Friday, June 18, 2010

Complications of Spondylitis - Ankylosing Spondylitis Complications, Areas of Inflammation and More

If someone in your life has Ankylosing Spondylitis, this article is an excellent and succinct tutorial that will give insight into how the disease affects them.  If you have AS, this article is an excellent tutorial and offers some very good information to consider.

This is an outstanding article describing the impacts of Ankylosing Spondylitis.  Many people – if they have heard of it at all – think AS affects only the lower spine.  This article describes the process and progression of the disease, and the impacts on other areas of the body, fatigue and even chest pains caused by AS. 

I find myself in the position of having an advanced level of AS – impacts in the shoulders, hips, knees, back, and calcification (causing inflammation) where ligaments and tendons attach to bone.   Because of injuries early in life, and the resulting early onset of osteoarthritis, the first two rheumatologists I saw simply noted the osteoarthritis and stopped looking there.  Finally, I was referred to an excellent doctor who looked beyond the first issue and identified AS as a culprit in my life.  This diagnosis allowed me to get treatment for the process (AS) that was causing most of my symptoms- including Remicade infusion therapy- which helped me a great deal.  If you’d like to read more about Dr. Overman, and his highly regarded book  - You Don’t LOOK Sick! Living Well With Invisible Chronic Illness, which was a finalist in the Health category of Best Books 2005 awarded by USA Book News, here is a link to his profile and clinic information: Seattle Arthritis Clinic Staff

Understanding the disease you have, and managing your own treatment, lifestyle and health is an absolute necessity in my opinion, and this article is a good place to start:

Complications of Spondylitis - Ankylosing Spondylitis Complications, Areas of Inflammation and More

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Sunshine on Discovery Bay

Sunshine on Discovery Bay
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