Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Psoriatic Arthritis!

Has anyone ever heard of Psoriatic Arthritis?
I had a flare in one of my thumbs on March 27th at least that is what I am believing it is. I had not eaten potatoes in months and I had some in some New England clam chowder. As of today my thumb is still swoolen and somewhat painful from time to time. I was checking some stuff and found this other Arthritis and am wondering if this is the beginning of that and may be associated with AS . Any info would be appreciated.

DB

Hey Doreen;

All I know about Psoriatic Arthritis is that I met a guy while being infused with Remicade (we had lots of time to talk) who had started out with AS but his condition became Psoriatic Arth. later in life. This was from his early 20s to his 40s.

Other than that . . .

How are you doing other than your thumb? Hand are awful, aren't they?

Hope you feel better!



-Bridget

There are a few contributors to this forum who have PsA who initially thought they had AS. Psoriatic arthritis is sometimes misdiagnosed as AS because the symptoms can be very similar. But if you respond to a low starch diet then I would guess you are AS.

Hey Bridget.
As of right now I still have beautiful straight fingers. And my hands don't hurt. I am doing great I am beginning to feel a little something in my left knee right above the knee cap. I am 73 years old so I do expect some breakdown of the joints etc. Thank goodness I am still straight except my head has that forward and down look.
How old is your friend?
Thanks again for your reply.

Doreen

Hi Bilko,
I do have AS I have the HLA-B27 gene I was not diagnosed until I was in my early 50's
I have learned to excercise early in life so I think that has help me. I have never done a NSD. I had just stayed off of potatoes and bread for months. And I think by eating that soup with the potatoes probably set off my imune system. At any rate at age 73 I will watch my carbs but not do the NSD Just like when I was tested for alergies and was alergic to just about everything. The doctor told me if I didn't eat the things I was alergic to I just wouldn't eat. So he said I just needed to take my chances.
Thank you for your reply,
Doreen

Bilko:

Quote:

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But if you respond to a low starch diet then I would guess you are AS.

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Does this mean if one does not respond to the NSD then they do NOT have AS, in your opinion?

Cheers,
Rita

James, 12, Adrian, 10, Elisabeth, 3, my babies!

As I have just posted in the diet forum, no scientific case has ever been made to suggest the NSD would help patients with types of spondylitis other than AS. Ebringer's group have reasons for arguing its use for treating AS which cannot be used for the other spondys. Doreen says she has eliminated bread and potatoes from her diet so I would guess her diet has become significantly lower in starch even if not NSD.

But to answer your question - no, if someone does not respond to the diet it does not mean they do not have AS. The problem is that the klebsiella suspected of triggering the condition can thrive on other food sources if there are digestive problems or other food intolerances. Also it can form sub-epithelial colonies and feed on our own meat if the gut has been badly damaged by NSAIDs. Then a simple NSD will not be enough.

Hey,

John is 44 now, I think his PA diagnosis was at age 40. His AS dx was at 21.
,
Bridge

Hi Doreen,
PA and AS can run hand in hand. I have AS and I have a touch of PA. When I was getting Remicade infusions I could actually use my psoriasis as a uage as to when it was time for another infusion. My patches would start coming back.

Keep Kickin'AS
Chris

Hi Doreen,

Yes - my rheumy is fairly sure I have PsA (Psoriatic Arthritis), maybe AS as well
My problems used to be restricted mainly to my back, with some stomach, neck, one knee, one foot, TMJ and Iritis involvement(I'm B27-). However, in recent years my hands and feet have become increasingly affected, with pain and stiffness, as well as swelling and some permanent disfigurement in my fingers and toes, more like RA (typical of PsA apparently). I also suffer from small areas of skin irritation and pitted, crumbling nails - lovely!! (NOT!)

Sue