Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Can trauma to the body trigger AS

Thanks so much for all your comments on this.

MCM I'm very interested in what you say about pregancy and nursing.
In my 10 years of remission I have had 3 babies and nursed all of them. I stopped nursing my 3rd baby before Christmas (2009). Maybe this has protected me in some way.

Chris Firstly, I'm really sorry to hear how drastically AS has changed your life. It must have been such a shock to go from your physically demanding job to suffering the dehabilitating effects of AS. I am back on the NSD as this is the only way I know to rid symptoms of AS for me. Last night, however, we were entertaining and I slipped off the wagon. I had a slice of tart (a small slice!!) but I am paying the price this morning. So that is a test which proves to me that the diet is working when I stick to it properly. My pregnancy was over a year ago - but that was when I started to go off the rails food wise - I didn't make that very clear. Thanks for you kind words.

Jroc I am intrigued by your theories on trauma and AS. What you say rings very true with me.

Hi Wendy,

Shug had a fundoplication to correct his reflux, I've no idea if it was a full or partial one as at that time we questioned nothing medical. It's been a total success and Shug is still reflux free, it made an amazing difference to his life, however the op we believe was the trigger for his AS.

I've not researched if there is a link between reflux and AS, all I know is Shugs mum also has AS and also had corrective surgery for reflux/hiatus hernia, coincidence maybe...or not, who knows.

I personally believe it. Any kind of stress on your body whether it is physical, mental or emotional can cause a flare of these diseases. I hope you feel better soon.

Possi

im not really sure to be honest but i can tell you i suffered spondylolisthesis just before pre-AS kicked in. first symptoms was great toe swelling and sore and stiff lower back, then achilles problems, then knee cyst, then lots of lower back pain and swelling, then heaps of SI pain, then shoulder and kneck pain, then middle back pains with associated side rib pains, then breathing difficulties, then weaken of whole body sort spots on hip bones. all this began for me about 20 years ago about 6 weeks into Army Field Engineering Sapper Training. id say the NBC riot gas training chambers wouldnt have been exactly the best stuff for general health either.

IN my family trauma seems to be what AS is triggered by.My father in ww2 the ship he was loading blew up broke his back in 3 places AS set in .When i was 16 i broke my neak in a car accident AS sent in after .My son 28 had a 600 lb gate fall on him 6 months later AS.I think different things cause this old AS and different things trigger it.
Bradford

Hi there, I first began having back pain when I was in my teens. I do remember falling on my way to school one day when I was 12, but really, the back pain didn't start for another three years. Also, I never had the kind of energy that most kids have. Always felt as tho I was running through mud and this has alleviated since starting Remicade. So, I can't say that there was a physical trauma that triggered my AS.

However, AS is an auto-immune based disease and anything that causes stress of any kind can and will trigger a flare. Our bodies respond to stress like this. I'm sorry to hear you're having a rough go of it.

Hugs,

Jroc theories really make sense to me!

Tink - the only information on pregnancy and AS I've found says there's no link between pregnancy and remission which can sometimes happen with other arthritis, but have no idea what studies have been done on it. I've read some don't get any better, some do and some get worse. But my rheumy told me that it could bring on remission? so who knows, but i do know my symptoms worsen with my cycle, so it made sense to me that they would subside while pregnant and nursing. But the mom's suffering during their pregnancies could argue against that - its such a variable disease!

Shugswife - i have to ask - is that a pyrenees? We have an 11 year old - Ava Bear (ava's short for Avalanche). She/he's a beaut whatever the breed! mary cay

Hey Tinkerbell, I Just wanted to welcome you also. I thought i did yesturday but with the superbowl i got distracted by a hungry husband and my son Jake who is 8. I am a newer member aslo and just learning my way around on the forum. I don't do much online except to find info when needed and shop, i can do that and probably to much. I am glad i registered instead of just lurking cause everyone is very nice and the info you find has been very helpful. I have been suffering with AS for almost 20yrs and just diagnosed. I had to fire my old rheumy but am seeing a new one this week, thats if i don't get snowed in. We woke up to snow and expected to get up to 6 inches it wouldn't be so bad, but we live out in the sticks and on a very big hill, spring and summer it's beutiful and i also think the 1st and 2nd snow is beutiful but i want to see blue sky and bright sunshine to warm my aching bones.
Gotta go finish some laundry while i have energy which has been awhile

Take Care

Thank you - I appreciate that answer because I'm still trying to learn what can cause the inflamed oesophagus and what options are open to me for fixing it. However, I followed up on fundoplication and it sounds pretty scary. It's certainly a major operation unless it's done laparoscopically.

I'm nervous about long term risks of oesophageal cancer because of the damage to my oesophagus and the fact that, even with meds and careful eating, the reflux continues to recur, causing more damage.