Joint Journey - a Column by Jemma Newman

The last trip I made to a hospital in Perth, Australia, to see a rheumatologist for my ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was before the world was disrupted by COVID-19. It’s been several years since I’ve sat in a sterile waiting room, watching the clock hands tick slowly around,…

As our sedan sped along the highway to our destination in Margaret River, in Western Australia, I realized with delight that this was the first holiday in the last few years that hasn’t made me feel anxious. Holidays have been rare since my husband, Dave, and I were…

If you have an invisible disease like ankylosing spondylitis (AS), as my husband, Dave, and I do, perhaps you’ve noticed that people only realize something’s wrong if you say it out loud. Sometimes I find it hard to make people understand the impact this autoimmune disease has on…

My husband, Dave, and I both have ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and when we’re struggling to live with the disease, even simple things can seem difficult. A normally easy activity, like commuting to work on the train, can feel daunting because it’s going to cause extra pain. When I…

Note: This column describes the author’s husband’s experiences with meloxicam. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Sleeping beside my husband, Dave, who has ankylosing spondylitis (AS), I’ve noticed that his nights are more restless when his…

The drizzle swept down on us during a stormy night in Perth, Western Australia, last month as my husband, Dave, and I joined some friends outside a cozy downtown bar. The babysitter was paid for, our stomachs were full of grilled steak from a lovely restaurant dinner, and we weren’t…

I’m excited to share an update on my ankylosing spondylitis (AS) journey, because I’m experiencing minimal pain and stiffness at the moment. I’ve slept peacefully through the night for the last week, without tossing and turning in discomfort, and I’m not constantly thinking about pain and how to…

It’s no wonder it can take such a long time to diagnose ankylosing spondylitis (AS), in a process that involves a lot of confusion along the way. Maybe your family is surprised when you explain that your symptoms have changed from yesterday. Or perhaps, like me, you’ve found…

Note: This column discusses depression. Resources for help are listed at the end of the column. Can I tell you a secret? I had a mini-panic attack when I started writing this column about my journey with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). It was the middle of the night and I…

Last night, my husband, Dave, and I were sitting outside, drinks in hand, with a sliver of moon hanging above us in the deepening indigo sky. We both gasped and said, “Ooooh, wow,” as a shooting star flared briefly overhead, then turned back to each other to continue our chat.