Articles

I 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...

The 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...

Seven 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...

As 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...

Here at AxialSpondyloarthritis.net, we know that fitness and AxSpa can have a complicated relationship. Exercise is important to reduce stiffness and maintain mobility, but it can be difficult to commit...

Three years before my diagnosis, while I was playing college tennis, I was having a lot of gut and joint issues. That’s when I first looked at changing my diet...

Changing my diet has been a game-changer for me in reducing the painful inflammatory symptoms of axial spondyloarthritis. Ten years ago I began learning as much as I could about...

I’ve been on biologics now for two and a half years. Before biologics, I was desperate for relief from the pain my AS was causing. I was taking the maximum...

As anyone living with axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpa) knows, one of the critical aspects of navigating AxSpa is redefining what success means after diagnosis. The sense of loss and frustration can...

I was sitting my rheumatologist's office, when he mentioned "I think you should look into a breast reduction." This never crossed my mind. I was so angry at my doctor...

Are you living with axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) and looking for ways to improve your quality of life? Do you have questions about how lifestyle changes can help you manage your...

I used to be a runner, a golfer, ice hockey player, and could stay up all night laying down floor tiles. I once created 12 six-foot tall plywood letters, and...

Since I was a teenager, I have always enjoyed lifting weights at the gym. It was probably the first hobby I had that didn’t get me into trouble! I loved...

Broken sleep and nighttime pain are challenging aspects of living with AS. Over time I’ve developed some strategies that help me manage when these symptoms crop up. It’s usually the...

I’ve never been a massive fan of “traveling,” but I appreciate arriving at my destination. Before 2020, I used to travel quite often for work, but nowadays, I appreciate the...

Everyone should have a rheumatologist, a pivotal medical expert specializing in axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpa). They're the ones who master the complexities of the condition. However, the truth is, the quality...

I've been on a weighty journey—a journey characterized by declining health and disability. It is undeniably cumbersome. Chronic illness has disrupted the life I once treasured, reshaping it in unexpected...

I am facilitating a course on lifestyle management for people living with long term conditions, with difficult life circumstances, and in need of support from peers and health coaches to...

We are going three years on Cosentyx. Cosentyx is the fourth biologic that I have been on, and also the one I've been on for the longest time. Before Cosentyx...

Living with a chronic inflammatory condition like axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) can often make us feel like outsiders in a world that doesn't fully understand our experiences. One of the unique...