Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Height loss?

I thought I had AS (apparently misdiagnosed when I was 22) until a month ago. My former GP measured me yearly. In 1999 I was 5' 2" tall. At age 41 I am almost 4' 11" tall. I can not find any reason for such a loss in height during ones thirties. I am taking a medical care hiatus, as I have done little else for a few years and I didn't know where else to ask.

Thank you

Shel

Due to thoracic kyphosis, I have gone from just shy of 6' to 5'9"

I have no skeletal changes according to this rheumy (I was told in Dec. that my facet joints in my C-spine were fusing and in my 20's that my SI joints were fused). These reports were, I guess, incorrect. I'm standing straight because it was ingrained in me as a young adult. These were the reasons given me to remove my AS diagnosis last month. No explanation or other possible reasons for my health were offered. I just can not explain my loss of height or anything else, to myself.

Thank you Shel

my doctors in the know understand how spondyloarthropathy can influence my change in posture and positively urge me to continue doing what i've been doing to try to keep it as good as i can; the other doctors berate me for my forward posture and assume i'm not doing anything to correct it.

5'10" yesteryear now Im 5'7' . Doctors dont berate me. Standing up strait with advanced Ankylosing Spondylitis that was untreated for 15 years makes normal posture not only difficult but at times impossible.

Hi,
I am still standing straight but my hubby swears I have shrunk in height (I'm in my mid forties). We dont measure our height at home so I don't know if it has reduced or not, but I was wondering too if it was just another part of AS.
Ally

odd that i

Shel - For starters, go get another opinion. One with a rheumy specialising in AS. Not the 'norm' to loose that amount of height.

I was 5'5.25", am now 5'1". Have kyphosis with adult scoliosis. I stand as straight as poss, but not poss to stand straight! The right side of my back is misshapen - lovely...<LOL>

You can lose that much height from the disc degeneration, but not normally that much at your age. I'd definitely say get another rheumy. I can't see how they could "see" the AS evidence at 22 and not now. I think you can also lose considerable height from osteoporosis, (think that is why mum went from 5 ft 10 down to about 5 ft 5) but again not normal at your age and there is usually an underlying disease responsible.

What is the reasoning behind them saying you don't have AS when your SI is fused? That just does not make any sense. AS is not something that goes away. Once you have it, you have it forever. You need a new Rheumy!