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.
Chronic pain, brain fog, dependence on opioids (because I can't take NSAIDS for pain), decimation of my quality of life, weakness of the vertebrae ABOVE my fused ones, enthesitis, etc. etc. etc.
Pain's impact on quality of life is major! And dependence on opioids is frightening. Have you talked to your doctor about the newly FDA approved class of pain medicine sodium channel blockers (such as Journavx)? These are neither opioids or NSAIDs, so I am very interested in learning more about them. Do any alternatives to pain medication help ease your pain or improve your quality of life? Warmly, Kathy (Team member) Not really, not enough to be able to get off of the opioids, unfortunately. A CBD/THC blend helps a little, lidocaine patches help a little, muscle relaxants help a little, and acetaminophen helps a very little (when combined with the opioids). Acupuncture did not help at all. Neither did yoga, meditation, or mindfulness training. I feel like I've tried it all -- except for the new medication you mentioned. I will ask my doctor about that!
Extreme fatigue, itchy elbows and ears, pain, nerve pain, brain fog
Sensitivity to cold
You are not alone! You may wish to check out this article by one of our health leaders about how she prepares for winter. "Warmly," Kathy (Team member)
For me it's the normal back, neck and hip pains. Swollen toes, discolored feet, finger and toe nails thickening. Arthritic hands, ..fingers that don't work. Fatigue and don't forget receding gum lines. Getting old is easy, with AS, it's difficult
I hear you: aging with AS is difficult! Here is one of our health leaders' experience. All the best, Kathy (Team member) The lack of a support system. Outside of my wife, I don't think my kids (4 adult) and siblings truly understand because I look the same, as big as a house on the outside, broken up on the inside.
