Jennifer, thanks for reaching out with that information.
I'm sure you'll see me posting there in no time as this has really blindsided me.

I have been in treatment with Orthopedic Dr.'s and surgeons since my first 3 cervical fusions began hurting after 15 good years.
That was in 2015.
Ended up with a 4th fused cervical vertebra. Kept regular appointments and occasional imaging when I feel pain just to be sure hardware and cages are good.

Fast forward to earlier in 2024, and the same Orthopedic surgeon that had imaged my cervical and thoracic region as I was having a transmodulation stim device implanted to attempt to curb some neck and shoulder pain.
Absolutely no mention of anything off.

I begin having real issues twisting, and breathing really deep causes physical pain, and it's firmly rooted in my Thoracic region.
So I see my Dr. (this is just a few months after stim implant) again, and I get the DISH syndrome/ Ankylosing Spondylitis diagnosed.
He explains the DISH is what's making the twisting and breathing tougher and that there is no real meds or treatment.

After reading about it a bit, I just don't understand how it went from "they don't see anything" to my ribcage feeling like it's lined with broken glass that fast.
From what I read, this isn't something that spreads like wildfire...

So deflated. Already more than 2 decades of cervical suffering, now, a literal future forecast of physical misery.

I really hope my case is an outlier.
I hate the thought of anyone feeling what I feel daily.

Sorry, didn't mean to get on a tangent, just meant to thank you for the information, and to finally answer the query in your message : Yes, it CAN help to be up and moving and actively trying to gently push to the boundaries of your movement.
Some days are tougher than others to endure to be honest, and I have begun to employ a system of a Brace prescribed by my pain management Dr., and several other braces I've accumulated through a sporting adulthood.

It's hard to watch my wife's face as I struggle into the 7 accessories I need just to be able to be ambulatory.

If the case is not that severe yet, I would highly recommend getting into a routine of activity that will find the person articulating their spine as much as they can tolerate.
Once you start losing that mobility to the hardening of tissue, it's really painful to break up that calcification (I'm sure that's not what's really happening, it just feels that way on the inside lol) and get motion out of that soft tissue.

Thank you again, I have a tendency to be verbose, but truly appreciate your time and information.

Please be safe out there, and I hope you have a great day and rest of '25!