Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group dr appointment today-he quit

Hello

I was in such bad pain that I could hardly get out of bed when the phone rang, or someone knocked on the door. I slept all the time. And I was stiff as a board.

Please read this News article from a Canadian News source:
News article on pain relief - it works for me

Also, here is my a link to post that explains some of my experience


How I alleviated my pain - naturally

I periodically post this info for new posters. The veterans have seen this many times. But I feel that my experience will be extremely important to a certain subset of AS sufferers. Different strokes for different folks.

the dr said if the enbrel didn't help me, which it hasn't in the two months I have been on it, then I didn't have it. why do they make humiri and remicade then? he said he agreed with my other 2nd opinion who said I have osteoarthritis, severe degenerative disc disease,and toughen up and get back to work. I can't. the pain I have been in for the past year has not gotten any better. my regular dr said they didn't need to do ct or mri test because they go by the blood test and symptoms. if he had done some other tests, maybe this degenerative disc disease could have been properly addressed, and would I still have a job. I haven't been able to work since dec. 2006. it is soo very frustrating. he was supposed to call me in a referral to a pain management guy yesterday. he has not made that call yet. I am screwed if he doesn't make that call. I think it was more that I went for another opinion that made him mad, so he dropped me. I test positive for the gene, so that was his excuse as to why he diagnosed me. grrrrrrr

That seems kind of strange to me that he would bow out so fast. Enbrel doesn't work for everyone. I was on Enbrel for 3 and 1/2 months with no results, I'm on Humira for 4 and 1/2 months now with no results...and we are looking to try remicade. In the meantime I'm seeing a pain specialist (it's not a bad idea in my opinion). But I don't think this means that you don't have AS. I'd seek another rheumatologist if I were you (I mean I guess you obviously do now...)

I know the feeling of a doctor giving up on you though...my last appointment my rheumy told me that we'll try remicade and that if that doesn't work "I don't know what to tell you...maybe it's time for another opinion." It gets me thinking that there has to be other answers besides these drugs.

The thing to remember and the thing that really sucks about AS is that there isn't one thing that works well for everyone across the board. It's a frustrating battle to find what works for you. Hopefully you can find some support here whether it turns out you have AS or not.

~Jess