Hi — I am positive for the HLA B27 gene. I am 57 years old. In 2018 and then again in June 2023 I had episodes of widespread body pain that lasted 8 weeks each time. I had a burning pain up and down my spine. I also had arthritic pain in the thumb joints in the base of my thumbs and pain on my front hip bones. I also had tendon pain in my shoulders.

I have also had 2 episodes of plantar fasciitis in the past 2 years. I currently have stubborn plantar fasciitis and am using Volteran gel… read more

Waiting for diagnosis after x-ray and MRI

I have had several x-rays and I have had a few MRI’s. All concluded that “no significant changes” they do list that there’s been bone degeneration and degenerative bone disease. My first X-Ray was done at a chiropractor’s office and it shown that a lot, I had one leg longer than the other, a pinched nerve in my right hip and so much damage to the left hip they referred me to an orthopedic doctor to assess if I needed a hip replacement. At that time the orthopedic specialist only seen me as he… read more

Recently I've been having neck pain, which feels stiff and my hands sometimes feel a little numb or like I'm getting pins and needles. My arms are fine it's just my neck and hands. Could anyone please tell me if this is related to the spondylitis in my spine? Many thanks.

Have ra, pa,ac.

“There are large bridging syndesmophytes off of the superior and inferior endplates at L1 and T12“
Everything I read, scholarly papers included indicate that bridging syndomophytes are the hallmark of AS but 2 rheumies have discounted completely. I feel like I’m crazy.

I was given an injection in both sides on Friday was told this is a step towards getting a diagnosis. I already have a positive HLA-B27 gene test and was given another test for inflammation like a lupus test but it was borderline sadly my mri shows no inflammation. But naproxen takes the edge off and since having the injections I feel like I'm spaghetti 90% of my pain has subsided. Can anyone advise ?