Ankylosing Spondilitis

Hey.

I have just been diagnosed with this and I was wondering if anyone else here suffers from it or knows someone who does? I'm in a lot of pain at the mo but wondered if that was short term or whether it has a big effect in the long term.

Thanks in advance for any replies

Louisexxx

Reply 1

RetiredAccount89

squeezeevans

Well its a rheumatological disease mainly - it affects mostly your joints. Thats the first point to make. Its name suggests the core problem - spondylo means spine in medic speak, so this is disease affects the joints of your spine, and of your sacrum (bone at the bottom of your back). Patients usually present (usually a young man) with stiffness in the morning, loss of spinal movement and it then progresses from there.

Its not short term im afraid. It will be with you for the rest of your life. Gradually your joints in your back will get worse, and may become mishapen, which can cause some chest pain, and breathing difficulties. It can also have amyloidosis which is where protein is deposited in various region, which can lead to lung and heart involvement too.

Sorry if im painting a dark picture, its not as bad as it sounds. It doesn't affect life expectancy by much at all (1.5x greater risk of cardiovascular disease which is not that much higher) and people with it rarely need hospital treatment. Most find NSAIDS like ibuprofen reduce any inflammation and pain, and physiotherapy regimes to elp maintain posture, flexibility and mobility are given to prevent your posture deteriorating.

You should go back to your doc, and ask them to talk it through properly with you.

Reply 2

Muse

Anyone heard any progress about the TNF blocker drugs for AS / rheumatic diseases?

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