Living

After a long journey to get a diagnosis (see my series entitled "7 Years in No Diagnosis Land") and a bad experience with one of the DMARDS, I was finally...

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, so many people have been affected by stress, the unknown, and the changing landscape. However, our ankylosing spondylitis community has been particularly affected...

If you read my previous article "Trouble Falling AS-sleep," you will know just how abysmal my sleep pattern had become. After writing the article I arranged a phone appointment with...

It’s no secret that AS has changed my life forever. Five years ago I was a completely different human. I was able to work, go out places, and see people...

Over the past year, I have started experiencing more and more remarkably noticeable finger joint pain. I’ve always had a little bit of wrist pain, too, as I am a...

I’m not a fan of mainstream self-care culture because it tends to crowd the space for essential health and wellness practices with luxury spa nonsense. This pampering version of self-care is...

I've been part of the Health Union community for two years! And I'm so proud of that fact. I pride myself on connecting with so many of you here and...

Editor's note: I truly love sharing stories from people who live with ankylosing spondylitis; from the newly diagnosed, to the young, old, people of all genders, with all different experiences...

I was skimming the notes from my recent rheumatology appointment when I saw the word. “Remission.” A word I’d heard used most often to describe cancer patients, but also to...

Axial spondyloarthritis is a systemic disease, so I know it has the potential to affect any organ system (and therefore any area) of the body. But when a new symptom...

Being told that you will have to take medication for the rest of your life is scary. What if it stops working? What if you have a weird reaction to...

I have been getting biologic infusions every month for almost 2 years. While it reduces inflammation and slows down fusion, it doesn't help much with pain and fatigue. I still...

I have been living with chronic pain for 4 years now. It began in 2017 when I was working as an account manager for a luxury car service, and I...

I saw a post on Instagram not too long ago discussing how many chronically ill individuals have less usable hours in a day than those who are able-bodied and healthy...

May is Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month, and we're asking you to help us bring attention to what life is like living with ankylosing spondylitis. Take part in our awareness month activities...

As someone with multiple chronic illnesses, I am no stranger to being misdiagnosed. This is usually by doctors attempting to find the latest reason for my misbehaving immune system. I...

Grief can occur in many ways, and this can affect one's mental health. I study social care in college. We learn a lot about grief in this course. There is...

Since the onset of the pandemic, the flow of daily life has done a 180-degree turn and flipped on its head. Access to many of life's conveniences – the so-called...

Do your joints feel better? Mine do, and today it has nothing to do with medication. I feel better because I see the promise of spring everywhere. I observe a...

I'm not surprising anyone by saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse effect on peoples' lives. However, I believe those of us with chronic illnesses have been disproportionately affected...