Guest guest Posted May 3, 2003 Report Share Posted May 3, 2003 Hi, Marti, I appreciate your kind comments. It makes editing worthwhile. OK, here we go: As to diagnoses in general, in our constellation of autoimmune disorders: It has been, and remains, my observation that--unlike diagnosing, say, Hepatitis A, B or C, Diabetes, Strep throat, and the wide majority of disorders for which there are specific " markers " , assays, and other proofs, by the identifying the presence of those markers etc. (Case Proved!!), diagnosing the autoimmune arthropathies (Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, Ankylosing Spondilitis, RA, PA, Reiter's, athritis mutilans variant psoriasis, and on and on) is all too often looking at the patient's constellation of symptomology, and then stringing together the appropriate Latin descriptors. This is perhaps a little overstated in some situations, but my point is that it's like he diagnosis of " cardiac arrest " (which just means the heart stopped, no clue why) or (one of my favorites) " somnambulistic perambulation " , which translates to " sleep-walking " . So, if the doc notes deterioration/dissolution of metatarsal and metacarpal joints, in the presence of active psoriasis and PA, we have arthritis " mutilans variant psoriasis " . Ankylosing spondilitis (AS) is arthritis of the spine. As you know, in some cases (of arthritis) bone is eroded, and in some cases there is a buildup of spurs and other accretions that may lead to fusing (solidifying, and " welding " together), and bone loss and fusing can occur at different sites in the same individual. AS occurs in " pure " form only, as well as in concert with PA and other arthropathies. (Note: Author and political pundit Norman Cousins wrote a book about his battle with AS, called " Anatomy of an Illness " . It was made into a TV movie, starring Ed Asner.) The differential prognosis in straight AS, versus as a component of PA (the latter is my situation, and, apparently, yours) is a good news, bad news situation. (Note please that nothing with PA, AS, etc., is a 100% sure thing. We are talking likelihoods, not certainties.) OK: AS, BAD news: The spine will eventually fuse, deforming the patient to some variable degree. GOOD news: With fusing, the pain stops. PA/Ankylosing Spondilitis: GOOD news: the spine generally doesn't fuse, so no frank deformity. BAD news: You've still got moving parts encountering each other, and other pain-inducing situations, so the pain will continue. So the answer is that there (often) is a difference in the course of straight AS, and AS related to PA. Does that help? Let me know if you would like to discuss further. Take care, Marti. > Hi , > Thanks for all your informative editorial notes. I have learned a lot. > You mentioned you have anklylosing spondylitis. What is this? I was > diagnosed with > Psoriatic Arthritis,spondylitis, mutilans variant psoriasis. The Mayo > Rheumie showed me fusions in my neck and bone damage in my lower spine but I > am still not clear about what part is spondylitis and what part is mutilans. > I gather the missing joints in my hands and feet are called mutilans. Is PA > spondylitis different from ankylosing spondylitis? I am sorry to say my > local Rheumie just sort of stared at me when I asked her this question. > Thanks! > Marti > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2003 Report Share Posted May 4, 2003 - > > Does that help? Let me know if you would like to discuss further. > >Hi , That helps. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge. It also helps me to understand why I have had different diagnoses over the years. I was actually better off from an insurance standpoint when I carried an RA diagnosis(The doctors couldn't belive PA could be so severe) but I understand more of the new medications will probably be technically approved for PA. From some of the posts I've read it sounds like PA is getting more attention and may be clarified for the Docs better now. Thanks again! Marti > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 15, 2004 Report Share Posted October 15, 2004 Hello everyone, The last time Owen saw his Rheumy, he sais that he had Spondylitis, even though he had no symptoms then. Now, of course, he's having shocking lower back pain. What exactly is it, and if a scan or something was done, what does it look like? Sorry to ask stupid questions, but when I've looked it up, I get the clinical and pathological answers, not the details I'm after. Thank you Leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 -Hi Leeane, I can hardly stand to tell you this since Owen is so young and has such an agressive form of pa. The spondylitis is similar to the other joints with pa. A person can get erosive damage that looks like part of the bone is missing and can get fusions,an overergrowth of the bones. My fusions look like there is one long bone piece where there is supposed to be a space. have you tried www.spondylitis.org? or www.kickas.com? I'm sorry Owen has developed new pa activity. Best wishes, Marti -- In , " taschic6 " <cookie6@e...> wrote: > > > Hello everyone, > The last time Owen saw his Rheumy, he sais that he had > Spondylitis, even though he had no symptoms then. Now, of course, > he's having shocking lower back pain. What exactly is it, and if a > scan or something was done, what does it look like? > Sorry to ask stupid questions, but when I've looked it up, I get > the clinical and pathological answers, not the details I'm after. > Thank you > Leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Hi Leanne and everyone, Sorry to spoil your day but I am back. I have just completed reading the 199 e-mail's that were delivered while I was away so now it is time to try and answer some! I actually tried to post last night but a message came up saying that my mails were " bouncing " I just hope that it has been sorted. Leanne, all I can say in answer to your question is that in my case, the back was X-rayed and it looked cloudy around the area that was damaged. I hope Owen can get some help to relieve the pain he is suffering. Take care, PS: Only eight days late in answering this one.lol You wrote: The last time Owen saw his Rheumy, he sais that he had Spondylitis, even though he had no symptoms then. Now, of course, he's having shocking lower back pain. What exactly is it, and if a scan or something was done, what does it look like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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