Having suffered for years with AS an extreme pain when coughing and sneezing, I have come across a technique to help coughing.

Sadly, I had a severe bicycle crash at the weekend and broke collarbone, scapula and 4 ribs, on of which punctured my lung. I have to now regularly cough to stop the build up of mucus, and have been shown a brilliant way been shown a brilliant technique by a physio - that of "Huffing".

In summary, the aim is to use a breathing technique to get the mucus as far up the lungs so it only takes one cough to clear the mucus.

This website describes the technique very well
http://www.northdevonhealth.nhs.uk/patie..._techniques.htm

The other tip the physio has given is to use a long towel rolled up, across the back, using the arms to pull the towel in support, to better support the broken ribs. Again very helpful now, and I'm sure will be when all cleared and it is just AS.

So at least some good came out of the accident, and for the future I'll have a better time coughing. As for sneezing, in most cases my body seems to be able to stop a sneeze - brain probably been trained that it is a little bit painful !

Cheers, Finchie