Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group What does this mean?

Hi evereyone , some of you know me some of you dont , i'm not on hear as much as i used to be ! Not saure why i just dont sit down in front of the pc at home any more. I think my depressions has something to do with it . I/we dont go anywhere or do anything anymore , to much effort for me to get ready and then its not easy for my family to have to wait for me everytime they turn around i'm slowing things down ! anyway ,
But i do have a question for you . I had a CT scan a couple of weeks ago. in the report i got back there was no sign of cancer (thank the Lord) But it did show, as the Doctor puts it in the report , " severe ankylosing spondylitis ! well duh !!!! anyway it also said a large amout of bridging syndesmophytes across the entire thoricic and lumbar spine !! Can anyone put this into english for me ? thanks take care everyone and remeber

"Keep on Kicking"
Martin

Hi Martin... good to see you!

I think the 'bridging syndesmophytes' are like little bridges of bone that build outwards off the end of one vertebrae and bridge the gap to the next. When this construction is complete then the two vertebrae become fused together as one solid piece of bone and restrict flexibility.

Trying to maintain good posture is critically important since this process also pushes us unnaturally forward.

I hope your inflammation can be controlled with some form of treatment to help slow this down and that you've found some adequate pain control.

My best to you.

Well will wonders never cease! They figured it out, Martin. You have AS!!

Sorry, I don't know why I find that so funny. I mean, it's not as if they haven't known this for how many years now! Sometimes, the capacity for overstating the obvious blows me away.

I am sorry that you are still feeling so low. Honey, for what it's worth, I doubt that your family is all that frustrated with having to wait for you. I'd be willing to bet that they're just so glad to have you out an about it doesn't matter at all how long it takes for you to catch up. Please don't give up, OK?

Many warm hugs,

Martin,

Good to here from you!

i reckon Computing is one of the worst things for us, i can only imagine how much you;ve been through lately and the fusion, hopefully the pain will decrease for you!

David

Hey Martin,

Mig already gave you a deft medical description of what it means. To me it means that when you reach around to your back to touch the vertebra of your spine you can feel them bulging and have some anxiety.

It means AS has won one more battle but don't worry there's still lots of battles for you to win.

I think it was Pete who recently posted that AS means going a little slower and learning that's OK because you get to see and appreciate things others are to flustered and hurried to notice. Don't shut yourself in. Get out even if you slow your loved ones down. In time they learn to wait. I'm bent and I'm slow lots of days but folks learn to wait.

I'm glad you popped by. Maybe you need some new med's, maybe they are not helping you avoid and are adding to your depression. Hang in there Martin.

I'm a fan.

Hello I understand what you must be going through, sometimes I just don't feel like going anywhere and I have been on and off anti depressants over that past several years you many not need them forever but consider that for awhile , some of them are not too expensive the newer ones like cymbalta are very expensive cause they are new but the older ones like prozac and effexor etc. you may even talk your doc into enough samples for free to try. Severe AS is what i have been told too and after 10 years at least i say no you know what I am trying to be polite but it is hard when you feel bad so I say let the cussin cut loose especially when you are alone it helps, the other term was described to me by a doc and chiro i used to go to that it simply means things are moving around in your spine . take care and hope you can find the strength to get through each day sometimes all we have is each moment. Peace and love to you and yours steve sbcook2