Just Been Told I Have Ankylosing Spondylitis

[MattMoore]

After several visits to the hospital with an eye problem, diagnosed as anterior uveitis I have now found out that the results of my blood tests 2 months ago show a positive for HLA B27. I've been told that this coupled with the uveitis means I have Ankylosing Spondylitis. Although I suffer no back pain yet it is there.
I just wondered if anyone here knows anything about it, or also has it? I know that I am going to have to make some changes to my lifestyle to stop it from affecting me severely so I am keen to make these changes as soon as possible.

Thanks

Matt

[e46acs]

Welcome to the club.

I have AS and was not diagnosed until I was about 26, but had suffered with extreme knee/hip/back & neck before it was finally diagnosed.

Never had any issues with my eyes though.

Took several years of treatment/drugs before we found what worked for me; phenylbutazone (which everyone has been eating for free in horse burgers anyway!), and what a difference!!!! From day one they totally changed my life. Been on them for about 11 years now, and have halved my dosage recently as all is well.

My pain in the dark days was crippling; spasms, sweats, no sleep, could hardly move. But it has all settled down.

AS does come in extremes of severity, and will calm down in your 30's, and in general appeases and even relents as you get older (as in my case).

I can always "feel" my back in that makes sense, but it does not impact on my life or prohibit me from doing anything, although I cannot lay on front for more than a few mins, and some certain movements can cause some discomfort, but I live around these now. If I have done excess physical work, I suffer a bit more, and I get the odd flair up, but in the main, everything is OK.