I had posted this on another thread... something to think about. AS is an autoimmune disease that does not show on the current rheumatological antibody tests. I have AI symptoms but do not show titers for AI tests. My elevations are sed. rate, CRP and immunoglobulins. It is not so common, especially in females but it does occur. Usually the spine is not fused together in the female variant. I also agree in with Mrs.D and Sarah Mae in that Vit. D should be tested. It is fairly common to have a low blood level. Mine is often low but my neuro or rheumy gives me supplements.
I know you can send a link to a post in another thread, but I cannot figure out how to do it... so here is a copy of the post. Hope to be of help,
Mere
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mere
Pain in the lower back with buttock pain and pain going into the thigh and side of the leg can be inflammation of the sacroiliac joints. I have been diagnosed with (female) ankylosing spondylitis. It is an autoimmune disease usually affecting males but can also occur 1:4 in females. I have bone pain in my SI joints - not in the joint space but in the bone. It is imflammatory and also causes pain in my tendons (tenosynovitis), arthritis in my hands, neck, ribs and other joints. I also have peripheral and autonomic neuropathy and fibromyalgia. I don't know if the neurological problem is connected to the rheumatic problem. I tend to think they are related somehow...
AS in women is very hard to diagnose. It does not usually show in an x-ray and does not show in blood (seronegative) except for perhaps a sed rate... an MRI with contrast does show destroyed bone though. I do have a very good rheumy whom I have been seeing for about 8 years. It did take time to get a diagnosis.
Hope you feel better and that perhaps this may help.
Mere
P.S. I forgot to mention... if it is the SI joint involved, a rheumy will know based on palpation. There is very specific pain in a very precise location in the joint that makes you jump off the table that can be distinguished from spinal and hip pain. I thought only my left side was affected but with palpation, both sides are now known to be painful and damaged.
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