Any advice on diagnosing ankylosing spondylitis?

A close friend has been complaining to me for months now about persitant hip, neck and back pain. I know he has long term back pain from an old L5/S1 injury but this is unusual from someone who usually runs marathons! He has a very stiff back with reduced lumbar lordosis. I don't want to worry him unncessesarily. Am I wrong to be worried about AS?

Dear Miss,

My name is Flávio De Grandi Puchalski, I am a physiotherapy in Brazil. I have been studyng some cases of AS , during my specialization in rheumatology. About the case of your friend... there are some simpntoms and signs that MAY suggest a AS case. Have you notice, decreased range of motion on shoulders, hips and all spine ?! Does he feel uncorfortoble to do some of his daily activities, such as; pain due sudden movements ? Do you know if your friend has been having some eyes, cardio-pulomary problems ?
At the first, you should check his global'range of motion, try some especific tests such as Schoeber. You can also can use ,some completary exams; X-ray to check , hips sclerosis, if exist fusion between vertebras body and so on..
If I could help you more (or if you could help me...) you can write me at the following e-mail: [email protected]

My best regards,
Flávio De Grandi

Ps: I hope your friend get better as fast you can open this e-mail...

i have an AS patient now and simple x-ray on sacroiliac joint plus history and clinical symptoms made me, my rheumatologist and radiologist agree to give the diagnosis of AS. Although he did CT scan before and made many medical and physical treatments from other hospital, they overlooked AS as a cause of his persistent back pain. I hope this would help, please reply whenever there is a proper diagnosis for your friend and his status.

hi friends
stiff back and reduced lordosis can be due to AS.first and foremost sacroiliac joint involvement should be confirmed.otherwise diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis can be a differential diagnosis

Ensure that if blood testing done HLA B27 (i think it is) is checked, as not alway definitive but generally not testing and can indicate problems..

There are a lot of other spondyloarthropathies that cause similar symptoms so definitely worth seeing specialist.

Good luck