Could These Red Bumps Be Related to my Ankylosing Spondylitis?

By CommunityMemberea4be4

1 min read

I recently broke out with red bumps on my hands and arms. It started last summer. At first I thought maybe it was something in my garden, but by the time the dermatologist got me in, it was mostly gone.

She gave me a topical. I would get red hands but no major bumps until a few weeks ago. It was so bad at the time. I had my rheumatology appointment, and she called right away to get me in to my dermatologist.

Could it be related to my ankylosing spondylitis?

He took two biopsies, and as of now they think it's related to my autoimmune condition. It went away mostly on its own, then two weeks later came back the worst ever with a few spots on my legs.

It's very uncomfortable...it does not itch a lot, just uncomfortable. I don't know what to do. I can't get any answers. Does anyone know what could be going on?

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James Hollens Moderator & Contributor
Hi <inline-mention username="CommunityMemberea4be4" user-id="8097825"/> , This is so interesting that you have posted this because I have gone through the exact same thing! I recently had a biopsy done on mine and they told me that they were pretty sure that it was related to my AxSpa. I actually had my results back but I was so brain fogged after waiting 4 hours in the waiting room that I didn't take in what they said and was relying on reading up about it in the doctors letter they were meant to send - but they never did! So I am going to have to try and chase up some more information this week. I'm sorry to hear that you are going through this as well. Wishing you well, James (Community Member)
CommunityMemberea4be4 Member
I’m having problems with my eyes dryness blurriness itchiness doctor says my eyes are fine they’re just dry to put eyedrops it’s not helping when your eyes are dry. They’re blurry granite. I’m getting to the age where I’m gonna have to have a cataract surgery but that’s the dry eyes are just Very very annoying and somewhat painful along with the headaches above my eyes. 
1. Nicky Flikas Moderator
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMemberea4be4" user-id="8097825"/> I am sorry to hear you are struggling with this. I can understand how this can be frustrating with this disease. How are you feeling today? Hugs, Nicky (Team Member)
CommunityMemberea4be4 Member
Hello Julie yes it’s been some time and now it is not heat related. It is not anything like that related. I am outside pretty much on a daily basis was getting to the point that it was really bad and after having a few test run the rheumatologist and the dermatologist thought maybe it might be a relaxer reaction to one of my Biologics so she changed me back to the original biologic that I was on which is now embryo wasn’t working as well so she had put me on a different biologic which I was OK for a short period of time and then I start getting those bumps that, they even took a biopsy so those are gone now other problems have came with my severe cervical deterioration and narrowing is causing severe, severe headaches and sometimes migraine medicine and any other medicines. Don’t help it and they can’t figure out what’s causing the headaches I have tightness in my throat it’s just my muscles are just getting so tight from this disease and I just can’t find any help without taking a lot of medication. 
1. CommunityMemberea4be4 Member
 Hello Rebecca since being diagnosed in 2007 which took over 15 years by the way, I was a Remicade patient for years and years and years I had to drive an hour 20 minutes away to get the Remicade infusions. It turned out after several years I couldn’t drive in big cities I needed someone to take me and then my dad started having dementia and I needed to take care of him and still work 60 hours a week, so my rheumatologist put me on embryo that was in 2014. My rheumatologist retired. I had to find a new one. She wasn’t very helpful with my Biologics. It took me months to find another one. She put me on every biologic imaginable and formats my body was a mass. I then looked for another rheumatologist, which took another several months the one that I currently have seems very helpful. She put me back on Enbryl because of the red bumps but now she’s not sure what biologic I need to be on because I’m having other health problems my thyroid, my heart, so she’s being very cautious of what to put me on till I can see some other specialists , I’ve had everything you’ve had except the one therapy. They did talk to me about that yesterday the ablation I’ve had trigger point injections. It lasted two days I’ve had epidural’s when I got a series of three. They ended up helping my pain down my arms, but the tightness in my neck and shoulders is ridiculous. I can’t seem to get that loose. They seem to think all the cervical issues are causing my headaches and they want me to take migraine medicine. I’m just praying that I can find someone that gets to the root of the problem and helps me with all this pain and anxiety. It’s really taking a toll on my mental health. 
2. Rebecca C Moderator & Contributor
 Hello <inline-mention username="CommunityMemberea4be4" user-id="8097825"/> - thanks for responding to my comment and for being active in this wonderful community. I truly understand your frustration with the headaches/migraines, neck, therapies, the plethora of specialists, failed medications, etc. I've tried and failed Humira, Embrel, Simponia Aria, and Remicade in the past. It has truly been a long and drawn-out road to diagnosis and treatment. I am currently on Xeljanz - a pill - (a JAK inhibitor) and have had the most relief so far from the pain of spondyloarthritis. Though my spine is still aching and I have issues with my neck, joints, and migraines, I am feeling somewhat better from the severe enthesitis I had. I am using migraine medication and it's helping somewhat. My spine is damaged too much to really get to the root of the problem, but I am able to treat the pain. I've also been focusing on managing my mental health recently and it's helping. I hope you get a chance to focus on this and ease the mental torment that comes with this disease. Thinking of you and wishing you better days ahead. Rebecca (community moderator)
CommunityMemberea4be4 Member
Hello, the dermatologist took two biopsies. No one sure what it is causing it. They come and go. I don’t think it has anything to do with the sun. It seems like they kind of appeared when they changed all my medicines. This is the third time that I’ve gotten them two times this year and one time last year very very mild. This time they were pretty severe, I think it might be a reaction to my Humira but again they have no idea they come and go on their own 
1. SnowWhiteChick Member
 Have you gotten your biopsy results in? I get a red bumpy rash that comes and goes on my stomach and my chest. Mine is very itchy. My biopsy came back as allergic dermatitis but I haven't a clue what's causing it.
Julie Vallortigara Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention username="CommunityMemberea4be4" user-id="8097825"/> Hello, How is your skin today? Do you still have these red bumps? I wondered if this is related to the change of season and the sunny days we are having? I have friends who have sun reaction with red bumps on their skin every year when we get into the sunny season. It could be an allergic reaction of some sort. Allergic reaction are produced by our immune system, and having auto-immune disease might be linked to some allergies... Maybe you had some answers since you last posted here, please let us know how you are doing. Take care, Julie.