Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group MRI tomorrow

Hi everyone,

After years of stiffness and pain I have the MRI tomorrow afternoon. The lumbar spine and pelvis xray (I didn't have SI joint specific xrays) showed degeneration in the hips and a "flat" lumbar spine. With the blood tests, CRP and ESR were normal.

I'm currently going through a "mini" flare I think with pains in my pelvis, hips, and lower back. My neck is always stiff and painful no matter what. My rheumatologist is convinced I have AS. I've also been seeing a rheumatology physio for exercises and measurements. He says my back is stiff, hips have reduced movement, and the modified schober test was down to 3.5cm.

Does the MRI change if you are flare free or in the middle of a flare up? I'm going to ask them about the STIR T1/T2 scan but is there anything else I should ask or need to do?
I'm having a total spine and pelvis MRI from base of skull to pelvis/hips.

Thanks a lot
Lee

For me, my inflammation changes dramatically between when I'm in a flare and not in a flare.

One reason I think it took me so long to get a dx. I had to find a doctor who would believe the flare stories I was telling him. When I finally found that doctor (actually the first one in the city out of state I flew to for a dx and then finally my current rheumy here in town), they said, "why would you lie to me? why would you make those things up." Whereas the 4 rheumies prior, I think they were the kind of people that have to see it to believe it.

I think the most important thing is to find a doctor who goes by symptoms as much as by blood work and radiology findings. Both are fine, but for many of us, if they go by blood work and radiology findings alone….well, its why it has taken so many of us 10+ years for a dx…..it took my aunt 50 years for a dx. and as soon as she found a doctor knowledgeable enough to dx her, she was immediately put on remicade, and finally is getting the relief she has needed the last 50 years: from her teens to her 60s. It only took me 12 years for a dx in comparison.

Good luck!

See what the MRI shows. But if it doesn't show a whole lot; mine did show some stuff, but the radiologist reports didn't make it seem earth shattering. Though too I've read on here that a lot of times the radiology reports don't do justice to the findings.

Anyway, my doctors listened to me talk about:

flares
SI so bad at times I can't get out of bed
neck so bad at times I can't sit, period
enthesitis so bad I've torn tendons and ligaments
crazy bad plantar fasciitis at times
psoriasis (not so bad, but enough to help with the dx)
erythema nodosum (migrans)
gastritis
inflamed ileum with small crohn's like ulcers (and bowel symptoms)
aleve works somewhat
prednisone works like a charm (though I know its dangers)
mouth sores
dry eyes (i've never had iritis, but if you do, they can use that to help with a dx)

Hi
Thanks a lot for the info. I had the MRI yesterday and quizzed them about the technique making sure they were doing the STIR and T1 T2 thing, which they were. That's info I learned on this forum!
They did the total spine and pelvis so hopefully something will show itself.
I've just drove 4 hours in a car to visit family and can't move at all now. Everything has set solid! Going to be a stiff and painful 2 days and then the drive home!

Thanks
Lee