Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Family History Question

I have really learned a lot about this disease complex from the various references on this site, and it started me thinking. My dad, who is now 75, had "back problems" from the age of 18, including 1 laminectomy when in his early 20s, and another in his late 30s. For the last several years the docs have been treating him for "spinal stenosis", with various meds and injections. Also, my maternal grandmother had JRA, I am convinced, because family members talk about her having "arthritis" from about age 12. Certainly by the time I came along (1954) she was already pretty crippled, especially in her hands, feet and neck. So now, AS Kickers, I am wondering about how this all plays into my history, of PA, AS, Crohn's etc. Would appreciate hearing from some of you with a greater knowledge base. Yes, I have the HLA B-127 thing.

MaryD

Yes, I have the HLA B-127 thing.

And so did your ancestors.



DOCTOR: Therein the patient
Must minister to himself.
MACBETH: Throw physic to the dogs, I'll none of it.

My Grandfather's brother had it. I have it, and I have two cousins that have it. Funny it seemed to have skiped my fathers generation even though my father, his brother, and sister are B27(+). I remember staying with my grandfather for a couple of days when he was in his eightys. He would get up and walk around because he was getting stiff. He was never diagnosed with AS, but his brother was.

Steve Orchard
Running from Arthritis

Hi Mary!

It is a recognised fact that these auto immune disorders tend to 'cluster' in families. I don't believe it's common for JRA to involve the neck, so I'd be more inclined to guess your Grandmother had AS. It too can have an early age of onset, and involve peripheral joints like those in hands and feet, which supposedly occur more often in females. Sometimes these things will skip over generations and so no history is apparent. Likely these lucky folks inbetween have the genetic predisposition but somehow managed to avoid a triggering event.

Take care!

mig

I, too, am B27+. However, I am an anomaly in my family. As far as we know, nobody else on either side has been dx'd with AS. Although, I suspect that my cousin may have it, and my aunt, neither of them has been tested for it and it is unlikely to happen at this point.

Hugs,

Kat

You might find this story similar...
https://www.kickas.org/cgi-bin/w3t/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=support1&Number=110644&Search=true&Forum=support1&Words=snowshoe&Match=Username&Searchpage=0&Limit=200&Old=allposts&Main=110644


This bunny Kicks AS !

Well i dont know if i'm a the only one here or not, but i have no family history of arthritis in my family! dont know if thats rare or not , maybe some can tell me.
So in my case i'm the first on my family tree to have this cursied thing. Just thought i'd share that with ya.. And as for learning stuff, this is with out a dought the best place on the web to learn the facts about AS. take care

Martin

"Trying to fly on broken wings"

Oh we have everything in our family - AS, MS, Lupus, and much more. As far as I know, my great grandmother had AS - or so it would seem. They say "She was bent over like a question mark!" That had to have been AS. I'm trying to get other members of my family to take the B27 test. I'm positive so they might be too. They don't have pain like I do but it'd be interesting to know if they were positive.

Stacey

B27 positive here!
I believe my great grandpa had AS. He had a very hunched back and stiff neck. My grandma [his daughter] has arthritis [RA I believe] It became full blown post baby about 36 years ago then went away till about 2 yrs ago for her. My mom has it milder. My brother also has lots of back pain and gastro problems like myself.



Buggy

My dad's cousin has AS....so there is a link in his side of the family, coming from Swiss background I believe, though most of his family is Irish....I want to track this more....

Hang in there
Peace
Linc

Linc O'Brien