The influence of gender on the severity of ankylosing spondylitis was analyzed from a large study of patients with the disease, known as the Prospective Study of Outcomes in Ankylosing Spondylitis. Clinical assessments and spine x-rays were performed on 302 men and 100 women who had ankylosing spondylitis for 20 years or more. Functional impairment was also assessed.
Study results, published in the May 2007 Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, revealed that damage evident on x-ray was worse among men with ankylosing spondylitis than women. Functional disability was not different between men and women with ankylosing spondylitis, however women were found to "self-report" worse functional disability than men at any level of disease. Women had a slightly earlier age of disease onset and more frequently reported family history of ankylosing spondylitis in first-degree family members. Treatment differences suggested women may have more peripheral arthritis (arthritis affecting arms, hands, legs, and feet).
Ankylosing spondylitis is commonly referred to as arthritis of the spine. Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic rheumatic disease which belongs to the group of conditions known as spondyloarthopathies. Early symptoms include low back pain and hip pain. Symptoms of pain and stiffness can progress up the spine to the neck, possibly including the rib cage area, bones may fuse and normal movement is lost. The disease is often misdiagnosed, resulting in a delayed diagnosis.
Related Resources:
- The Back Pain Quiz
- Guide to Lower Back Pain
- Fast Facts About Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis Screening Quiz
- Ankylosing Spondylitis: Often a Delayed or Difficult Diagnosis
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I’m a 55 year old women and I finally had my severely deformed thumb reconstructed by an excellent hand surgeon. He is going to do the other one when I gain the strength in my other thumb.
He said 2 tendons were severely damaged and causing deformity from synovitis. He removed the synovitis also. My knees swell a lot every 13 days and I’ve suffered with many manifestations from what I didn’t know, for many years.
Even when I tested positive for the HLAB27 genetic tag and negative rheumatoid factor, the next two doctors I had didn’t think I had AS.
I have gone to many doctors and I’ve had symptoms since 1972. One of the rheumatologist, named Dr. John Mijer in Ogden, Utah, told me I needed pychological therapy and I left his office and sobbed!
I finally found a good rheumatologist in another city but the doctors in my home town usually don’t even believe his report. I could have prevented a lot of damage that I got from being on production at IRS if I had known what I had and what to do.
Doctors dismiss this disease in women and I think the guidelines and education need to change.
I feel your pain. I am 38 years old. My symptoms started when I was 13 years old. Was at the Dr’s all the time. Eye infections, tendonitis, back spasms, hip strains, foot pain, all passed off as “growing pains”. Got through my 20’s somehow, and almost through my 30’s. Just tested positive for HLA-B27, and diagnosed with moderate to severe degenerative disc disease. I can barely walk, due to excruciating pain in my heel cords, and low back. Doc says to see a shrink, it’s all in my head. I still think I have AS, or something very similar. My mom and grandma went through the same thing. My grandma finally died, at age 87, after being wheelchair bound for 30 years. My mom is 58, and headed down the same road. I wish someone would listen, before it gets any worse. I’m so glad you posted your story. Thanks.
To Laura: Please go so a Rheumatalogist as soon as possible because it sounds to me like AS. You have any questions please feel free to e-mail me at Gncampos1201@yahoo.com I will try to answer any questions (if I can) you might have.
I too have AS I started feeling the symtoms at the age of 19 (1986). I went to dr after dr only to be told that is was simple lover back pain all they way down to it’s all in my head & there’s nothing wrong with me. I lived off of over the counter NSAIDs for 17 yrs. I was finally diagnosed back in 2002 at age 36. By the time I was diagnosed I had a lot of irreparable damage. Difficutly walking a simple 1 square city block (I lived in NYC at the time). After I was finally tested positive with HLA-B27 positive & several e-ray exams later I was sent to a rheumatologist where I was immediately put on methotrexate (27 mg. a week!) Even this wasn’t enough for me so then I was put on Remicade (IV a total of 6 vials every 6 wks.), as well as the continued use of the methotrexate. I finally was put into remission. I was in remission from 2004 until 2009. In 2009 I lost my insurance & had to give up my Remicade. Now I’m just on the methotrexate. I have to tell you it’s not enough, but at least is something I guess. The past 1 1/2 yrs. have been the worst for me walking outside has become almost non existance for me. It’s soo difficult to get around anymore this horrible desease has now affected my knees (bended knees), heels, elbows, frozen left shoulder, my eyes, my lungs (difficulty breathing), and my neck is now completely fixed, (I can’t turn my head from side to side or lift my head up anymore). I’m 44 yrs old but feel like 86! I’m soo depress & I see no end in sight. My story is soo much deeper but I could sit here for an hour and not get everything out. So I given you a condensed version of my experience since I contracted to awful desease. Thank you for taking the time to read it. A God Bless!
Ladies, I feel your pain. Literally.
I am 40 years old and have had an AS diagnosis for just over 10 years. For most of that time I have had minor bouts or flares in my pelvic/lower back area that have been successfully treated with NSAIDs or short runs of steroids. For the past 6 months, these drugs have not been effective, the inflammation has been running out of control, and my spine is fusing. This is all under the care of a team of Rheumatologists, who want me to try using one of the biologics, or TNF blockers, but my insurance won’t cover those and I can’t afford it. I am now off all drugs (since they weren’t working anyway) and have been doing an ellimination diet for several weeks, after learning that food allergies can exacerbate inflammation in the body. According to my body, starches freak it out totally. Since I have removed all starches from my diet, the unbearable pain has stopped and each day even the milder aches and pains seem to recede a little more. When I introduce something new into the diet, there is either a response of massive pain within a few hours, or hardly a blip. For me, so far, it has been starches, and/or anyproduct thereof (corn syrup, corn-fed beef, rice vinegar, etc.) If you are at the end of your rope, as I have been, I encourage you to try such a diet and see if removing food allergy items from your diet helps to get that inflammation under control. Meanwhile, I have a list of anti-inflammatory foods that I have been eating the most of. All of these things you can study for yourself on the interwebs. I am not saying that I have found some miracle cure, just that my health seems to be steadily improving since I have removed my food allergy items from my diet. I am in so much less pain, in such a short time, it has really given me hope. I know several other women with autoimmune disorders (not AS) and they have had positive results fighting inflammation this way, too.
Best to you,
Jeanna
My dad has AS. I am 31 and am waiting for my test results. I have had problems since I was 17 but I feel okay. I have been told carpal tunnel in both my wrists. Tendonitis in my shoulderrs. Plantars facitis in my feet. Knee pain (which they perscribed diclofinac for and I had a bad reaction to) and some mornings my feet hurt so bad when I get out of bed I clutch the railing and wall on my way down the stairs I’m so scared ill fall! But nothing really has made things better. I have been having back spasms since my daughter was born 1 1/2 years ago and my dad was just diagnosed. I got some xrays done at the chiropractor. My neck is all screwed up and I have arthristis in my mid and lower back and my sacral joint ‘doesnt look quite right’. My doctor did a blood draw to test for the gene and elevated levels of inflammation. Now the waiting game. My symptoms don’t sound as bad as yours and I have good motion throughout my body most of the time. ii hope I test negative but its good to know there are other people like me out there who understand
Hello ladies,
I am a 33 years mother, I was diagnosed with sacroiliitis first but previously had uveitis, I got pregnant without knowing and the pain was horrible i was tedted negative HLA B 27. One reumatologist said I have AS and other one said no I am confused but I don’t want any damage to happen before it is late can you advice me?