Bones,
I am one of those few people who think Kaiser is as good as any other group...my kids both have AS and one (my son, who is a profile of your comments...28 year old athlete...now father of two, who has been pretty much in denial until the pain has forced him to face this freaking monster) also has Kaiser. He is seeing a rheumatologist in Woodland Hills named Dr. Hurwitz. He has been on Vicodin and Indocin for a couple of years now, but Dr. H has actually suggested that it is time for him to consider using enbrel or remicade. I was surprised that Kaiser would consider paying for this expensive med...thought he would be the LAST guy on the block to have access to this treatment. I have watched both of my kids weave their way thru rheumatologists who know next to nothing about AS, and I actually think Dr.H has done his homework. If you are in the So Cal area, the Spondylitis Association of America is having a Walk a Thon at Balboa Park in Encino on June 9th. They have been a great help to our family and work very hard to keep the research funded, plus it should be a pretty fun day. You can get info at www.spondylitis.org or PM me. I am putting together a team (called the AS Kickers ô¿ô )for the event (walking is optional...the lake is small but the walk is more symbolic than it is necessary...it is about awareness and raising money for research.) My kids both have to get up early and get to work too...a tough way to start out the day when you hurt. I know that my daughter spends about half an hour in the tub before she does anything in the morning. Good luck.
VenturaCntySusan
