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What's it like living with AxSpA and Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia and AxSpA have a lot in common. They are both rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases cause inflammation in your body, especially in your joints, tendons, muscles, and bones. They can both cause widespread pain, sleep troubles, depression, digestive issues, brain fog, and fatigue. Both AxSpA and fibromyalgia can be hard to diagnose. Their symptoms are often misunderstood or ignored. We want to hear from our community: what is it like living with both AxSpA and fibromyalgia? Additional questions to consider:
What was/is your experience like getting diagnosed for these conditions?How has this affected your quality of life?How are you managing pain and symptoms?

  1. Hi Nicky, thanks for your response. Sorry for the late reply, I just saw this.
    I've never known anyone else who got their AS and fibromyalgia diagnoses at the same time too! I hope you find some relief for your pain and symptoms. AS and fibro suck but we got this, we can still have a good life.

    1. Living with AS and fibromyalgia is difficult, to say the least.


      I was diagnosed with AS and fibromyalgia at the same time. My rheumatologist said that fibromyalgia is an exclusionary diagnosis and as the symptoms that did not align with AS were those of fibromyalgia, he felt confident making that diagnosis.


      Having AS and fibromyalgia has negatively affected my quality of life as many of the symptoms are similar and it is difficult to know which is causing it.





      1. Anna I can relate so much. I was also diagnosed at the same time with Fibromyalgia and As. I can totally understand how both together can be hard to deal with. I still have days where it's hard to tell what is causing what. It can be hard to have a good quality of life, as I am still trying to figure it all out. Please know you are not alone. Both of you are not alone. -Nicky

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