Anchylosing spondylitis ?

Hi,

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section, but I searched through the sections and this one sounds to be the closest fit to my issue.

I'm 24 years old and around 18 months ago, I was getting ready for work, when suddenly my head locked fast in place. I could not move it at all. Upon arriving at work was send straight to A&E where I was tested from meningitis, broken neck etc...

The doctor came to the conclusion that it was simply muscle spasms following my fall down the stairs a week earlier, where I fell hard on my back/neck but didn't hurt anthing - it just shocked me a bit.

Anyway, I left with my medication and a week later I was right as rain.

Then around a year ago I attended my GP with complaints of severe back pains, upon being asked what I thought it could be, I explained that my Father and Grandfather both had anchylosing spondylitis (AS) and were in their late 20's when the signs began to appear. I requested blood tests be taken for HLA-B27 so as to discover if I carried the gene. The tests were take and I was sent on my way with 100 30/500 co-codamol to tide me over until the results arrived.

After a week I called for an update - no results.

2nd week - no results

3rd week - no results

4th week - results in, all clear. "what do you mean all clear" I asked, as it almost sounded like I was been lied to just to get rid of me. "everything's clear" she said before ending the call.

That was a year ago.

Since then I have lost some use of my neck, my neck has began to grind, I have plenty of headaches and just feel that this must be something wrong.

With my head straight I can turn my head 90 degrees to the left, so my nose is practically in line with my shoulder, but can only turn it 50 degrees or so to the right before the whole right side of my neck tightens and restricts me from moving any further. Also, I have free movement when I look to the left can look up and down at the same time, but if I look as far as I can to the right, I cannot tilt my head up or down.

I have, in the past, forgotten about this limited movement and accidentally turned to the right a bit quickly and I am immediately struck by a severe headache that seems to cover my neck, jaw, face and brain. As mentioned above, I can hear and feel my neck grinding and crunching constantly - I feel it in the back of my throat and I know that for a healthy 24 year old man, this shouldn't be an issue.

Any help, advice, ideas or assistance is welcome.

Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings.

Tom