One day I won’t be able to do this, today is not that day.

John Hibbs - Ankylosing Spondylitis.

One day I won’t be able to do this, today is not that day. 

Today is #WorldASDay and I headed out into the glorious sunshine to run 5k as I fight the debilitating effects that AS places upon my body. In 2016 I was finally diagnosed with AS after many long years of suffering with arthritis which had specifically affected my back and knees.

Now, along side regular exercise, a healthy diet and biologic drug therapy I am slowly winning the battle to live a normal lifestyle!

Ankylosing Spondylitis is a painful, progressive form of inflammatory arthritis. It mainly affects the spine but can also affect other joints, tendons and ligaments.

Typical symptoms of AS include:

  • Slow or gradual onset of back pain and stiffness over weeks or months, rather than hours or days
  • Early-morning stiffness and pain, wearing off or reducing during the day with exercise
  • Persistence for more than 3 months (as opposed to coming on in short attacks)
  • Feeling better after exercise and worse after rest
  • Weight loss, especially in the early stages
  • Fatigue or tiredness
  • Feeling feverish and experiencing night sweats

You can find out more at www.nass.co.uk

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