Hi fellow AS kickers,
I hope everyone have been successful in fighting the monstrous disease. I haven't posted for quite a few years, although I have frequently visited the site and read the posts. I really appreciate the work that everyone is doing in this community. Like many of you, I have been trying hard to get my AS under control the best way I could.
I recently got the result of my spinal MRI and would like to share and discuss the results with you. I am also posting my 2008 x-ray report for comparison.

2008: X-Ray report was as follows:
CERVICAL SPINE
Osteopenia is present and bridging syndesmophyte formation is
noted at C3-4, C4-5-7 with evidence of limited cervical spine
motion on the flexion-extension views.
Imaging findings are compatible with the clinical diagnosis of
ankylosing spondylitis.

SACROILIAC JOINTS
There is joint space narrowing and evidence of incomplete
ankylosis of both sacroiliac joints compatible with bilateral
chronic sacroiliitis.

THORACIC SPINE:
AP and lateral views.
There are degenerative changes of the spine with osteophytes/syndesmophytes seen best on AP views along the lateral aspect of most thoracic disc spaces.
There is no substantive fracture identified.

My recent MRI report (2015) reads as follows:
CERVICAL SPINE:
The anterior and posterior alignment, vertebral bodies and posterior elements are unremarkable.
The cervical spinal cord is unremarkable, no significant abnormality is seen.
There is no evidence of disc protrusion, neural foraminal narrowing or central canal stenosis at levels of C2-C3, C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7 and C7-T

THORACIC SPINE:
Normal vertebral alignment with no evidence of compression fracture of focal lesion.
Prominent Shomorl’s nodes in the mid end thoracic spine.
No evidence of ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament, spinous processes are unremarkable.
No dis protrusion or intrinsic cord lesion demonstrated.

LUMBAR SPINE:
Normal vertebral alignment with no evidence of compression.
Subtle T2 hyperintensity at the anterior superior angles of the vertebral bodies at L1-3 the so-called shinny corner sign occasionally seen with ankylosing spondylitis. Mild ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament seen with hypertrophy of the spinous processes.
Dis spaces are well-maintained with mild degeneration of the L5-S1 disc. This is less pronounced than in 2008.
L1-S1 disc however shows slight symmetrical protrusion with extension into the neural foramina. No significant neural stenosis.

I am trying to find out how important the role of NSD in containing the progression of my AS has been. I have been successful on NSD since 2008 (although not always able to follow it strictly and without occasional breaks).
My questions are as follows:
- What kind of medical imaging is more suitable and reliable to check for progression of AS? (is it X-Ray or MRI?)
- Could NSD have played a significant part in containing the progression of AS?, (since Osteopenia and Syndesmophyte was noted in my 2008 report)

Cheers
Alex