New and Recently Dx'd with PsA and AS

General
1

I am new to this site and relatively new with diagnosis. The fall of 2011 I fell developing sciatica that was unrelieved by steroids, steroid injections, massage therapy, and chiropractic therapy (the first time in my life seeing a chiropractor). Was going to an Ortho for knee pain and they had a spine specialist in their group whom they referred me to. 04-2012 I had a microdisectomy of L4-5 to hopefully stop the sciatica and back pain. 3 days later another back surgery due to spinal fluid leak. What a nightmare. Severe pain after surgery. Hospitalized for 6days. No pain relief.Had new pain in buttocks like nerves continually firing. No one seemed to understand what was going on. Fast forward one year and I think the surgery put me in a major flare. Humira not effective. MTX d/c'd last week due to elevated liver enzymes. Now...I have apt for U/S. I can not do most things now. On Enbrel and Tramadol. My primary suggested Pain Mgmt. Clinic a couple of months ago and I refused hoping I could help myself. Prednisone 20 mg. and I can cope. Now, weaning and I am in severe pain. So I am going to the Pain Mgmt. Clinic. Tested + HLA-B27 Dx'd with PsA & AS.

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What is + HLA-B27?

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Welcome! What you have written sounds so familiar to me, so know that your not alone on this site. I hope that the pain management helps you.

4
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Spodyloarthritis (SpA)
  • The name ankylosing spondylitis is derived from Greek roots angkylos = ”bent” (although the word ankylosis now means joint stiffening or fusion) and spondylos = ”spinal vertebra”.
  • It is a chronic, inflammatory rheumatic disease with a prevalence of about 0.5% in epidemiologic studies in Europe, but the prevalence can vary in other populations.
  • It is the prototype of a group of diseases that share clinical and pathogenetic features and are grouped under the term "Spondyloarthritis" or "Spondyloarthropathies" (SpA). This term includes, in addition to AS, reactive SpA, psoriatic SpA, enteropathic SpA (associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and undifferentiated SpA.
  • These diseases can occur within families because of a strong genetic predisposition highlighted by its strong association with HLA-B27, a normal gene that is also present in a small percentage of the general population.



bella said:

Welcome! What you have written sounds so familiar to me, so know that your not alone on this site. I hope that the pain management helps you.