Hi tspoon3! You don't say how old you are, and this would help me better understand where you might be in your AS progress. I am 72 and I too have AS and have had symptoms going back into my 30s. I was misdiagnosed until the last 5-6 years, so my disease is fairly advanced. (They were treating me for DISH). I now have an amazing rheumatologist who has managed to get things well under control. I am assuming you have had a positive HLA b27 test to further confirm your diagnosis? If you do not currently have a really good rheumatologist who is well acquainted with AS, I would encourage you to find one as soon as possible. (By the way,) I also have fibromyalgia likely secondary to the AS. At any rate, I have learned that it is important to catch this disease as early as possible to help arrest it and keep it from worsening. You are doing all you can through supplements and diets to control your inflammation and not aggravate your AS, but the underlying disease is still present and needs to be addressed separately. It is also advisable to acquire a really good Pain Management Specialist to help you manage this portion of the disease until your AS is under control.

Once I was firmly diagnosed by an excellent rheumatologist, I was started on Humira, which helped but did not completely manage my disease. I am currently on Remicade infusions every 6 weeks, which has essentially arrested the progression of the AS, as well as Lyrica for the fibro. I also have medication from my Pain Management specialist for my lower back fusion pain due to the cascading bone associated with the AS, my neck pain secondary to multiple anterior osteophytes present in my neck, and to manage flares. I am very fortunate not to have osteoporosis and am sorry to hear you are needing to manage that as well.. Should I have a flare with my joints swelling and the resulting extreme mobility issues, I have been put on short-term, very low-dose prednisone to decrease the inflammation and get me mobile again. When I am not in flare, I am essentially pain-free on this regimen and have reduced my pain management medication significantly. Will be glad to try to help with anything else if I can. Hang in there tspoon3!

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