BOTH RA and AS at same time????

[Graceusha1]

I am experiencing symptoms of both RA and Ankylodis spondylosis at same time. Possible? Or am I overreacting? THANKS to all!!! Usha

[Hidden]

I don't know anything about AS, but it is possible to have more than one autoimmune disease at the same time. I have RA, Sjögren's syndrome and Vasculitis, so I expect it could be possible to have RA and AS at the same time. Ask your rheumy or Rheumy nurse as soon as you can. Or maybe you could ring the NRAS helpline today, or Monday. XXX

[Nessa28 in reply to Hidden]

I have both it's a rotten thing have no problem with back and hips now thanks to humeria but having a rotten time at the moment with my hands especially my thumbs and elbows and feet . Just take it that the humeria can only do so much magic . Hope your pain eases a bit soon 🤗

[Amy65 in reply to Nessa28]

Hi nessa28 how long have u had as and ra .I have uvittis as well it started 1993 then 1997 ra 2002 as it's awful conditions to have I'm on my 7th biologic .amy

[Nessa28 in reply to Amy65]

Hi Amy I got diagnosed last year but has taken 15 years to get one I had symptoms in my twenties but I put it down to having three kids under five being a single mum and holding down two jobs lol . I do go to doctors a couple of times with joint pains and he said there was not a problem . It was only following a car accident that I had some major problems but because my bloods kept coming back negative they just gave me pain relief . I have had times where I was houseboat and on crutches and still no firm diagnosis then thankfully in Dec 2016 I was in a flair that had been happening since July and was practically in a wheelchair that they got firm X-ray and I had firm diagnosis of AS I only found out that I had zero negative RA as well . Sorry I'm rattling put my glasses somewhere and can't find them so apologies for bad grammar and spelling 🤗

[Amy65 in reply to Nessa28]

Hi nessa28 I was like u go kept putting me of pain killers all the time .till 1day I couldn't get up the stairs hardly walk my oh insisted gp do more tests as most of my dad's side of family have ra .gp done test Esr.was 115 normal is 0 to 20 tested positive for ra .kept having back problems mentioned to go my dad had as gene test done hlab27 positive mind blowing 2auto immune conditions. Took uvittis first 1993 then ra1997 .2002 as it can be very hard to tell which condition is playing up .do hope u get on medication to help u takes a while to get the right 1 h7gs amy

[Nessa28 in reply to Amy65]

I'm so glad you are ok and it's settled . I have RA on my mums side but the AS is on my dads . I found the biggest problem with getting a diagnosis is I truly started to think I must be mad as the orthopaedic consultant told me the pain was in my head and it would go eventually and to stop all medication which I did and couldn't move after 6 weeks . I feel so angry sometimes that a pompous man could truly make me doubt my mental state. I also had a bloodshot eye a couple of times and when I mentioned that to the GP he told me I must have lifted something heavy . Now I look at all the symptoms and wonder . I do worry about flair ups though and that they'll take me off humeria as I can't imagine being that person again 🤗

[Amy65]

Graceusha 1 ur right u can have both I have both and it's awful .do u have eye condition to amy

[Seenie]

Possible? For sure. Over-reacting? Not likely. Long-shot question: do you have an skin or nail problems (dryness, itch, flakiness, nail fungus, lifting nails, dandruff ...)?

[Graceusha1 in reply to Seenie]

Thanks SO much for responding!!! I have grappled with scalp issues for 2 years with little resolution. Right now I'm taking leflunomide. Can't seem to resolve scalp. Have seen two dermatologists. What meds are you on?? Thanks Usha in fla.

[Seenie in reply to Graceusha1]

I have severe PsA, and my psoriasis was almost nonexistent, although it has become more prominent lately.

I tried all of the DMARDs (methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroqine and leflunomide) all without success. I’m now on Humira with a side of MTX.

I was undiagnosed for about 20 years.

[Seenie]

Usha, I’d be asking your derm if your scalp issues might possibly be psoriasis. I’d also suggest mentioning the scalp issue to your rheum so that he might consider Psoriatic Arthritis as a possibility. The treatment for PsA isn’t quite the same as for RA: it’s its own quirky disease.