The clothes that aggravate my AS pain and stiffness

You’d think that because ankylosing spondylitis (AS) affects joints internally, clothes wouldn’t make much difference. But I despise certain garments when I’m having an AS flare and my sacroiliac joints, spine, or rib cage are inflamed and painful. Picture for a minute that I’m standing at the…

How we’re battling poor sleep because of ankylosing spondylitis

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…

Qigong May Reduce AS Patients’ Fatigue, Morning Stiffness, Study Suggests

Baduanjin qigong training, a traditional Chinese exercise, may reduce fatigue and morning stiffness in people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), according to a recent pilot study. The results, “A 12-week Baduanjin Qigong exercise improves symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis: A randomized controlled trial,” were published in the journal…

When Pain Becomes Your Constant Friend

I realize that the title of this column is hyperbolic, but it contains an element of truth. I often think about how we get to know our daily pain on a deep, intuitive level. We can guess its patterns and ways of expression. We can understand where it came from…

My Ankylosing Spondylitis Diagnosis Journey, Part 1

First in a series. When I first started having symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), I was in my mid-20s which is right in the middle of the age range of when most people receive a diagnosis. How fun! I was doing things that most people that age do.