I did a search and found a few threads from about 10 years ago so just wondering if there's still some people on here, new and old, with it?
I might have it, after chronic lower back pain and after another bout of spasms I got onto my doctor and described all the issues I'm having and he said it sounded like AS. So next day I was in to give some blood for about 11 different tests and I'm waiting to hear about the results and waiting for an x-ray.
I'm 54 so this seems to have come late, seems early 20s and 30s is more likely, and it's mainly just lower back for me. Reading around I need to keep up exercise, this is something I've struggled with in the last year or so as I find after exercise I tend to stiffen up despite stretching which can lead to another spasm/pulled muscles if I'm not careful which means I end up doing less and less, kind of a viscious circle.
Would be good to hear how others have dealt with this or what has helped. Particularly interested to know if anyone has changed their diet and improved the condition, I'm not on any medication at the moment, apart from over the counter pain killers, and have so far not been on any long term medication so would prefer to avoid that but also understand it might be the only thing to help. Hoping to get some physio advice on particular exercises down the line too, but if anyone has any links to something that is good for AS please put it up here. Thanks
I was warned by my GP that I may have it when they were diagnosing my back trouble 15 years ago, fortunately it turned out it wasn’t AS ‘just’ my L5 disc degenerating. Fingers crossed it’s something not quite so bad for you
I've had this since my late 30s, now 64, upper neck and shoulders suffer most. I've been on prescription pain killers for 8-10 years with all the problems that brings but have managed to be reasonably sensible in my consumption.
Physio has been attempted but due to some worrying side effects this was discontinued on their advice, still do various stretching moves daily. Cycling has actually improved matters but there's a fine line between enough and too much, usually only felt after its too late. Sitting still has been by far the worst thing to do.
If it turns out that this is what you have then you'll learn how to deal with it in a way that works for you, it's a bit of a slog but it tends to fade into the background after a while. I still see myself as fit and able although the boss is constantly advising otherwise, she's probably right, they usually are.
Good luck.
I got told I had it after loads of scans etc, but then the physio told me I didn't, and needed to strengthen my back. I used to wake up at about 1am each day with a dull pain. Stopped me sleeping. Made life unbearable for me and my wife.
So I did the exercises, religiously. I have a rule that if I do more than 10 hours of aerobic exercise a day then I skip the back exercises. So about 12 times in 11 years ( Cuillin ridge, WHW, Triple century, half Everest MTB and a couple of others) beyond that I think I have forgotten perhaps 7 times in those 11'years. Apart from that, every day for 11 years. It was a no brainer... life without sleep was awful. Took a good 7 months for the exercises to do any good mind..
I´ve had it for over 40 years. The most important thing is keep moving. I have it in the Sacroillac(spelling?) joints and if I have a phase of no exercise I get pain.
You cannot let it rule your life. Accept you have it, you will get some days better than others but keep going.
Winter is particularly bad for me with the cold temperatures.
I do exercises and only take pain medication if I really have to.
The main advice I can give you is exercise, little and often.
Also accept that there is no miracle cure so some days will be bad but others will be ok.
Yep, I was diagnosed in my early thirties (about 15 years ago). I had a stiff back in mornings and put it down to the mattress so got a new one but still had back pain that came and went. Then one day I got iritis/uveitis and the eye doc asked if I had back pains, when I said I did he did bloods and it showed up the HLA b27 and he confirmed ankylosing spondylitis. Had a few xrays that showed a bit of arthritis in my hips and neck but nothing too bad. Never really bothered me too much, I just try and keep fairly active to stop me seizing up 🤣. I have got stiffer over the last year as I have not been exercising and really need to stretch etc but I don’t and can struggle with socks. I was also diagnosed with colitis about 10 years ago and apparently it’s all linked but again I have been lucky and only have had a few flair ups. I do seem to get very tired in the afternoons but that could just be my age. So in the 15 years I have had it I have just got a bit stiffer and walk with my arse sticking out a bit 😂
I was diagnosed at 22, 14 years on and I’m doing alright, take Naproxen everyday and can tell if I skip a dose. I’ve been through spasms, dozens of Uveitis requiring treatment and some bad flare ups as they call them. I decided to get as active as I could and lost over 25kgs.
I’m now doing better than ever thanks to just keeping moving, I got a dog that needs hours of walks, cycle as much as I can and run twice a week. Recently started stretching/yoga and it helps a bit. I sometimes focus so much on keeping active/moving that I run myself into the ground with exhaustion making it worse for a week or so but soon bounce back after some rest. Having a 2 year old doesn’t allow much time for sitting around to get stiff!
I tried a few dietary changes but not convinced they helped, only one I stuck with avocados a few times a week as they are high in anti-inflammatory properties.
My partner has it, diagnosed about 12 years ago. She had been on self injecting anti-TNF for most of that. She used to be more active than she is now - having a kid has largely stopped that, so the hill walking she used to do more seems too painful. If I was being harsh on her, I doubt sitting in a ball on the sofa every night helps, but the fact she had constant low level pain means it's absolutely not my place to "advise".
Me, apparently. Got diagnosed in my mid 20's, over 20 years ago by blood test. Some of the symptoms described up there sound familiar, bouts of stiff/sore back particularly in the morning but I think I've been lucky and it's never really worsened. I've never felt the need to go back to the doctors with it since.
I genuinely do think the first and worst time I had pain with it was because I had a terrible bed, (futon! Trendy at the time, bloody awful to sleep on) if your mattress is old, a new one may help.
My wife has had it since her mid 20's (now early 50's). As it's rarely seen in women it took about 4 years to be properly diagnosed.
She has it very mild, by all accounts, and managed with exercise, but not too much, for a long time. For the last few years, what with menopause and all that, it's got bad enough now to need a 2 weekly anti inflammatory injection.
It has effected her in many ways, more than just the typical skeletal problems. Psoriasis, arthritis, balance and motion sickness (inner ear bone stuff).
Don't wish to be the bearer of bad news, but its something that needs constant monitoring, and being ready for odd effects.