Ankylosing Spondylitis

[Bio]

Hey everybody, I've had bad back issues that started when I was 17 (I'm 43 now!). When I was 29 I had an unsuccessful back surgery. The pain has stopped me during the course of many endeavors in my life...Bodybuilding, martial arts, boxing/kickboxing, etc. Recently it was discovered that I have a rare auto immune disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS for short). The thing that upsets me, is the fact that this runs in my family but doctors would just look at me and say that I don't have it...They would say that I wouldn't be able to look like I do or do the things I do with that disease. So, I was misdiagnosed for the last 26 years. There's a good chance that with the proper medications, I could have suffered a lot less over the years...That would have been nice!!

I'm just curious if any of you have been diagnosed with AS or know anybody that has it. Just curious to hear your stories about it.

 

[LEX]

seen a couple cases BIO being not corrected but surgically intervened

I will ask around and see if I can get a name for you that specializes in it for an information source.

 

[Bio]

seen a couple cases BIO being not corrected but surgically intervened

I will ask around and see if I can get a name for you that specializes in it for an information source.

Thanks Lex! Since I've been active my whole life, I've circumvented some of the issues that come from inactivity. My Grandfather had a severe form of AS...His back, chest, and neck were fused solid...Naturally...That's what the disease does!!

 

[matt1164]

Sorry to hear that bio.

Wish you the best.

 

[bananas007]

it goes along with IBS or inflammatory bowel disease specially crohns, do you have that too?

 

[Bio]

it goes along with IBS or inflammatory bowel disease specially crohns, do you have that too?

That's what actually got me started with this round of doctor visits! I was having really bad abdominal pain. When I would eat, it would hurt and I would have bad indigestion for hours. I wound up loosing 15lbs over a two and half week period. I was completely exhausted as well. I'm still dealing with a lot of specialists, and I hope to get to a point where I can get back in the gym and eat without complications very soon!!