Ankylosing Spondylitis Support Group

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic form of arthritis--it is an inflammatory disease that causes joints, cartilage or other fibrous tissue (such as ligaments and tendons) to turn into bone. Ankylosing spondylitis is part of the group of rheumatic diseases. The disease is characterized by progressive stiffness, tenderness, and pain in joints. Pain can be episodic and...

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Muscles & Bones
/ Ankylosing Spondylitis Support Group

New, scared and annoid

stepheniee
stepheniee
I was diagnosed in '13 after a long struggle to get someone to believe I was really in pain. My primary insisted I didn't have AS even though I had the gene and was showing all the signs. I think she had a vested interest in me not having it because she couldn't fix it. I lost a lot of time I could have been in treatment and now the pain is uncontrollable. My rheumatology is talking now about putting me on a biologic and that scares me even more.
allenray
allenray
I understand how you feel ive been to tons of doctors and i have as and inflammation arthritis and im waiting for my insurance to approve enbrel and im very scared.
pg13
pg13
I am right there with you. Looking back, I had symptoms at 25 and never knew what it was. Just diagnosed January 2016, and am now 52. I can identify with feeling lost years of time that could have been treated, but take heart...we can't change our past, but we can look forward and be proactive towards our futures! I am going to start infusion therapy and have no idea what to expect. I have been in a full
"flare" since August so "I feel your pain", literally, so to speak! Just don't be afraid...fear just makes things worse...I know it's hard to face so many unknowns. But one thing is for sure....our quality of life is going to be much better than the debilitating pain and issues that are "stealing our joy" and hindering our quality of life! Keep your head up...."In it to Win It!"