i encounter the same when i sit for a long time i stand up with a half bent over and locked hips for while till i start walking and yea i bugs the hell outta me when people keep staring also when they start to comment you should start following some treatment dude this is not good i hope you get better

I have gotten used to being stared at but i have noticed in this time , that there are more people using canes and walkers and bent over or limping than i have ever seen in my life so i don;'t let it bother me , some days my face is so blown up from swelling from my neck and jaw and my whole body that i look like a water melon , ha, but who cares i am working on my inside healing too and that means i believe in myself , stare all you want to, i am at peace inside even if i look odd at times . peace to you brother. steve

Hang in there. I was in wal mart couple weeks ago and this very beautiful lady had her young son with her. I would say he was 5 or 6. I noticed she kept stareing at me and I was like wow a lady this prety checking me out. Well I was wrong. The next thing I heard, was this lady telling her son, SEE IF YOU DONT STAND UP STRAIGHT THATS WHAT YOU WILL LOOK LIKE. That hurt so bad if she only knew the pain that I live with every day. Well I left my cart walked up to the lady, and told her son, your mom is wrong im like this cause of a disees not cause I did not stand up straight. I then left the store and went home and cried saying this is not fair. After that, my wife realy helped me through that. I quess what im trying to say. people are going to stare at us but we are who we are. Just smile and keep your head up try not to let it bother you. People with A/s have anough to deal with and it makes us better.

People who know us & who meet us after a long time stare at us bcas they are ignorant about our AS.Some are caring ,some are curious. I experience the same from people. I am also having little posture problem.I answer according situation,can't help.
But AS friends, do regular exercise,yoga,physio,massage,hot fomentation,Veg diet,cycling,swimming,climbing hill,think straight,observe pains after each food and avoid that food etc.all this will surely help. I am trying Homeopathy medicines now.Hope it works.

I just don't let it bother me. People in this world can be cruel. Don't let it get to you. Seriously, why care. Life is too short to let that bother you. We all have something we deal with. Who knows what they are dealing with. I do know it just does not matter. Will you ever see them again, are they friends and family? If not, let it go... You could look and say "WHAT?" that usually let's people know they are being rude!

I understand totally! I'm sick of people standing in front or back of my car waiting for me to get out because I'm in a handicap spot.
When I get out or if someone just star at me. I say" can I help you?" or "anything wrong?" LOL!!!!!
Boy that stop them right away! They just walk away feeling ashamed.

Hi I'm not as bad as u I walk like a 70 year old n I'm only 28 I have bad days when I'm bent over n shuffle where I walk n when I'm walking it hurts so much that I look ill white as a sheet so as u can imagine when I'm out n I'm bent over stuffling as I walk n white face I get a lot of looks but the thing that helps me is to be extremly sarcastic n tell them the reason cos it stops them judging n gets the word out about the disease.
Keep ur chin up ok always remember if they're going to act like that then ur better than them anyway.

Yup! When i sit for too long and try to get back up, i'm half bent over and my hips are locked in place and i have to kinda drag my legs to walk until my hips become more flexible. I'm sure it would be ok if i was 75 but i'm 21 so i definitely get weird looks like i'm faking it or something from other people. The biggest thing that my mom tells me when people stare is to smile at them like you're genuinely happy with them staring at you. It makes them realize that we're not any different, just a little more sore. :)

I no how you feel.I always have elderly ppl stair at me or whisper one day i over heard what one lady said and i walked right up to her and said....Must be nice to be able to walk and not be in pain 24/7 i may not look sick on the outside but my body is screaming on the inside .Maybe next time before you open your mouth you will think before you say anything as not all illnesses are visible.She looked at me in shock oh well so what if she did .Frankly i dont give a crap on what ppl think anymore.I suffer from AS and fibromyalgia.Always in pain and frankly become a bit cold towards ppl that dont understand either of these illnesses

i like your attitude .lol
i get looks sometimes when i occasionaly use my hadicap parking on bad days.

Hi,.. I am new to the group, but I too feel the same as everyone. I feel all the stares and feel what people are thinking, especially when i am at the inlaw's. My family? it is common, hereditary, everyone talks 'bout thier pain, saying whose is worse or not. I sure dont know how to handle it sometimes cuz it hurt's, but i try to let them know what i am going through to hope that they will understand and i continue with my day, cuz it is up us how we live with this AS. I too seek advice.

YES! But WE know they are being rude starring at us. i 'VE HAD PEOPLE STAND OR KNOCK ON THE CAR TO TELL ME TO GET OUT OF THE HANDICAP PARKING SPACE!

But this works, EVERYONE PLEASE TRY THIS!

When someone stands or starr at you, just say "may I help you"? Or is something wrong?
Then they jump and realize that they are finally being rude looking at you. Most of the time they just say "no nothing" and walk away. They realize they were rude and stop doing it walk away.

I've finally been treated since 23 years ago. I'm now 55 some days feels like 85. Now that I finally get the right medical treatment with my Rumy & Pain management doctors , the last 3 year have change my AS for the best.

But I really hate it when the elderly stand near my car and wait until I get out to see my health. I got sick of this, specially knocking on my car window! I had a cheap bumper sticker made from Ebay custom made that I place on the front & rear of my car. From now on no one tells me to move my car.
" Not all disabilities are in wheelchairs or can be seen by others"
" How would you like to9 be in my body for a day? "

IT WORKS AND NO ONE KNOCK OR STANDS AND STARRES AT ME ANYMORE!

New to group, first time posting;

Many people stare and I feel uncomfortable, but when they make rude comments like "hey, what did YOU do to you're neck? then I feel hurt and angry and want to lash out. In the past I would respond with remarks like 'WTF YOU looking at'? or WTF did you DO with your face. Now I merely smile and say may I help you or is something wrong?

One time I was going through the drive up window the
cashier in a sarcastic tone of voice and giggle said, "yo, dude what happened to you? what did you do to your neck"? Perplexed I said "not a thing".
cashier says "oh, you look kinda funny and stiff" I play dumb, smile and I say, "oh really, I didn't notice
cashier says "uh..duh, it's obvious your not turning your head"
I laugh and say "of course I can turn my head, I'm turning my head right now" (my eyes move up and down and side to side no head movement) Pausing the cashier with a dumbfounded look on his face says to me (dripping with sarcasm) "well then, I must be seeing things, time to get my eyes checked"
I laugh and then with a serious straight face I say "you need to get your brain checked for idiocy, and rudeness as well"

thanx to all for sharing I can relate and know you folks understand

Ive had AS for over 25 years. its not the stares that bug me so bad, its the people who dont know me and think im lazy