John - I checked out the first link NASS - interesting. Read the 22 comments as well. Good input. Looks like we ALL suffer exactly the same way, not only from the AS itself but also from doctors/rheumies and misdiagnosis (some of the accounts really sad) to also great reports of fab doctors/rheumies. Same the whole world over...

Second link - NASS is a comment, see all the comments.

Third link: http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/36/7/766.full.pdf Interesting stats. The fellas sure do come off the worst in this disease.

Fourth link - is an abstract, conclusion: Our data suggest (1) < 1% of patients with AS who present to a rheumatologist enter longterm remission ("burn out"). (2) Some 20% of patients in remission will develop active disease 2 years later. (3) The prognosis over 2 years for those with active disease is poor.

Last of those links - scroll down to : Use of MRI in Diagnosing AS...YES! Going to put this up on the AS forum.

Thanks for this Molly.It appears according to this study that AS doesen't burn itself out after all.Thanks for posting this Molly.

Except - Looks like there is a 'small' % of patients who do show burn out. Which comes back to the comments here on KA - some do but most do not..

For myself. My thoracic area is MUCH better, but peripheral arthritis is not any better, with increase in psoriasis. So....dunno mate ~<#:$

Symptoms "burned out", or over the years those people managed to somehow heal up their gut so immune system is not so upset? Hmm...

SJLC - Yeeees - healed gut! Immune system 'not' so upset! Hmmmmm

That would make a good investigation/research area...

Hi, John:

It is a totally false notion. AS will never 'burn out,' but just keep smouldering away, working on the eyes, the heart, the liver, feet, if not obvious joints.

The only people who say this are those who have no real interest in the subject or are otherwise incredibly ignorant (to be polite).

HEALTH,
John

Quote: "smouldering away, working on the eyes, the heart, the liver, feet, if not obvious joints."

Liver...too horrible. A member of our social group is a spondy. Has refused forever to see a rheumatologist, lives on NSAIDs. Been steadily getting more and more unwell for months now. Gradually turning more yellow...! (Don't know what his GP was doing!) Now in hospital nearby. At least it is a hospital attached to a 'fairly' decent University teaching hospital (CHU) so hope he gets good attention - but also know that their top CHU rheumatologist - who does know AS - is *V. keen on the biologics...!! He also refused to discuss his AS or even to check out any sites. One can but shake one's head.

Liver probs always worry me - including when heavy use NSAIDs are involved.

yes this may be the case with those with SEVERE AS

Molly--



...not if You have SEVERE AS!

[LOL],
HEALTH,
John

HaHa - good one. No, right on chum: "Not if you have severe AS!"

Had hoped to hear from his wife - but not a dickie bird! Oh well. Can but wish him well -