Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Need Help

AS has specific signs, but it takes a specialist to fully identify the disease. Please get to a rheumatologist. AS is only one of several diseases that can cause the types of problems you list. Most general practitioners do not recognize the differences or the full impact of such diseases. I would not trust the diagnosis from such a person, especially if that doctor acts like it's no big deal.

I have to agree with gbash. A Primary Care Physician really does not have the expertise to diagnose and treat this disease. You can contact the American College of Rheumatology http://www.rheumatology.org/directory/st...t=Find+a+Member to find a qualified Rheumatologist.

Update....
I started my stretches today but did not go for a walk because of the rain. I also started a new diet and I bought some iodine. I just had lunch and actually feel fine, besides my back and SI joints hurting. I am taking the baby steps suggested and continuing the research. Thank you everyone for the help; it is greatly appreciated. I will let you know when I get an appointment with a rheumy.

Good for you!! I will be thinking of you in this journey. Come back often and know we are always here for support.

Possi

This advice from anotherMike is the best you could receive; it sums up your doctor in a nutshell. As everyone else has recommended, you absolutely DO need to have a rheumatologist, and a good one. AS is too serious and too specialized for any primary care doc to manage for any length of time.

Good luck, and welcome to KA.

Brad

some might think i have too many doctors but i'm doing better now than i have been in the past.

i see a gastroenterologist for my stomach and intestines (liver and gallbladder too but that is probably unrelated)

i see a rheumatologist. he prescribes the drugs i need for the arthritis

i see a podiatrist when my feet snowball out of control; not very often these days

i have a dermatologist when the rashes or psoriasis flares

i have an interventionalist that deals with my cervical bone spurs due to the arthritis

i have a chiro that helps keep the muscle spasms in my upper back (due to the cervical bone spurs pressing on nerves) down to a low roar. in the past it was a PT.

when i hurt myself (tendon or ligament tear), i go to an orthopedist and then on to PT.

that's my main medical team. they are doing a good job at keeping me functional and keeping pain levels low much of the time.

i still flare and only my current rheumatologist has been able to help me deal with those. it took a dozen years to get diagnosed and treated properly. being left to suffer without proper treatment is just inhumane.

find a good rheumatologist even if you have to travel.

prior to my current rheumy, i traveled to another city in another state to get dx'ed. he gave me his email address and we communicated that way. i prescribed a drug, called it in to MY local pharmacy. i took it and let him know how it went. when the side effects became intolerable, we discussed the next drug, he called that one in, and we repeated the process. we did that for 7-8 months until i found my current rheumy here. far away can work with the right doctor, though glad i now have one close by.

and once you find a treatment plan that works, you won't have to go to see the rheumy often anyway.

I found two rheumies not to far away that share an office. I was put on a waiting list because they do not have an opening till next year.