Articles

When it comes to finding community, the ankylosing spondylitis warriors online have it on lock. From Instagram hashtags to Facebook support groups – and even our websites, AnkylosingSpondylitis.net and AxialSpondyloarthritis.net...

I never considered myself a caregiver to my husband, Keegan, until a couple of years ago. After all, the picture of caregiving is usually someone younger helping an older family...

Everyone likes a “low-maintenance” girl — the girl who can tag along with friends at a moment’s notice, without worrying about the details, the girl who goes with the flow...

I’ve had quite a few people come and go from my life ever since I got sick. I try my best to only see the people that get my illness...

Motivation to begin exercising is a major problem for me. I'm just tired - mentally and physically - from family drama, a bad diet, a wonky-doodle work schedule, and yes...

Did you know that you can find our AxialSpondyloarthritis.net community on Instagram? Give us a follow so you can engage in great community discussions around managing rheumatoid arthritis and make...

I can’t imagine another time when food played a more central role in our society. We can watch cooking shows at any time of the day, make food appear on...

My doctor and I had The Talk, you know the one. We talked about the dreaded BMI, exercise, and carbs. She asked me to try a formalized version of the...

Ever since I developed ankylosing spondylitis (AS), work has been a source of worry for me. Most jobs, from customer service to traditional office jobs, present challenges for me. Customer...

We all know that stress is the worst thing for an individual with AS. I know this, and for me having AS causes me stress! How do I control this?...

Before my diagnosis, every week I was going to the gym, playing squash, and badminton. I would not get any "side effects" from high impact activities apart from achy muscles...

Before ankylosing spondylitis, before any strange symptoms, and well before I ever thought there could be something wrong, different, or sick about me, I didn't understand chronic illness. The fact...

Being a student is hard enough as it is. Being a student with a chronic illness is a whole new level of hard. I am in my final year of...

I like winter, with Christmas celebrations, the arrival of a New year and fresh perspectives. I feel efficient as the season evolves; these months are productive for me. Now the...

Editor's note: You can read about the first part of Katie's day with AS here. It’s now about 8 AM. I pull into the driveway and put the car in...

I never was an early riser. As a teenager, I could easily sleep til noon on the weekends without concern that I was missing something and, more importantly, without being...

I was in a pretty dark place mentally just prior to my AS diagnosis. I was living in China and between jobs while I was dealing with some visa issues...

It's been a whirlwind of a year. It's February 2021, and goodness knows we've all been through a lot. For my family, we've had our fair share of stressors and...

Unlike many stories that I’ve read, I do not remember the day I was diagnosed. Not really. That period of my life was one big blur. I was stressed, studying...

Our identity is what makes each of us unique. Whether it’s our outward appearance, personality, or even our last names, one’s identity is what makes us who we are as...