Hi
I'm 36 years old now with 26 years of arthritis (JRA then AS) when I was 19 I got both hips replaced. Since then I have been I have fusing off and on until the point where I am now. Fused forward neck, fused straight back, half fused shoulders, hardening sternum and cartilage in my throat. My newest problems is my ribcage getting stiffer, Osteoporosis, pinched nerves, heart rythem problems, muscle deterioration, and my back is falling apart. I can't do much of anything anymore, I need help walking, getting dressed, showering, can barely cook longer than a few minutes at a time. I can't look forward so I'm always walking into cabinet doors that I forget to close. (that always leaves a nice mark on my head). My back fused straight, but each veratbra is fused twisted to the left or right all the way up my back, and it's very noticeable in the lumbar area. I can't move my neck but my back moves slightly. Also, my hands hurt pretty bad in the joints too.
Well I think that's everything AS related, unless you count Anxiety, kidney stones and some past hernias, lung infections etc. Most of the reason my AS progressed so fast is because I wasn't always under the best of care, and there was a short period of time where I didn't want to see doctors too, when I tried to fight it on my own.
Take care,
James.
Last edited by JamesB; 02/03/07 04:31 AM.
