Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group getting my head around diagnosis and drug treatmen

Hi Dave,
Yes I have proven sacroililitis but haven't had a full spine MRI which I am having next Tuesday. I spoke with the Rhuemy re: criteria for Gov approval of Enbrel etc. I haven't had an MRi for 14 months so I said 'what the hell lets do it' as horrible as it is. I decided to by pass the Meth as I feel I can manage the tendonitis and other joint pains with meds but it is my spine/back/neck/sacroiliac joints and spasms which keep me awake all night compared to the shoulder/wrist/ankle/foot arthrits & tendonitis etc. I will have the full Spine SRI MRI next Tuesday and then discuss further management but it seems crazy that you have to already have damage/fusion in order to qualify for the anti TNF drugs. Maybe we need an Aussie Lobby Goup??? Why wait for damage rather than trusting good Rhuemys to prescribe potential disease modifyimg drugs which slow down the damage. Excuse my typing I am exhausted after several appointments today. Off to Kangaroo Island for a few nights then back in time next Tuesday for a one hour MRI, yeah:)
I was unlucky that I couldn't tolerate cortisone. How are you managing?
Kaz:)

kaz....

let me be clear.

what i am giving you is a debate technique...instead of blindly saying you will agree to your rheumy''s terms;
you have the option of using an argument he cannot refute (where you agree with what you're saying or not
is irrelevant)...it is a position; you're saying somoen/something in your fundamental moral,religious,ethical
mainframe would not allow you to comply with what he demands...the point is NO 'family planning' program
is perfect and 'mistakes' happen... you're saying IF....IF you got pregnant yoou'd carry the creature from the
black lagoon to term and love whatever your god gave to you. your doctor could not live with your objection
to his terms and he'd be prohibited from giving you mtx.

before we got up to our butts in alligators, you're original quest was 'how do i avoid being forced into taking
this awful stuff?' well it is awful stuff...as that reagan woman once said you can always 'just say no';
since wanted a reason to be able to say no...there it is
best

Yes Ben thanks I understand your point. I will use it if I need to. Cheers.
Kaz