Taking Steps To Make Life With AS EasierMy planning and organization skills have always left a lot to be desired. I often find myself going on holiday with zero plans on what I am going to do...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
How Axial Spondyloarthritis Led Me to My CareerWhen I was 18, I was only one year into my university degree and nowhere near knowing what I wanted to “do with the rest of my life.” I was...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
My Experience With Injectable and Infusion BiologicsI’ve been on biologic drugs for my ankylosing spondylitis for 6 years now. I’ve been on 4, actually. Inflectra (infusion), Humira (injection), Cosentyx (injection), and Remicade (infusion). Now that I’ve...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Coping With Others’ Judgments and Emerging as We AreWe recently moved into a new community. We've been in our new home for over a year now. Through healing, there's an urge to connect with family, friends, and with...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
The Differences Between Injectable and Infusion Biologics for AxSpAAxial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis that mainly affects the spine and pelvic joints. Biologics – medicines made from living organisms – can be a powerful treatment...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Experience of Trying Acupuncture For My ASI’ve been receiving care from a chronic pain clinic, and a few months ago they offered me acupuncture. I had a telephone consultation with the acupuncture service to check I...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
My Biologic Keeps My Flares AwayI got a reminder this summer about how effective my biologic is at keeping my flares at bay. To give a bit of context to this story, I have been...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
It Finally Happened: I Fractured My SpineI spent about half a year thinking I was experiencing a recurrent, terrible axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) flare-up only to learn that I had, in fact, a spinal fracture (spondylolysis). The...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Insurance is Crucial for Patients With AxSpAI was informed I had a gene mutation a few months ago that could contribute to more severe health complications down the line. After speaking with my healthcare team, we...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The Never Ending FlareI'm in another flare (again). How long will this one last? The days have passed so fast. I forget again what normal feels like. My days are high in pain...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Sponsored: The National Institutes of Health Initiative Advancing Research on Chronic PainBy National Institutes of Health Today, new cases of chronic pain are more common than new cases of other chronic conditions, such as diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure. While...
Learning to Manage AxSpa is a MarathonThey say “Life is a marathon, not a sprint.” The meaning is that we shouldn’t get hung up on the little events we experience. Life goes on for a long...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Health Professionals I’ve Added to My AS TeamOver the years I’ve visited a number of different health professionals to help me manage my axial spondyloarthritis. Some have not proven helpful for me personally (both chiropractic and osteopathic...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Why Advocating for Yourself Feels Difficult, Especially With FamilyFor those grappling with Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA), moments with family can quickly become challenging encounters that leave us frustrated and misunderstood. I vividly recall a recent holiday visit with my...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Tips For Dating With ASDating with a chronic illness sure can be tough. We have a complicated enough relationship with our immune system, so having another one with a human being on top of...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
From Pet to Partner: How My Dog Helps Me Navigate Life With ASIt wasn’t my idea to get a dog. My 9 year old daughter was obsessed. I can’t tell you how many times a day she would tell us she wanted...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
My Post-Surgery Flare Up Without BiologicsI got my breast reduction surgery in early July of this year. It was my first surgery and I got through it. Add it to my list of accomplishments--I'm so...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
The Perfect Solution for Managing AxSpa: Trial and ErrorThe perfect solution does not exist. But, please keep reading. Every morning I wake up not having any idea what kind of day I am going to have. Sure, I...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
My Life Didn’t End When I Was Diagnosed With ASSeven years ago, my already chaotic, 18-year-old world was rocked. Amidst a blur of final exams, breakdowns and breakups, my back and hips caught fire, or at least that’s how...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Three Reasons I Chose Not to Panic About (Another) DiagnosisAs I sat in that sterile conference room, awaiting confirmation from my genetic counselor, I couldn't help but feel detached from the situation. The alphabet soup of diagnoses I had...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
