Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group "My Dr. told me I'm in the final stages of A.S...

he even offered to prescribe pain killers if I needed them ( Now that did scare me!!!)
So now, he hasn't prescribed any drugs for my A.S., as none has any effect with the exception of celbrex, which he won't prescribe due to liability concerns. ( oh brother !!!)
My latest symtoms involve my ( don't laugh ) My toes, and knuckles in my hands. If it didn't hurt I might actually laugh over it.
Have any of you been told your at the end stage, and if so, what are you experiencing?

Happy Chocolate Rabbit Day!

Happy Easter.

Did your rheumatologist tell you this? What a nice message to pass along to a patient. Full of help and hope. I'm kidding, of course.

Alot of people here are on/have been on meds stronger than celebrex, and it's not a sign of weakness. Unfortunately, people with AS often need them to deal with the pain, and from what I've heard, there is no real "end stage" as it's a chronic condition, but maybe your doc just meant that your body is showing classic AS signs such as inflammation or alot of fusing? No idea what your doc meant by that.

If you need stronger meds, and your doc is saying no, I'd say it's high time to find a doc who is willing to help. By the way, there is always hope. Just because you feel crummy now, does not mean you'll stay that way! Try everything and anything to find what works for you. There were times I thought I couldn't take any more, and every time, I pulled through and found a new trick/treatment to help me out of the hard times. Posting here is always a great way to find new ideas and get support, or just throw a pity party. It all helps!
Hang in there!

I never heard of such myself and I have been doing this autoimmune thing for 50 years this year (diagnosed). A chronic illness is just that chronic. It is something you learn to live with and not "usually" something you die from. Did you ask exactly what was meant by that?

(Celebrex) With the pain of this disease, I might as well take a drink of water. I have been on pain meds for many many years and some days it still doesn't help (like today). I don't know how you make it without pain meds especially if you are in the "end stages" whatever that means.

I think I might be checking out another dr. I know I would at least make a phone call and just eactly wshat he meant by that statement.

Blessings.
Possi

Me too I don't know how you cope without pain meds. I take enough to knock out an elephant and without them I can hardly move let alone complete the half marathon I did a few weeks ago.

If you don't need pain meds, then I am very surprised indeed that your Dr has suggested that you are in the 'end stages' whatever that is....

I have been diagnosed 23 yrs now and have never heard such a thing. A chronic condition doesn't have an 'end stage' it is progressive!!!!

I would get a second opinion if I were you unless you know something that many of us are not aware of!!!

At one stage my doctor said something similar to me - what he was suggesting (it seems) is that most of the damage (particularly to soft tissue) was done.

The specialist did not back him up - the specialist's focus was much broader, picking up on the bone inflammation, which my GP did not really appreciate, rather than simply the reduction in mobility and pain resulting from fusion and soft tissue damage.

Hi,

I know what you mean about the toes and knuckles!! They're a bi*ch, aren't they? grrrr . . .

I concur with everyone else - pain meds aren't scary, they're usually Necessary for us, unless we're lucky. for example, I spent 2.5 years on HIGH doses of vicodin and tramadol (yes, together) from age 18 to 20. I've been put on who KNOWS how many different pain killers over the years. That was the only way I was able to do the things I did then (ride, waitress, hunt, camp). Now that I'm on LDN, it's the first time in . . . 7 years? that I haven't been on a narcotic for any length of time. I love the fact that I'm not putting narcs in my system, and I don't have to worry about dependency, but I also kinda miss the ability to pop an extra pill and go do something I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise (though my life has improved GREATLY on the LDN - I wouldn't EVER go back).

As for the fingers and toes - I recommend Salonpas patches, they're OTC, come in a little green and white and blue box in the arthritis section. I cut them into strips for my fingers, they're the best thing I've found for hands and feet. Also, a paraffin bath is great. Feels SOOOOO good!


Bridget

Final Stages?? Final Stages?? I wish my Dr would tell me that my AS was at last in it's final stage!! That would make the rest of my (hopefully) long life easier. I suspect that is true for everyone.

Dean

So, you're in the "final stages," or so he says, yet you've never been on any medication of any kind ever while you has AS? And now he's offering you pain meds--was this prompted by you saying your pain was especially bad right now? If that's the case, then I don't understand why he wouldn't have offered you any medical options besides celebrex before now. The goal should have been to try to keep the AS from getting worse, thus negating the need for pain meds. From the number of messages you've left, I see you've been here a while, so maybe you've been on the NSD and haven't needed meds before now?

Can't say that I've ever heard of AS described in such a way that a doctor would say you are in the "final stages" of it. Did he explain exactly what he meant by that?

As for laughing about the AS affecting your toes, don't worry, you won't get any laughter here! Lots of us have bad toe and foot problems due to AS; in fact, my badly deformed hammer toes and nearly totally fused ankles have led to some of the worst problems I have with AS these days.

Brad