bad to get it in use from one position to the next.

A chiro, years ago, told me I have spondylosis in my neck... said something about calcium buildups and arthritis... last he said I had some compressed discs.

I'm wondering if I have A.S. and have just never been checked for it.?.

I go to my G.P. tomorrow and I'm wondering how to prepare myself for discussion with him pertaining to A.S.

any thoughts or personal stories relevant, welcome.

-J

Hi Janet, welcome to KA!

Yes, I do think it is possible. Many women with AS are initially misdiagnosed with fibro. The early age of onset would fit. Plus, some people with AS relate that it began after some initial trauma/accident.

I would not suggest to your GP that you think you might have AS, but might say that you are concerned that your pain may be from arthritis. Describe the joint pain, low back pain, and pain while sleeping that you experience... and simply ask for a referral to be assessed by a rheumatologist.

A rheumatologist should be able to tell you!

Nice to meet you,
mig

nice to meet you too Janet. Sorry you had to find us. Yes I agree with Mig.........a rare thing I must say....!!!


lol

Thank you, for the welcome and the suggestions regarding what to address to the doctor. Is there a reason why you suggest not addressing a possible AS?

I was told years before that I didn't have sed rate increases and that I wasn't going to be sent to a Rheumi because I didn't present with any inflammation markers. ugh.

Hi Janet! My sed rate was normal and was still given the diagnosis based on history and physical exam. I would try my hardest to get to a good rheumy.

Craig

yeah... I'm hoping, this time, my doctor will refer me. He's the dang Chief of Staff at the hospital, for Pete's sake! I'm crossing my fingers for tomorrow. It all rides on what he sends me for, or who, tomorrow.

I'm praying someone finds something, in some test. Fibro sucks, but I know this is more than that. After so many years, you just know when it's not the normal stuff anymore.

J

unrelated... but how do I put a pic of me on here... it asks for a URL and I don't know how to do that... or such. lol.

J

Have you been to an orthopaedic Dr. to have M.R.I.s done? I wish I would have done this first because they look at your whole spine and neck to see for disc problem's and your S.I. joint's and for spondylitis problem's. Next stop would be the Rheumatologist. You can still have fibro but need to see if you have any of the Spondylotherapies. A lot of Rheumatologist are very slow to do any testing as far as M.R.I.s
There are no specific test for A.S. but they go by all of your past history as well.

Keep coming back here for support and information. We will help walk you through this. Good luck.

Hi, J:

Any physician should be able to order the HLA B27 antigen test, but the serological one is very inaccurate, so either Fc or ELISA would be much better. Neither ESR nor CRP are very definitive indicators of inflammation in over 40% of us.

As mig has stated, the number one most misdiagnosed for AS in women is fibro. AS is otherwise, highly cyclic, basically asymmetrical, and we get morning stiffness, IBS, heel spurs, eye issues like dry eye but also we are heavy drinkers; most of us cannot finish a meal with just one glass of water but require several refreshes. Most of us have had 'crepitus' or loud joints growing up and more severe than normal growing pains, sausage digits, and slight joint hypermobility along with even more subtle things spelling Pre-AS.

Good Luck and it does not hurt to have the B27 status, but even a 'valid' negative will not rule out AS; a positive will just rule it in much easier.

HEALTH,
John

No. I haven't been to an orthopedic doc. hmm... never thought about that. I'll know more tomorrow, hopefully... my doc will either order an MRI or send me to a doc that will. He's ordered them before, but just cervical. do they need to be contrast... cuz he hasn't ordered a contrast for me ever.