Ankylosing spondylitis and Humira

[tigereye92]

I was dx with LC about 18 months ago. I was also in pain management for several years of chronic back pain of unknown origin and a new MD there found my ANA was very high at 1:640. I also discussed this with with my Derm who I was seeing for rashes on my hands and feet that I have also had for years. She insisted that was a "false positive" and it was just eczema. (I work in a Lab... needless to say I did NOT go back to that derm!!). So off to Rheumatology I go where I met a great guy who actually listened to the whole story and immediately tested me for a genetic marker HLA B27 and found it was positive. So.... I have a "spondyloarthrapy"... somewhere between Ankylosing spondylitis and Psoratic artheritis in my lower spine. Confirmed with an MRI from several years ago that I guess no one bothered to consider because it was obviously the herniated disc causing pain at the time. They can't say I definately have psoriasis without a good biopsy which can't be had since I was currently being treated. Funny..... both psoriasis and IBD is a criteria for Ankylosing spondylitis. Of course... that dx doesn't explain the high ANA but we will watch that as we go.

SO. I'm on biweekly Humira injections, Methotrexate and folic acid along with my Ultram and Lortab (with the blessing of the GI doctor). Its been about 6 weeks and I have no change in my tummy, skin or back pain yet.

Anyone else with IBD and Ankylosing spondylitis?

[tex]

Hi,

I believe we have a couple of members who have AS. Hopefully they will notice your post and respond.

We have a handful of members who have used one of the anti-TNF medications for treating psoriatic arthritis and/or other autoimmune-type issues. It appears that most of then have found the medications to be beneficial for treating arthritis-related issues, but so far, no one has reported that their MC symptoms benefited from the treatments. In fact, 1 or 2 have complained that the treatments cause their MC symptoms to become much worse, at least for a few days following each treatment, and they were never able to attain remission from the MC symptoms as long as they used the medications.

A few years or so ago, I was afraid that I was also developing AS, but after I cut casein out of my diet, the clinical symptoms slowly faded away, so I never mentioned it to a doctor.

Tex

[Zizzle]

I had persistent low back and hip pain for many years until I went gluten and dairy free. My rheumatologist tested me for the HLAB27 gene, even though I was feeling better, and thankfully it was negative. My ANA has been 1:640 or higher for 9 years. What does the rash on your hands look like? Mine is red and covers my knuckles, plus I have "Gotron's Papules." Thankfully the hand rash doesn't itch. Have you had the rash biopsied?