Andy,
Better late than to drink White Zinfandel!
About 90% of people diagnosed with AS will have a positive HLA-B27. I am in the other 10%, i.e., I have been diagnosed with AS and my HLA-B27 was negative. (I also have a fused neck and sleep apnea.)
I am glad that you will be seeing a Rheumie; that is the specialty that treats AS. It is a challenge about the NSAIDS; I would echo John's invitation to the NSD forum. You also may want to check the alternatives and pharmacy forum regarding palliative treatment.
I am taking Flexeril or cyclobenzaprine to reduce the pain of muscular spasms after recommendations from people in this forum. It has helped. There also is a newer drug called Neurontin or gabapentin that may, if not contraindicated, help with pain.
Lastly, I had a somewhat unusual reaction to a common drug treatment for AS. The drug was sulfasalazine. I believe that it caused me to have pericarditis, e.g., fluid around the heart. You mentioned other physicians; I did not see mention of a cardiologist. If it were my heart, I think I would want a cardiologist's opinion about treatments that I was considering, whether they were allopathic, alternative or complementary.
Repeating what others already have said, again, welcome to KickAS.
Best regards,
Note: The information provided above constitutes an exchange among peers in mutual support. The reader should seek appropriate, medical advice from a health practitioner.
