Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
What is AS?
The bad news is, Ankylosing Spondylitis is a life-long, incurable, inflammatory condition. But it’s not all bad…
Who get’s AS?
Ankylosing Spondylitis tends to affect men than women and the symptoms of the disease can show around the age of 20-30…
Do you Have AS?
Check our AS symptoms page and if you think they match what you’re experiencing then speak to your doctor about a diagnosis.
Treatment?
Thankfully once diagnosed proper treatment including physio and NSAID’s are available but it depends on the severity of your AS.
About Me
It started as a bit of back ache in the morning, but little did I realise I was about to spend the next decade searching for the cause of the pain. Doctor after Doctor, therapy after therapy, pain killer after pain killer. It was the combination of a suggestion of going back one more time to the Doctors in 2010 by my girlfriend, pointing out "it's not normal to be in this pain", and a particularly observant and considerate village Doctor, that led me to a diagnosis via a simple blood test and MRI scan.
I started this site spread awareness of AS and to help others reach a diagnosis quicker than I did.
Read my story here
-
Prevalence of AS in the general population (%)
source: Ankylosing Spondylitis -Professional reference for Doctors - Patient UK
-
People with HLA B27 gene (%)
Of that numer, only 1 in 20 will develop Ankylosing Spondylitis
-
Number of people diagnosed of which are male (%)
Men are about three times more likely to have Ankylosing Spondylitis than women.
It seems to affect more Caucasians too. -
Increased risk in developing vascular disease in men (%)
AS sufferers also have a higher risk of developing a cerebrovascular disease
and cardiovascular disease.
Help is at hand
NASS
NASS
NHS
NHS
BUPA
BUPA
SAA
Latest Posts
Low back pain explained
Low back pain animated explanation Here’s a great animated video to help explain common types of low back pain – it includes Ankylosing Spondylitis but it’s more of a general overview of the terms and causes relating to low back pain. It highlights the importance of mental health and well as physical. I would have[…]
World Ankylosing Spondylitis Day May 2nd 2020
Happy World Ankylosing Spondylitis Day! 2nd May 2020 marks another push to raise awareness for AS around the World. It also marks my 10 year diagnosis anniversary. And my 20 year anniversary from when the symptoms started. With greater awareness, I’ve no doubt my diagnosis and treatment would have come sooner. Delaying the build up[…]
Cannabidol (CBD) for Anylosing Spondylitis
Over the years news about the medicinal use of cannabis in the media have come and gone. Last month, October 17th 2018 to be exact, Canada stated that recreational use of Cannabis would no longer violate criminal law. (source) But they had already cleared it for medicinal use back in 2001! This month in the UK,[…]
What are the side effects of Naproxen?
In the years that I’ve been taking Naproxen I’ve not looked at a single Patient Information Leaflet that comes in every pack since I got the first pack. I’ve long forgotten what it said and just assumed it’s safe as I’m being prescribed it and it probably just says everything from headache to death anyway.[…]