Understanding Over-the-Counter Pain ManagementThere are times when life with arthritis feels more like a trip to a shabby little haunted house than I'd like to admit. You know the kind I mean. They...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Curmudgeonly JournalingAre you something of a curmudgeon? A chipper person hopes you'll say something like, "Dawn, how can you even ask that? I'm an eternal optimist shooting hearts from my eyes...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Spondyloarthritis: Will and Motivation Toward WellnessThe 2020 holidays really affected me negatively, worse than years prior. Family at the house (albeit only 5 of us), over-spending, cooking larger meals, and ingesting sugar, salt, and alcohol...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Watching a Loved One Go Through a Flare-UpBefore we knew they were called "flare-ups," I knew my husband, Keegan, was experiencing something like I'd never seen before. Except for maybe seeing a Youtube clip of a woman...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
I Tried Alternative Therapies Before Medication And I Regret It Unlike some of my peers with ankylosing spondylitis, my first scan showed undeniable evidence of the disease. Bilateral inflammation and erosion in my sacroiliac joints were found, and a positive...Reactions0reactionsComments25 comments
Tips for a Restful Night SleepFinding a restful night sleep with axial spondyloarthritis can be so hard. Between painsomnia, finding a comfortable position, and worrying about your next flare, drifting into dreamland can feel downright...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
What Can Axial Spondyloarthritis Give Back to You?Axial spondyloarthritis has taken a lot from all of us who have it. The life we thought we were going to have, the hobbies or passions we have had to...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Hey, Rheumatologists: Do BetterI’m in a somewhat unique position as an ankylosing spondylitis patient. Not only am I a patient, but I’m also a chronic illness advocate and a medical writer. These realities...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Grieving The Self Of YesterdayOne of the hardest things about living with a chronic illness, particularly a degenerative one, is that you are always grieving for your older selves. As the years go by...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Drug Denial: I Think I Need Meds AgainIt's funny how chronic illness works. It really forces you into the present moment, in a weird way. When you're good and pain-free (or at least having minimal pain) you...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
A Letter to my ASDear Steff’s AS, Hi, it’s me, Steff. I want to write you a letter to air out both my grievances and my thank you’s. Sometimes I think you were sent...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Due to AS Symptoms, I Chose to Quit My JobI was diagnosed with AS while I was an English teacher. From 2009-2017, I had the great privilege of teaching high school students how to express themselves, how to appreciate...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Fight Fatigue and Get Your Energy BackA chronic condition like AxSpA comes with many different challenges and symptoms. Fatigue is one of the most common ones across people’s journeys. It can have a big impact on...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Stress, Trauma, and Autoimmune Conditions: What Research RevealsPainful life experiences can take a toll on your physical and mental health. We know that stress and trauma raise your risk of illnesses like drug and alcohol misuse, mental...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Alternative Options for Managing Chronic PainWhile doctors may prescribe pain medications for AxSpA, like NSAIDS, not everyone wants to take these prescriptions long-term, and some people don’t like the side effects of pain medications. Fortunately...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Small Daily Healthy Habits: Lifestyle MattersWe all are on a different path and stage on our journeys with AS. Some of us with more symptoms or a faster progression, some needing to take anti-inflammatory and/or...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
AS Was A Wake Up CallWhen I was in graduate school, my life was messy. I was working at a bookstore that undervalued and underpaid its employees, I was dealing with the toxicity of a...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Meeting Our Members: An Interview with BiancaAnthony from AnkylosingSpondylitis.net recently had the pleasure of interviewing one of our talented community members, Bianca. Bianca submitted a poem in our community story section, titled 5AM: A Poem About...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Ask the nr-AxSpA Advocates: Diagnosis and Progression WorriesEditor's note: You can read Part 1 of this series here. The spondyloarthritis community has changed a lot these past few years as clinical diagnoses change, too. The common diagnosis...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Chronic Illness, Sharing Stories, and VulnerabilityA chronic illness community can be an essential wellness tool. It allows you to surround yourself with people who just get it. But it's not always easy to share your...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments