A Diagnosis, Immunobiological Therapy, and Allergic Reactions

Hi, my name is Dima, and I’m 27 years old.

8 years ago, I experienced my first symptoms of axial spondyloarthritis, but for 5 years, doctors were unable to establish a clear diagnosis.

After exercising, I experienced my first symptoms

The story of my illness began in 2018, when after exercising I first felt pain in my buttock and lower back. When I went to see doctors, they assured me that it was the result of sports-related strain and compression of the nerve roots.

At that time, I started taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Only Diclofenac injections brought me relief, but not for long. Spring would come, autumn would come, and the pain would always return.

Sometimes I even had to walk with a cane, although those were periods of severe flare-ups.

To keep my job, I worked through constant pain

At that time, I was serving in the police, so I had no choice but to endure the symptoms. The diagnosis doctors gave me was considered temporary, and I could not leave the service because I was bound by contract.

I already had very little money, and on top of that I needed treatment.

Breaking the contract would have meant paying compensation to the state. So I endured it, took dozens of painkillers, and kept moving forward.

In 2023, I received an AxSpA diagnosis

It was only at the end of 2023 that I finally received a diagnosis. I was reassured that everything would be okay, so I did not feel too devastated.

The beginning of 2024 was terrible. That was when my worst inflammation started. I had to work 24-hour shifts, and when it was time to rest, I could not sleep because the pain was unbearable. My psychological state was also unbearable.

I had no choice but to keep moving forward and pull myself out of that condition.

The pain took a toll on my career

During my medical examination, the medical staff at the police hospital did not record my illness, but they told me they would help me with treatment if they did.

However, when I went back to them after the examination, they said they had made no such promises.

I do not want to talk about leaving the service because it is a very painful and sad story for me.

My experiences with Humira

Since 2024, I have been on Humira. In the spring of 2025, I began experiencing allergic reactions — whether due to the stress after my divorce or because of taking Humira, I do not know. These reactions affected my respiratory system, and in addition, asthma began to develop.

By June 2026, all of my joints were in unbearable pain.