<s>[INST] Can Arthritis Be Misdiagnosed? [/INST] Yes. One common disease that this happens with is ankylosing spondylitis. People may think they have back pain and so they see an orthopedic doctor. They may think they have a herniated disc. The average length of time from symptoms to diagnosis for ankylosing spondylitis is 10-15 years. There are no good blood tests for this condition so it takes close attention to imaging and symptoms in order to suspect and diagnose ankylosing spondylitis. The good news is that once this condition is identified, we have great treatments which can prevent further damage and resolve the back and joint pain.  Source: Illinois Bone & Joint Institute. Link: https://www.ibji.com/blog/rheumatology-autoimmune-care/common-questions-about-arthritis/. Field: Rheumatology. Disease: Arthritis </s>