Ankylosing Spondylitis Stories

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Julie’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Ankylosing Spondylitis)

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May
24
2013
Julie's Story (Ankylosing Spondylitis)LR

I was 14 years old when my pain started. I suddenly felt like I was in the body of a 80 year, old-hobbling around. I started seeing sports doctors because I was playing basketball at the time. The only thing that doctor did was inject cortisone to help with the pain. I saw chiropractors, did physical therapy, and prayed that we would be able to figure it all out. When I was 16, I started having problems in my shoulders. I had surgery and hoped that it would make everything better. It helped for a few months and then took a turn for the worse. Eventually all my joints began to hurt; ankles, knees, hips, upper and lower back, shoulders, jaw. When it went into my hands, I knew that there was something wrong. After giving up on all other doctors to find answers, I finally saw a rheumatologist. I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, which is an auto immune that attacks the joints and causes fusion. It's life long and has no cure. I’m thankful that I finally received an … [Read more...]

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Sherri’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Ankylosing Spondylitis AS)

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Apr
26
2013
Sherri's Story (AS) LR

Have you ever heard of ankylosing spondylitis (AS)? My guess is no, because I had never heard of it until I was diagnosed with it. AS is an auto-immune disease mixed within a sea of many auto-immune diseases,which most you’ve probably never heard of either. I hesitated when I thought about writing about this disease and my story, because quite frankly, it’s kind of a bummer to talk about. And as a busy hairstylist, the last thing I want are clients fearing that I’m sick or hurting and not come to see me anymore. But then I realized I was being silly, and how important it is for me to help spread the word about AS. There is so little information out there about this disease, and if only sufferers got diagnosed when onset starts, there would potentially be much less disability and depression associated with having a degenerating disease. So to explain AS in simple terms, it is a disease located around the SI joint. To get diagnosed you need to get lots of blood work, x-rays, … [Read more...]

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Colleen’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Ankylosing Spondylitis)

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Jul
28
2011
Colleen's Story (Ankylosing Spondylitis)

I grew up in Vermont. In May 1985 I was 10 yrs old. It was the end of the school year. We had what was called field day. All the kids had to be outside and they had sports, activities, a bbq, and even a walk/run thru the woods. In the early 1980’s the high-schoolers thought it was fun to prank the elementry school with bomb threats. It happend so much it was crazy. Well, on this particular day, they brought our buses to us because we were outside. I sat down to wait for my bus and I noticed my right ankle was hurting me. I tried to get the teachers attention but she was busy trying to get the kids to their buses. Well, when I got home I told my mom. I’m the youngest of 4 kids. There are 9 years difference between me and my sister, 7 years between me and my brother, and 2 years between me and my sister. The oldest had faked a sprained ankle for attention. My mom thought I was faking too. She had my brother who was 16, almost 17, check my ankle and he did. He told her it was hurt. I … [Read more...]

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Jeannette’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Ankylosing Spondylitis)

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Jun
22
2011
Jeannette's Story (Ankylosing Spondylitis)

The Kaleidoscope of Life As many others with ankylosing spondylitis, I’ve become passionate about helping raise awareness. It’s my hope (our hope) that future generations will receive early diagnosis and treatment before permanent damage is done to the body, less pain, and better yet … a cure. Four years ago my stress levels greatly increased. It was like an avalanche hit me and my family. In the span of a year I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, mixed connective tissue disease, neuropathy, ”awake” seizures, osteoporosis (lost 1 1/2” of height), carpal and cubital tunnel, fibromyalgia and vasculitis. Inflammation affected my entire body, including my vascular system. My blood vessels were bursting which greatly frightened me. My immune system attacked everything including my heart, lungs and kidneys. I lost hearing in one of my ears for about a year, but am very happy to say that I’ve regained most of my hearing. My story … [Read more...]

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Pam’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Ankylosing Spondylitis)

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Mar
04
2011
Pam Ankylosing Spondylitis H

Hey there. My name is Pam and I am 40, yeah, older than dirt as my little girl says. It seems I have had a lot on my plate lately and would love to say I am winning the battle. My head is still above water, but it's getting harder to stay afloat. It all started when I was about 18. I was then diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and thyroid disease. I was having episodes where I could barely walk and the pain was getting very hard to bare. I managed to put myself through college and during my last week of student teaching my husband walked off and left me for another woman. So after my Mom shaking some sense into me and talking me out of giving up, I held on to the side of the building as I walked and would go to the bathroom every few minutes and wipe the tears and finished my student teaching. I finally got my dream job of teaching those with special needs. I knew God's plan in my life was finally taking shape. I met the true love of my life, had a beautiful baby girl at age 33, … [Read more...]

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