I was diagnosed with HLA B27 several years ago. In this few years I often had unexplained joint and muscle pain. Recently I have done an xray on my cervical spine and hip. My doctor told me they are "mildly degraded", but it is at the very beginning stage and there is nothing can be done.

I wonder does anyone with HLAB27 suffer the same problem? and how you cope with it? Anyway to prevent the degrading? I also has the following problem and I wonder if they can be related to HLAB27:

- Sensitive to light, have to wear sunglass in day light
- "Green shadow" after looking at something bright
- Eye has a burning feel after looking at bright computer screen for too long
- Vision disturbance especially when under low light
- Ear ringing (I think this is related to stress/anxiety)
- Low grade fever when my joint hurts
- "Burning" skin
- Slightly enlarged lymph node (neck) when my joint hurts

Hi elty I know what you are going through. Ask your doctor to do a test for Ankylosing Spondylitis. My doctor was treating me for back and joint pain for a few years then I started growing heal spures on both heals .His son was an orthpeagic specialist & over a three year period I had six opps to remove spures heals knee cap sholder & both wrists and still did not get diognosed.
Four years later my doctor consolted a ruhmitoligest & she said get a blood test & xrays of the lower back[Sacroiliac Joints] And the resolts [HLA B27 in blood and Ankylosing Spondylits] So do some reserch and talk to your doctor, I hope this helps. sorry about the spelling I hope you under stand the reply.

Actually I have done some xray on my SI joint and cervical spine, he said there is no sign of AS yet.

Hi
I am new to the message board. I was diagnosed with AS two years ago. Life for me changed. I forced my doctor to check for B27 gene but was refused at the time, it took alot of fighting to make it happen and results came back positive. My father had AS and my brother has AS and now its my turn. If I don't exercise and keep myself busy the pain is alot worse and I enjoy sleeping with ice. I am very affected by the foods I eat and yet my brother can eat anything. It took 5 MRI's for the doctor to really diagnose me.

I was diagnosed with HLA B27 several years ago. In this few years I often had unexplained joint and muscle pain. Recently I have done an xray on my cervical spine and hip. My doctor told me they are "mildly degraded", but it is at the very beginning stage and there is nothing can be done.

I wonder does anyone with HLAB27 suffer the same problem? and how you cope with it? Anyway to prevent the degrading? I also has the following problem and I wonder if they can be related to HLAB27:

- Sensitive to light, have to wear sunglass in day light
- "Green shadow" after looking at something bright
- Eye has a burning feel after looking at bright computer screen for too long
- Vision disturbance especially when under low light
- Ear ringing (I think this is related to stress/anxiety)
- Low grade fever when my joint hurts
- "Burning" skin
- Slightly enlarged lymph node (neck) when my joint hurts

I have been HLAB27 since 1990. The description that you gave is all related to HLAB27. As it progresses you will have many other problems that will affect you. The best thing you can do is to remain as active as you can. It took me 14 years to finally accept that this disease can beat you done if you are not active. I was a manager at Burger King, so I was very active. At the time I was not taking anything for my condition. When I had a major flare up it hit me right down. Now that I take meds. it is controlling my condition. Do you take any meds.? What kind of exercise do you do? Hope you feel better.

Hi 6rmine, I have ankylosing spondylitis and have suffered many of the same things. I am also B27 positive. This arthritis can cause skin problems, eye problems, lungs, bowels and heart(rare). I am taking celebrex and might be changing to Remecade in November. I hope this will help. Its the uncertainty that is worse than knowing.
Norene (Canada) eh!

Hi there,
After yrs of symptoms resembling M.S and numerous DR's I was finally seen by a rheumatologist.I was diagnoised with fibromyalgia and athritis of my spine,knees,several disk herniations etc....
Also I tested positive for the antibody HLAB 27.This is a genetic marker which increases your chances for developing certain arthritic diseases.Not everyone who tests positive will acquire a disease.
Has your DR suggested an MRI?Sometimes impairments are more visible on Mri films than with x-rays.
I have been told possible anklosing spondylitis.My sacroiliac joints are at the beginning stages.AS affects men and women differently.

God bless,Mae

Hi elty:

I'm also a HLA-B27 club member with an important message for you-get to an ophthalmologist to see about your eyes! My introduction to the club came when I came down with severe uveitis (aka iritis) and couldn't even look out the window because of the light. It was because my iris wouldn't close properly to shut out the light. The treatment was prednisone, first administered by drops, then when that didn't do the job, direct injection (not as bad as it sounds, but wouldn't want to do again...)

Most important, don't wait, to avoid damage to your retina that could be occurring now.

Just yesterday, a doctor made the connection that my sacral pain that's been going on for like 20 years is likely due to the HLA-B27 but...hey enough about me, go see that ophthalmologist!

I was found to be HLA-B27 positive in 1993 and was showing many of the symptoms of AS and was sent to a Rheumatologist who dx'd me with AS. She told me, with my wife present, That within 4 yrs I would be in a wheelchair. Thank goodness she is retired and not scaring any more patients. For a 2 year period I was treated with numerous different meds including the sulfa drugs, methotrexate and too many others to list. I then went into a spontaneous remission for the next 7 yrs and only suffered periodic (couple times a yr) flares with the SI joints and low back the worst.
In 2004 I developed some new knee problems and some large bone spurs in my shoulder which left me unable to lift my left arm. Had knee surgery in 01/04 and the shoulder in 4/04. Around this time my toenails were looking pretty weird and I thought it was just nail fungus which I sarted treating with otc meds.
In Nov '04, I developed some small basal cell cancers on my chest (the Florida sun will do that) and for the first time I visited a Dermatologist. I was also starting to have some my old joint pains back but figured if it got worse I would find a new Rheum. The Derm gave me a very complete exam and on seeing my feet said that I had some pretty bad nail Psoriasis. He began asking about my joint issues and quite definitively dx'x Psoriatic Arthritis. Started me on Enbrel, 50mg 2x/wk which I am still on. And the Enbrel has made me almost normal again with the exception of some flares.
It seems that one of the things shared by all the spondylarthropathies is the potential for some very serious eye problems. Please take the advice of those above, do not delay, get to an eye specialist.
I know this is long but, in some way I hope it helps. Best of everything to all.