My 31 yr old stepson has had trouble with his feet hurting him for the past three yrs. His knees swell up to the point that the dr has to drain fluid from them. However, he doesn't have pain in his knees, only his feet. He has been to three drs and none can diagnose him. The last dr he saw stated that she thought he had AS because he had an episode of iritis, but six month later she states that she isn't sure. He works at a factory standing on cement floors, but has been off work on sick leave for over six months. Since he hasn't been working, his feet have stopped hurting, but his knees continue to swell up for no reason whatsoever. This doesn't sound like AS to me...has anyone else with AS had these symptoms? Does anyone know what he could be dealing with here? His latest dr has put him on Embrel, but I hate for him to take it if he doesn't need to take it.

Hi mjdaisyjayne:wave: I don't know about the AS but my brother use to get gout in his feet which is a form of arthritis. His feet would hurt so bad he couldn't hardly get out of the bed to stand on them or walk on them. The doctor would give him Prednisone , I don't know if that's what wrong but it's a suggestion.

A S is chronic imflamation it can affect anywhere and halmark signs are swelling of the joints. While typicaly shown in the spine it can affect any joints at any time. While RA comes and goes with flare ups as is more incidious/ chronic .
Many isnurance compaines refuse to pay for the more aggresive forms of therapy and leaves treatment to the ole fashion dnrs ( methrotrexcate) sp and plaqnill. The lucky few get axcess to the more agressive forms of therapy with embreal humrai or remicade.
If he is albe to go in and be seen during the really bad flare ups the standard is prednazone for the swelling and pain relief.
Bascaily he has to go in be seen and fuss that it hurts then usualy get some more active forms of relief.
There are basic things such has ice packs, heating pads, massage therapy,water therapy, some physical therapy and other things that can help with symptoms.
He has to be agressive and go in often though during the really painful times.
Good luck and there is help out there if he is persitant. If not happy with rhumatologist have him keep looking till someone addresses the more constant problems/issues....Also it is not uncommon during the bad flare ups for rashes to persit and rough skin patches that can be irriated with the constant swelling.....

Hi mj
I have AS and it started with my knees having to have them drained all the time and cortisone shots put in which worked wonders. I now have the pain in my ankles and feet cramp up from time to time. I also get pain down from my hips to my feet and when that hits I just want to die it is so bad. I always say I'd rather give birth to a thousand children than have that pain for five minutes. I also have it in my spine which is nearly all fused now and my shoulders elbows and hips and my neck. I am in the severe level though. When I first got it in my knees I could take medication and be normal again. I was on celebrex till they took it off the shelf. I now am on humira injections and 5mg of prednisone and all is going well no knee drains now for over a year.
All I can recommend for your stepson is that he go and have a blood test to check his ESR and CRP levels as well to see if he is carrying the arthritis gene which is HLA b27 all of these will tell the Dr what to look for. I would also recommend a urine sample test and a kidney function test because sometimes the kidneys can cause swelling if there is something wrong with them.
I hope this has helped. If you have any questions please feel free to ask them but really until you know what it is for sure too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Take care and good luck
regards
Olivia :)

Hi everyone I am neebie to this informative site. I will like to begin by saying that I ve underdone surgery for dec fusion L5 S1 disc which didnt help in relieveing my daily back pain.The doctor operative report that my clinical history and findings conistent with lumbar segmental instability at L5 S1 and a lumbar disc displacement and lumbar radiculopathy at L5 S1. Studies reveraled severe stenosis at L5 S1 disc can anyone please explain the dignosis mention stenosis. Help is grately appericated concerning this mater thank you ever so much.

[hi
do u know what causes your AS?
i have for long time knees pain and than spreaded to all the joints like yours
i think is AS cose i have ribs pain too. neck stiff and now all the spine
could be due to bacteria in the bowel cose when i have bowel problems my hips start to hurt. i did coloscopy and tests blood came negative.
how they know u have AS? do u have HBLA27 positive?
do u have swollen joints and ESR or CPR elevated. how can dx AS? is difficult.

pls reply i will be so grateful
kind regards

QUOTE=Lady Olivia;2807637]Hi mj
I have AS and it started with my knees having to have them drained all the time and cortisone shots put in which worked wonders. I now have the pain in my ankles and feet cramp up from time to time. I also get pain down from my hips to my feet and when that hits I just want to die it is so bad. I always say I'd rather give birth to a thousand children than have that pain for five minutes. I also have it in my spine which is nearly all fused now and my shoulders elbows and hips and my neck. I am in the severe level though. When I first got it in my knees I could take medication and be normal again. I was on celebrex till they took it off the shelf. I now am on humira injections and 5mg of prednisone and all is going well no knee drains now for over a year.
All I can recommend for your stepson is that he go and have a blood test to check his ESR and CRP levels as well to see if he is carrying the arthritis gene which is HLA b27 all of these will tell the Dr what to look for. I would also recommend a urine sample test and a kidney function test because sometimes the kidneys can cause swelling if there is something wrong with them.
I hope this has helped. If you have any questions please feel free to ask them but really until you know what it is for sure too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Take care and good luck
regards
Olivia :)[/QUOTE]