The Long Path to DiagnosisI read recently that the longer it takes to get a diagnosis for AS the bleaker the long-term outcome for the sufferer. Teresa and I have talked a lot about... By Steve Tuffin5 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Tips to Advocate for Yourself at the Doctor’s OfficeGetting my diagnosis, has been a bumpy ride for me. I had to see numerous doctors. Some that saying my mental health was the reason that everything that was happening... By Nicky Flikas4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
My Family Doctor Gaslit MeUp until recently, I’d been pretty lucky with my doctors. My family doctor was the first doctor I told about my pain 4 years ago. She believed me right away... By Steff Di Pardo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
7 Years in No Diagnosis Land, Part 3: AnswersIn part 1, I told you how I experienced various symptoms for years without getting some answers. In part 2, I finally made progress once I decided to get involved... By Julie Vallortigara3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Mobility Aids Are FreedomMany people use mobility aids. These include canes, crutches, walkers/rollators, wheelchairs, etc. They are common things you can come across every day. I use my cane a lot when I... By Anna Samson2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Getting Over Humira Injection FearPicture this: I'm seven years old, and there are several large adults holding me down to a hospital bed so that a nurse could inject me with a needle. At... By Lisa Marie Basile4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
How I Cope With Stiffness: Stretch Every DayI need to stretch every day. Without fault, my hips are always stiff and the only way to keep adequate mobility is to constantly stretch. Particularly, I’m almost always stiff... By Jamie Shinkewski3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
My Disease is Dynamic: This is What it Looks Like for MeSomething that's getting a lot of attention in the chronic illness community right now is the idea of a dynamic disability. So what is a dynamic disability and what can... By Katie Saville2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Part One Of My Diagnosis Story: Getting Diagnosed in ChinaI thought I would share my diagnosis story with you guys for two reasons. Firstly, because it’s a pretty unique and crazy tale and secondly, to show to anyone who... By James Hollens5 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments8 comments
Pivoting With AxSpaI think one of the biggest misconceptions I had about my AxSpa journey was that when I found the right medications, diet, and exercise routine to manage my disease, I... By Jes Hojsan2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Supporting a Partner with AxSpA Vol. 2 - Advice for OthersThis is volume 2 in a series of articles focusing on supporting loved ones with axial spondyloarthritis. The advice I would give to others with a spouse or family member... By Jessica Gama3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
It's Not Working: Dealing With Treatment Disappointment“Try this, it will totally change your life!” “This amazing drug is now over the counter, I use it every day!” “All I need is 100mg of this and I'm... By Jed Finley4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
How I Incorporate the Topic of AS into My College WorkI am a student studying Social Care Work. If you’ve read my article AS Doesn’t Give a Damn About College Deadlines or if you are a student, you will know... By Ali Long2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Blinded by ASAnkylosing spondylitis diagnoses can take years to find, and they usually come after a ton of pain and unexplained symptoms with a search for doctors that will take you seriously... By Ashley Nemeth2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments9 comments
My First COVID-19 VaccineI was sitting in my friend's garden, socially distant when I received the text on Friday the 23rd of April saying that my consultant had registered me for my vaccine. I was due to have it on Wednesday the 28th of April. I was ecstatic. I was very shocked... By Ali Long2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Switching From a Biologic to a BiosimilarI began my first biologic treatment, Humira, just over a year ago. After 11 months, I had a follow-up appointment with my rheumatologist’s office. My prescription expired after one year... By Jamie Shinkewski2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
A Mental Health Flare-Up KitDuring a flare-up, we all have our tools and assistive devices to make things better. From a walker to a cane to a showering chair, we try to keep up... By Lisa Marie Basile3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments15 comments
I Experience Ableism When I Use My Mobility AidsI’ve been using my mobility aids (mostly my walker) more and more the past few months. Over the course of the pandemic, my chronic fatigue has gotten worse, so I... By Steff Di Pardo3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
How I Use Medical Cannabis to Manage AxSpaI have been suffering from not only axial spondyloarthritis, but with other conditions that cause inflammation in the body. I have spent the past decade in and out of hospital... By Jes Hojsan2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
An Open Letter to Able-Bodied IndividualsDear able-bodied individuals, If you lived in my shoes for just one day, you would understand—the trauma, the sacrifices I have to make, the constant pressure to perform more abled... By Sarah Lee2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments