Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Just for Yucks

Yes, yet another question:

What is the difference between AS and pain due to muscular causes?

Jen

I would think the two go hand and hand. If your joint is sore due to AS it stands to reason the muscle surrounding it will be sore as well. As far as blaming your problem on muscle pain, since when does someones ankle muscle become sore? It just doesn't add up to me. That said I am not an expert on muscle pain so hopefully someone with more knowledge will respond. Hope you find some answers.

Deborah

Hi Deborah,

Actually, muscles can very easily become painful without being injured. When one's muscle starts to tighten up from tension, overuse, standing or sleeping in a certain way for some length of time, you will likely begin to feel the pain.

One of the nice things about having the periodic acupuncture treatments is having this pain go away quickly when a needle is inserted right into the muscle and causes the muscle to instantly relax and stretch out.

Over the years, the major cause of pain I used to have was caused by my muscles tightening up because of my posture. It could be argued that this pain would have happened even if it wasn't the AS that caused the bad posture.

AS sometimes gets a bad rap for causing just about every health problem known to man. For example, how many ASKickers have had major hair loss since they were diagnosed with AS?

George

Hi Jen,

I'm no expert but it seems to me that AS is the disease which is made up of many symptoms, including muscle pain but not ONLY that. The predominant symptom of AS is pain/inflammation of the sacroiliac but as many here know, many joints may be involved. For me, when a particular joint becomes inflamed (I can feel pain right where the bones meet), frequently the surrounding muscles will then become painful. My rheumy explained that the muscles tense to support the sore joint and then the tense muscles become stiff/sore/painful. I think therefore, it stands to reason that most people with joint pain will likely also have sore muscles!

Lori

I have fibromyalgia (a muscular disease) as well as AS. My rheumy says I'm twice cursed. My rheumy calls it a "catch 22".

The AS makes the FM (muscles) act up and in reverse, the AS makes the FM act up.

They go hand in hand. When one is sore/acting up, chances are so is the other!

CJ

Into every life, a little rain must fall.

I just don't understand why I have all these "muscular" problems. Everyone's body has misalignments, etc. Many people wear orthodics. Many people do not do stretching exercises, etc. I am not overweight (I'm not super thin either.) So why do I seem especially "blessed" with all this pain/soreness/stiffness? My supervisor at work says that it's because of the way I sit at my desk. It probably doesn't help. . .

I started doing those lower back exercises the doctor gave me and the middle of my back hurts when I do them. Something's obviously pulling on something else and it ain't happy.

Jen