Fourteen years ago I discovered I was hlab27 positive after a couple of episodes of anterior iritis. I then slowly developed lower back pain and fatigue which was manageable with healthy eating, exercise and NSAID's.
Ten years later, which was five years ago I was then referred to a rhematologist who said my mri showed mild degeneration but no sign of sacrolitis or anything AS related and packed me off with no suggestions. Since then I had hobbled about having good and bad days but able to function relatively normally etc.
The past two months however have been awful. I can no longer sleep on my side as my shoulders ache, burn with pins and needles. I cannot turn my neck to the left and my lower back on both sides of my buttocks are so painful, along with my hips. My legs are aching and I struggle to walk up the stairs as my knees hurt and I have spasms in my calves.
My shoulders, hips, knees are constantly cracking too and my neck crunches.
My doctor recently requested another eferral to a rhematologist but it apparently has been rejected because I don't have swelling and my mri was clear five years ago.
Today I have been in tears unable to cope, googing private rhematologist's in my area.
Has anyone else been on a similar journey, when the NHS closes the door on your symptoms.
I've decided to pay privately for an MRI but I assume I need guidance from a rhematologist who can advise the process, though I don't want to pay for the same blood tests which I have already had a week ago by my GP.