Barbara,

Welcome to KickAS, previous diagnosis's sound familar! Too often many of us have been banging on Dr.s doors for along time, before the underlying problem is recognised.

There are various bodies around the World trying to address this problem within the medical fraternitiy, overcoming some older outdated ideas.

Spondyloarhtropathy is the family that AS belongs to, AS has the worst prognosis and the one that is best understood.

The SpA members are Psoriasis Arthritis, Enteric (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) Arthritis, Reactive Arthritis, and Primary AS. Another undifferentiated SpA or AS which was added for some that did not meet the full criteria but obviously had something that closely resembled AS/SpA. Usually one hip is affected rather than both. The Ankylosing is when a build of bone occurs in the soft tissues and in the jonts and eventually movement is lost.

In some the SpA 's can progress to AS or something which resembles AS. Most people with SpA do not go that far, but have a nasty painful debilitaing condition. One of the main differences in the diagnosis between SpA/AS are specific changes on Xrays or imaging. But everyone recognises that it is better to prevent thses changes from occuring or progressing.

SpA/As can affect be either Axial (Spine Hip) Peripheral (Knees ankles feet and hands). Elbows seem to get mentioned a bit less, I'm not sure if shoulders are axial or peripheral. Ribs can be very painful and are to be watched.

Another buzz word is Enthescopathy or enthesitis, inflammation of the site that a tendon or ligament achors onto the bone (insertions) and a build up of bone. Sometimes called bone spurs these are common on the knees where the tendon from the bottom of the knee cap joins the bone and the bottom of the achilles joins the heel.

There are things that can occur with this condition and it's associates. None of them to be taken lightly, especially the eyes, this is one of the many great aspects of this board as the accumulated experience awesome.

I wish you to be very well and soon!

David