Too Long

By grammy

October 24, 2019

I have had this disease since I was 12 yrs old. I am now 60 and every day it gets harder to get moving.

I managed my childbearing years with the help of chiropractic care and a spinal fusion at around age 27.

I was playing softball at church when I was 42. At about age 46 things really started going downhill.

The pain is too distracting

I am a registered nurse, and at age 48 I could no longer safely care for my patients.

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The pain was just too distracting.

So, it has been twelve years now of extreme pain. I feel like giving up and just staying in bed.

My heart hurts that this has been going on for so long with very little relief.

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By kathy
October 25, 2019
So sorry, I understand
By dee72
October 26, 2019
I have had a ‘bad back’ since I’ve always remembered. It was only when I went into early menopause in my early 40s that blood tests and a MMR diagnosed AS. I’m lucky as in the UK I get free treatment on our NHS which includes physio and hydrotherapy. The mental side of AS has knocked me worse than the physical side, to be honest. Having to cut my long hair, as I couldn’t lift my arms up to brush or tie it, not being able to paint my own toe nails, or having to ask my husband to help me get undressed...although I’m sure he secretly likes it 😂 I also had to change my profession of teaching to a family support role, which sucked at the time although I love my new job. Each day is different as I have also been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, but I’m alive, loved and needed. That’s my medication.
By Auldyn Matthews-McGee Moderator
October 27, 2019
<inline-mention user-id="2397131" username="grammy"/> Thanks for posting your story here. I'm so sorry to hear you're having so much pain nowadays. That sounds like life has dealt you a lot. Do you have anyone around you to support you emotionally or physically?
By tccisme
October 31, 2019
The constant pain started for me in my mid 30s. I thought that I just needed a new mattress set. That didn’t help. I spent the next 6 years sleeping in a recliner. I had pain of and on in my late 40s but once I turned 50, the pain was nearly daily with only days or weeks of relief between. I have spent months where I could not stand up in the morning. I had to crawl on the floor to go to the bathroom. I’ve watched my back deteriorate from a blown disc to a busted bamboo looking mess. I am a former X-ray tech. I’ve not seen a back film that looks as crumbly as mine with out the person having been in a bad fall or car accident. I am scheduled for TLIF surgery in a couple of weeks. I’m getting a little nervous but trying to remain calm.

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Other than back pain and fatigue, what is the most common symptom that AS patients experience?

Too Long

The pain is too distracting

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