What symptoms of AS do you experience?
Chronic, long-term back pain is one of the most commonly reported health problems in the United States. Not surprisingly, back pain is also the most reported symptom by people living with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).
Other symptoms may also occur with axSpA, such as uveitis, fatigue, psoriasis, heel, shoulder, foot, and other joint pain.
Thoracic, rib, SI joint, hip, knees, heels, hands pain. Muscle spasms in t spine, neck, traps. Fatigue.
Enthesitis. I experience pain and weakness at my tendon attachment sites. That was my major complaint when we discovered my AS.
Thank you for sharing your experience! Enthesitis can be such a challenging symptom, and it’s one that many people haven’t even heard of until they’re diagnosed. How do you manage the pain? -Latoya (Team Member) It's the muscle weakness that I feel the most. Before my diagnosis I was hiking in the woods with my dogs and got to the point where I almost couldn't pick up one foot and put in in front of the other. I had to stop every 2-3 steps. It was scary. After speaking at length with my muscle physiologist son, I understand that my tendon inflammation was signaling to my muscles "you better stop or your going to cause serious damage" so my muscles were in protection mode and not responding. MRI showed enthesitis throughout my hips and pelvis. I usually take Aleve for tendon pain. Currently managing my inflammation with Humira.
I’ve had a flare for almost a month. My lower back aches, Sciatica’s running wild shooting Electricity out my toes, both knees hurt so bad hard to stand, ankles severe pain, vision getting worse, ribs hurting, neck hurts so bad hard to turn.
Every joint in my body hurts seems to be getting worse. I have prednisone will
start taking in morning. I only sleep 2-3 hours so don’t need something else to
Keep me awake. Don’t like taking them but I’m at a point I have to take them.
I have opioids but they really don’t help anymore. Just can’t wait for Winter since it’s in the 90’s now and I hurt, guessing it will be horrible.
I bought a Drive Nitro Rollator which has 4 wheels, 2 brake handles, seat w backrest, bag under sear to hold what I want to take. If I didn’t have this I wouldn’t be able to walk to kitchen or bathroom, it’s getting that bad. I have
episodes of getting very hot then very cold. It’s just wonderful. NOT. lolI have more Doctors than friends. Loneliness often comes along with living with a chronic illness. You aren't alone in feeling alone. I think you mentioned having dogs in an earlier post. Do they provide comfort and companionship for you? Warmly, Kathy (Team member)
Entheses on bilateral meal knees
Wow, both knees at the same time? I can see how that would be a pretty big red flag. Did it take a while for your doctors to figure out it was related to AS? - Latoya (Team Member)
