Ankylosing Spondylitis and lung disease?

I am 56 years old and my symptoms began in my 20s after I had serious intestinal infection when traveling in west Africa. Initially I had very painful L knee and uveitis and was on oral prednisone for 6 months. Symptoms gradually went away for the most part for a few years. Then I started having back pain and stiffness that I would wake up with and improve with exercise. This has been the case off and on for many years. Now I have daily L SI joint pain and enthesiitis on the L hip bone. I have seen doctors and rheumatologist several times over the years and X-ray always negative. MRI several years ago was negative. HLA B27 always positive. I am an extremely active and healthy person in general and eat an anti inflammatory diet with no sugar, alcohol or grains. I take fish oil and tumeric daily. I walk and run regularly. I think these have kept my symptoms manageable for the most part with flares that come and go. In the last year the SI pain and stiffness has been more persistent. And now I have been diagnosed with emphysema co firmed in X-ray and CT and spirometer tests. I do not smoke. I am going to see rheumatologist again after several years and will have MRI for the SI joints. I seem to manage my SI pain with diet and exercise and the supplements I mentioned and then take aspirin or ibuprofen when it flares up and is more painful. But what I am curious about is whether the emphysema is related to all of this?bit seems strange to me and I suspect there is some relationship since the emphysema can’t be explained by the usual causes. 

Predisolone is no recommended for long term can suppress the adrenals , it is no safe drug , regarding the lung issue talk to lung spesialist, but if you have autoimmune disorder the whore cells attack anywhere without notice this is what is going on in this disorder , in my case AS was diagnosed plus uveitis severe in my 24 years now I am older , the Enbrel is one who work well done use remicade a TNF blocker I use also sulphazaline plus Celebrex  it work the combination but no predisolone a corticosteroid for long term That medication no should stop abrupt slow , ask your lung spesialist and your reumatologist ask then to do ESR CRP if that is high then you have inflammation within , the diet may help little exercise help also but the immune will attack again when like without notice , that is how this disorder is , I stop Enbrel for 3 months I become very sick and painful I inject again and the problem solved like a miracle works fast some TNF blockers no work well with some I try the HUMIRA no work with me but the Enbrel 50 does work but always keep an eye with your doctor, no what the so and so do , or using we all are different and unique with different enzymes blood type etc follow the advice of your doctor the HLA B27 is a gene is it is associated with inflammation it is blood disorder keep close investigation with your reumatologist or immune spesialist regards 

Excuse some wrong spellings on my words as the iPhone change the spelling and I see after 

Thanks Ted! I appreciate hearing about your experience! 

No problem i do have the same issue and i know how hard this  disorder is , knowledge is no helpful what is hempful to ask thw reunatologist to give you something to control the AS the immune will attack without warning it will attack thw joints the back of your rib cage hard to breath it will artack your lower spine you feel the pain it is terrible , i try all essiac tea vitamins B12 injections who do help the red cells , but as Enbrel work no others work , however you should

No have any infection if they start you in TNF blockers the rest on AS NO work , but ask your reumatologist you need control no some understading as everyone is different , in blood type etc , if you control it that is cure , beetroot have intiflamatory effect watermellon pineapple , try the best you can also walk exercise swimming is well

Plus remedial massage may help you i do all that regards 

Dwayne - yes I have heard that AS can cause restrictions in the lungs if the rib cage is affected. So far that is not a problem for me!

Thank you!

You must understand what you have is blood disorder genetic inherited , the tests may be okay serve a purpose to diagnose inflammation who cause all trouble the reumatologist can give you a biological drug like ENBREL 50 or remicade infusion last one month , that will stop the TNF protein in your blood who make the immune to attack the bones joints spine etc, before you enter to biological medications ask the doctor to test you for TB LFT ESR CRP , If that is clear with your doctor use a biological medication that will help you fast , in my case I use ENBREL 50 I inject it myself subcoutanious , I also use B12 injection to elavate the blood count , the HLAB27 is a gene present it in mostly young cacausian males and attack spine eyes the inflammation is the cause of that as immune mistaken attack the body ,very complex situation hard to treat but is possible, to many tests no needed ESR CRP is show how much inflammation exist within the blood , some use HUMIRA PER TWO WEEKS a mono clone antibody TNF blocker in my case was no work as ENBREL does I try many things none work except the biological, MRI etc show only the damage , you need to control the immune ,there is no cure from this disorder, in my case start 24 years old I am now 61 I manage okay , predisolone is no recommend for long time. The TNF blockers can be used with your reumatologist under his her supervision, certain foods need to be avoided is well to drop inflammation, it is genetic inherited disorder no good disorder and many have it , ask your doctor to assist you , get well with positive mind , Indocid and all those no work well as the biological family ask your doctor take care 

Thanks! How are you doing with your COPD - are you able to stay active? 

Thanks for asking. For the most part I can do most things. Humira helped with AS but Dr had me quit for melanoma diagnosis. So getting sore and limited movement. See him 7/10 for consult.

If lung infection exist TNF blockers no tk be used until infection go , TNF blockers suppress and modify the immune please stay close to your reumatologist , merhotraxate no work on spine AS some celebrex may work but the TNF blockers do the job , side edfects exist on all medications just stay close to your own doctor and eat things who are good avoid sweet sugar things etc alkaline things can help the inflammation , eat according to your blood type 

Thanks Terry - sorry to hear about the Kung nodules. Are they just watching them? Do you have respiratory symptoms?

They’ve been monitoring the nodules per routine scans.  They are growing very slowly.  I have some shortness of breath and no changes in my sleep apnea.  I have asthma too but it hasn’t seemed to change any.  Hope that you continue to follow up with your doctors.