you sound a little bitter about docs. I've never met a doctor that I didn't think cared. It did take a long time before dr's believed I had a bad neck but I thought they cared. I think what you say is absurd and I'm not a doctor but if a doctor replies to this I'm sure they'd say the same. My drs are in Surrey BC where are your's? maybe you should move? I've put my doctors kids through college with all the money he's made from writting perscriptions for me a lot more than he'd make for treating measils pimples.

actually The Dr i am seeing is the Dr who said these things. thanx thogh

and because of what he said i am hoping for help to point me to or tell me a positive story. Like a reumatologist who specializes in as.

I wish I could help I know a few drs here but unless you want to emegrate to Canada it won't do you any good. Your dr just wants easy jobs it's more work trying to find the right meds that work for a patient but if I were a doctor I think it would be more satisfying to find the right meds that control AS for someone. Perhaps it has something to do with the way drs are paid in the two countries? What happens if you ask your gp to send you to a specalist? Thats the way it's done here. My regular dr has to refer a patient to a specialist. Bug the hell out of him if you have to. I don't know how your medical system works but it sounds like you could use a new regular doctor too. Good luck to you and don't give up.

Dalraida, I lived in BC for almost 40 years and had THE worst doctors. I have had Fibro and chronic pain for 23 years and in that time I wasn't sent to one specialist. I went from doctor to doctor trying to get them to help. They would only prescribe antidepressants (duh, I'm chemical intolerant as well) but I'm not depressed. No rheumy, allergy specialist, derma, etc. One didn't put down "high blood pressure" in my hubby's chart (nor tell him of the risks) and a month later, he had a massive brain bleed. Ask me if I have any respect for 99% of BC doctors...NOPE!

I moved to Saskatchewan and have the best doctor. He does Osteopathic treatments, acupuncture, acupressure, sends me to get lab work and then goes over the results with me (makes photocopies too), shows me helpful ideas to do at home, and spends at least 45 minutes to an hour with me. I found his name on here from a list of "doctors who treat chronic pain".

I'll post the links here....most say fibromyalgia but they do treat chronic pain as well.

http://www.doctorsforpain.com/physicians/north_america.html

http://www.doctordirectory.com/doctordirectory/doctors/city.aspx?spn=Fibromyalgia&st=CA&stn=California&sp=490

http://www.co-cure.org/Good-Doc.htm

http://fmscommunity.org/findingadoctor.htm

http://www.med-help.net/Fibromyalgia-Doctors.html

Here's some AS links:

http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/lib_anky.htm

http://www.glgroup.com/Study-Group/Physicians-who-Treat-Ankylosing-Spondylitis-(US)-8211.html

http://www.stanfordhospital.com/clinicsmedservices/coe/orthopaedics/spinecenter/patienteducation/ankyl

http://medicine.ucsf.edu/rheum/faculty/gensler.htm

http://www.spondylitis.org/

wow I must've just got lucky with my dr in the last ten years. I was getting no luck 30 years ago though when I gave up on drs or did they give up on me? I had no time for drs then either. That was a different story then, they were clueless about my problem now they're falling over themselves trying to get me the right meds to keep me mobile. Good luck to you I hope you don't have to disrupt your life too much to find a dr. Remember they're only human and some folks just don't like solving problems.

Thank you all very much im am saving thoses links i will need to use them .I m not sure how long I should wait for this special dr to decode if he wants me.

It wouldn't hurt to make a few phone calls and see who is able to help you if this other one doesn't go through.

First, you are finding out the EXACT SAME THING that I have found out - A.S. is widely known. You are not bitter. You are wondering why there is no specific speciality just for A.S. I've learned so much and I hope this may help a bit.

So far I know of 2 specialists that you might consider: 1) Rheumatologist; and 2) Spinal Diagnostics Specialist.

A.S. is a rheumatic disease. So a specialist in rheumatology is probably best to start with.

BUT, if your A.S. particularly affects your spine, neck, hips and related joints, then what other treatments could be available that are specific to the spine perhaps not considered or provided by a rheumatologist?

You might give a spinal diagnostics specialist (NOT to be confused with a chiropractor) the chance to give you a reason why you might benefit more from their treatments.

I plan to see both specialists, hear what they have to say and what their treatment options are for me. I especially plan to get one's opinion about the other specialty - and I will just go with what feels to be a better treatment for me based on what I find out.

Why I suggest a spinal diagnostics specialist as an option for treatment:

I was (by chance) diagnosed with A.S. by my pain management specialist (whom I was seeing for migraines.) I was telling him about some back and hip pain, along with family history of RA (though I don't have RA.) Well, it turned out his primary specialty was spinal diagnostics and treatment of spinal diseases.

Because he was very familiar with A.S., he knew to test me for HLA-B27 (since RA is present in my family.) I would have NEVER thought of a rheumatologist as the proper specialist for my back and hip pain.

Not all, but the majority of people with A.S. will test positive for HLA-B27. AND, HLA-B27 IS genetic. Being positive for this antigen can increase the risks for other associated autoimmune diseases (though A.S. is most common and this is nothing to panic over as I have for the last year while I researched this antigen.)

HLA-B27 is not a common lab test given by your doctor. I want my two girls tested (it can show up as early as age 12 I believe?) and their pediatrician does not do the test. I have mentioned my A.S. and HLA-B27 to every doctor I have seen and the only one who knew what they both were immediately, was my optometrist! (He warned me of the associated eye inflammation.)

Maybe this is more than you were looking for but nonetheless, I hope it helps. Good luck. Check out both specialites and call your own shots.

I'm sorry, that first sentence was supposed to say "A.S. is NOT widely known." My fumble.