ankylosing spondylitis

Hello, I am a 35 yr old female and just been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, I have had non stop problems,pain and inflamation (inflammation) for 1yr and  months now I been from one Doc to another trying to figure out my case and now I have a diagnose. In the beginning I was diagnosed with adrenal insuff. so I was put on Cortef (steroid), every since I been on the steroid I have been in severe pain everyday and swelling in my throat and neck, my lower back and pain down my right leg affecting my ankle joint, now I have been put on Enbrel injections and just strated Friday, I have had a sore throat every since. Now my questions, is the throat issues normal with this disease? Does Enbrel cause a sore throat problem? And what will be my out come with this med and isnt it contradicting taking Steroid and Enbrel? Is there any harm in using both? I am just so confused also I have not been test for the B27 factor but it does say something enviromental could set this off, I have had these problems every since I moved into this new home and later realized I was being exposed to insulation in my basement that was never covered and no furnace filter for the first 2 months, what is the chance of this being the cause? HELP PLEASE

[antg71]

hey msfergy!
i was diagnosed with AS back in 2001 . the past year, my throat and tongue have ached / hurt almost daily.
doc doesn't seem to know why.
i'm guessing discs in the cervical spine pressing inward? just more inflammation?  ugh!
i actually found your post while google-ing the same problem!

[DrRakeshMD]

Hi Dear

Enbrel (Etanercept) is an immunomodulator effective in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. Since it modifies the immuni system, there are a lot of side effects associated with it including chest pain, stomach pain, trouble breathing, mental/mood changes, severe headache, signs of infections (e.g., persistent sore throat, fever), etc. Since you are suffering from chronic sore throat, there is a  possibility that it is due to etanercept. Hence, please get in touch with your treating physician earliest. A dose reduction or addition of a different therapeutic agent is warranted.

Best..