I am HLA-B27 positive. Will it affect my marriage life?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 29-year-old female. I got married recently. I am HLA-B27 positive patient with vitamin D deficiency (less than 8%). These days, I am suffering from severe back and shoulder pain. Sometimes, there is hip joint pain, and I am not able to sleep at night. Rarely, the pain remains throughout the day. What can I do to overcome this pain except for painkillers? I just searched a few articles on the internet and found that my backbone will slowly start bending and will look like a slouchy person. I am worried. Will it also affect my marriage life? Do I need to stop maintaining physical relations with my husband? Please help me.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your symptoms do match spondyloarthropathy. It is a sort of arthritis, usually common in males but 10 % of the females can get affected. The severity is not so much in women, though. Secondly, painkillers (I am not sure which you are taking) are a good drug to stop the disease. We do not overuse it due to the side effects, but for a short course, we may need to give it. The other mandatory option is daily exercise. A brisk walk is to be done daily for 30 minutes followed by stretching in yoga (10 to 15 minutes). Another drug that we can try is Sulfasalazine depending on the disease severity. Thirdly, It will not affect your married life. You can continue to have physical relations based on your pain and ability to cope. I would suggest a few blood tests be done. Just get them to know the severity of inflammation.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I had gone through your prescription and MRI (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Your MRI did not cover the sacroiliac joints, which is the first thing we need To see in HLAB27 patients. So, I want you to get a repeat imaging for it. Secondly, the pain in HLA-B27 is due to inflammation. So, painkillers work in stopping the inflammation. The duration varies from patient to patient. Girls usually have a milder variant of the disease. Sometimes, we use it continuously for 2 to 3 months and then when the inflammation comes down we make it on a necessary basis. If the pain comes after reducing the painkillers, then we add it to the next medicine. We will know that over time from your response. You can participate in the dance competition. But, just make sure the pain is suppressed, or you can stretch the ligaments.

Thank you.