I so know what you mean. So if you are crazy so am I.
I recently did a 9hr trip home from my daughters state titles. My left knee was quite sore and I just put it down to the AS as I have a lot of knee troubles. Then 4 nights later it was still realy sore and when I looked down my calf had swollen.
Had to go to emergency and turns out I had DVT (blood clot)
This could have killed me if it had moved.
Never again will I just assume it is the AS even if the doctors get sick of seeing me, which is another reason why I just blamed the AS.

You are def not alone.