most of those things you mentioned, minus the sausage digits, I have now... and or are getting worse. what is ELISA or Fc ?

how can I get this pic on my avatar? so confused~!!!!!

Hi Janet - MRIs need to be Saggital STIR tau1 & tau2 fat supression. Contrast is 'useful' but not necessary 'to' have.

Suggest checking through the Highlights in Spondylitis Research - last forum in first section of KA - there you will find a raft of information including the excellent EULAR Handbook that mig put up and followed by the Updates to the Handbook. This is ASAS/EULAR : research and educational papers put together by a group of internationally acclaimed rheumatologists.

As for HLA-B27 negative or positive - no longer considered as part of an AS diagnosis. Useful to use for confirmation but is not a marker. Same for elevated bloods - unecessary to have elevated markers. My markers are normal and I am B27 negative. I have confirmed AS. You will find this information in the ASAS/EULAR papers. Together with the information on MRIs etc. In fact, worth printing off and keeping for reference.

There is much informatoin in the forum - worth checking with all of it. Will give you a good overview - being informed means being empowered. 'Smile'.

Yes. An orthopod might be a first call. A considered opinion would be useful but, you do need to see a rheumatologist, preferably one who has a sub-speciality in AS/inflammatory arthritic diseases.

Welcome to the clan -

Molly C (France)
Keeping on Keeping on (as one does!)

Only the people that are smart and pretty have AS ( unconfirmed fact )
based on the picture I would say you have a bad case of AS.

thanks for all of the info Molly. I'm definitely going to have to check out those papers. lots of info.

Hi Janet,..

I've popped your pic into place as your avatar.

To answer, since there are so many forms of inflammatory arthritis (and so many overlapping symptoms), I just think it is apt to be received better by a GP if you go in with an open mind, list your symptoms and ask for a referral for an assessment by a rheumatologist. Most GP's do not have the knowledge required to make a diagnosis but might hesitate to deny a specific request for a referral to someone who does.

Depending on your relationship, if your GP has not felt inclined to refer you in the past, then I might go in armed with additional knowledge. I do not see that they have properly attempted to rule out a possible SpA diagnosis... not having raised markers once or twice, is not nearly enough to rule out the possibility. You deserve to have this investigated.

Good luck!!

Thanks Mig. for the info and for the pic add. I couldn't figure it out for the life of me. : )

I'll be heading to the doc in a couple hours. I'll post what he says and sends for or refers, when I get back later on.

I hate the feeling of aching joints and muscles... but this kidney pain I'm having... or lower one sided pain... is driving me batty!! along with tears.

Enzyme
Linked
Immunosorbent
Assay

Flow
cytometry

These are the more accurate methods of determining whether or not a person might possess the tissue type HLA B27; whereas the cheapest and most common method (serological) is very inaccurate.

Something that might add to suspicion of inflammatory arthritis rather than osteoarthritis or fibro is the fact that it started so young. Check out the criteria for Inflammatory Back Pain (I'm sure you can google it and get a short list). If you meet all or most of those, then make sure you tell your GP.

Sorry your in such a bad way, you probably already know, but try drinking cranberry juice for the kidney. I hope you get some relief.
Interesting about the accident, I have been reading as much as possible, and there seems to be a link between trauma and AS.
For what its worth : My mom had migraines, and so did I. waking up with a headache that would make me puke. she was told by a doctor that by age 42 the migraines will cease. it did for her, and sure enough it did for me as well. So you do have something to look forward to.