AS where does it get you the most?

[firewatch]

I have been diagnosed recently with ankyiolising spondilitis (sp).
It has settled down following a course of anti-inflammatory tablets.
But i am still having problems with my lower back which is causing me problems at work because i struggle with any thing heavy. Also i am getting stiffening in my finger joints is this normal, as it makes typing difficult which in my line of work is a pain in the bum.
Am i alone in suffering this pain is there anything i can do to ease it, i take ibuprofen and use a heat pack but sometimes this only takes the edge off of the pain.

[chrisrob]

Sorry to hear of your condition. I'm fortunate not to be a sufferer but I thought it was always the back that was the problem with this condition.
The National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society has a website: www.nass.co.uk which has a forum where you could discuss your symptoms etc with others who have AS.
I use a forum for a medical condition I have and find it very helpful.

[firewatch]

yup that is true but because it has taken so long for a diagnosis the inflammation had spread elsewhere.
I will check out that website as at the moment it can be difficult to cope with.

[Scarlett]

What are your symptoms? I have ulcerative colitis and along with that you get joint problems that are arthritis-like. at the moment I can't walk cos my joints give way every time I try. I wonder if I actually have what you have got? I too get pain in my big toe joint and my finger- which makes typing hard. My lower back is permanently stiff and I can't walk any distance without it getting much worse, and now my hips and knees seem to be being affected too.
How were you diagnosed?

[firewatch]

Right....
I had an accident when i was 10 i was pulled off a death slide falling 10 feet to the ground breaking my right arm and dislocating my shoulder. Ever since i have had back issues. I all ways put my back problems down to this.
However i have all so had in that time knee and hip pains, not constent on and off sometimes resulting in my knee being in a support. This is all ways aggravated in cold weather. So i put it down to growing pains, after all i thought i was to young for anything major to be wrong, i all so have a huge fear of doctors.
But this year i started to get episodes similar to panic attacks, but was not in situations that where particularly stressful or out of the norm. It got to the point where i collapsed unable to breath properly and regular events of tachycardia. After many tests and seeing three differn't doctors the third and final one, who i think had been doing some research put all the dots together and suggested this as a diagnosis and the shortness of breath was due to an inflammation of the rib joints. And i could kiss him although i still have some of the signs and symptoms they are no where near as bad as the where.
Yours, well i would go to the doctors, movement eases mine and if my back gets stiff i find it helps to walk about. which i must do now as i have been sat down for to long.

[[email protected]]

Hi there, I have looked at your question and I would suggest taking a look at this site. They are very helpful over there. www.onelifeboard.com
I hope that is of some help. Good Luck.

[jen78]

If you're still in pain then you need to speak to your doctors about other things that could be done to reduce the pain.

Are you getting any help from an osteopath etc...? Regular massage may make a difference.

Maybe you need to have a chat with your doctor about rethinking your pain medication and therapy options.

I have very bad lower back problems and try and get by with paid medication, am prescribed prescription codine as I can't can diclofenac or other anti-inflammatories due to tummy problems. When the pain gets really bad I tend to use voltarol (diclofenac gel) especially at night if it's stopping me from getting comfortable and sleeping.

Sometimes NSAIDS like Ibuprofen aren't enough and other medications are considered such as sulfasalazine which I'm on or TNF inhibitiors.

I also see an osteopath and while the relief is only for a while until my back seizes up again, it really makes a big difference in the interim.

I'm also working up to getting more exercise like swimming and gentle yoga and pilates to keep it mobile as my back as well as my arthritis tends to seize me up if I don't move much.

[Scarlett]

Jen how you getting on with the sulfasalazine? I still haven't taken mine but think I may have to.. any side effects? Has it reduced the inflammation?

[jen78]

Hi, it has helped, yes, my knees and ankles have improved a lot since I started taking it. The amount of fluid round my knees and ankles has reduced too.

I still suffer but more with exacerbating issues. When I went to New York recently my feet still swelled up and were uncomfortable but so much better than they were the last time I flew and it was a much longer flight - I bought some flight socks to wear which were really good too.

They didn't appreciate the heat and the walking and despite my trusty crocs they would be get very swollen.

Saying that, I would have struggled to do anywhere near the amount of walking I did while there without it.

Day to day though I have noticed a big difference.

All I'd say is break yourself in gently as they can be difficult to tolerate. Start from one a day (at night if you get symptoms like headaches) and build up gradually and step down again if you need to. Once my system got used to them I've been OK.

Am going to see how my ESR has been responding to them when I next go to Rhumotology.

Fingers crossed my colonoscopy looks like it's not Crohns which I'm very glad about and on XRay my sacrocillic joints haven't fused or anything to suggest AS but got to go through everything on the next appointments.