I'm negative for the gene and was diagnosed with Spondylitis about 15 years ago. I went to get a second opinion and my current doctor is convinced I don't have it. Instead, he has diagnosed me with gout and I am on medicine for the rest of my life. My doctor also put me on Rituxan infusions about a week ago. I do feel beter and I feel like I have more energy.

I think from my experience they are hard to diagnose because of the many and similar symptoms a person can present. I read somewhere a few years ago that it can take up to 10 years to get a clear diagnosis of Spondylitis.

In the presence of a negative gene, has anyone ruled out Polymyalgia Rheumatica, or Sarcoidosis, Celiac Disease or FMF, etc.? There are so many autoimmune disorders/diseases that have crossover symptoms.
This is interesting..a friend of mine, young, around 42, has had joint issues with painful flares since about 14 years old. They have been getting so bad that at times he is debillitated and cannot go to work. He recently called his MD on a Saturday and was seen by the covering MD, a kind, elderly physician with many years of experience. He listened to my friend's story, and said immediately, "I bet you have Familial Mediterranean Fever. Rare but often overlooked joint disease characterized by pain, swelling, (sometimes fever during a flare), occasional rash, inflammation everywhere, fatigue, etc. " Initial treatment is with Colchicine (usually prescribed for gout) although may need biologics someday. Turns out that this physician saw ONE case of this in his entire 50 years of practice, but he hit the nail on the head. My friend felt better within 24 hours of starting Colchicine and 3 months later says he feels better than he has in 30 years. Just an example of the need to find an experienced provider to help navigate the hell of autoimmune disease.

I'm really not sure if I have a gene that caused it or not. They saw it on my MRI and xrays.

I'm negative for the gene also.