Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group THE ULTIMATE REBUILD

Hi everyone,
AS totally destroyed my life, a year ago I was completely deformed & disabled. My spine was fused, curved & I also had chin on chest deformity + I was unfit & fat. I thought my life was over, I hid away from the world because I was so embarrassed with how i looked. I had zero confidence, zero self esteem & I had lost my personality, sense of humor & everything that made me who I once was....it had destroyed my soul & I was living in a PERPETUAL CYCLE OF MISERY.

1 year later.....

I've had 2 massive spinal corrective surgeries, 1st on my neck & the 2nd on my lower thoracic (middle of my spine). I went from 5ft3 to 6ft & can stand up almost straight again. I'm fit & strong, bodybuilding everyday. Whoever that pathetic person was who took over my life for nearly 10yrs is gone.....I've become myself again.
Everybody I see tells me I look totally normal, however I still have a deformity at the very top of my spine (upper thoracic)....this curve stops me from standing up completely straight & efforts my ability to stick my chest out & have my head up in a true good looking posture. therefore I begged my surgeon to do 1 more surgery to give me the posture I want.

I'm having the 3rd corrective surgery on the 27th June 2018, which will complete an epic trilogy within 1 year & hopefully give me the posture i desire & I can then begin my new journey & my 2nd chance at life.....blessed.

NEVER LOSE HOPE, NEVER GIVE UP!!!!

Ant:)

Congratulations AJ you and the surgeons have done very well. I myself had similar surgery in the early 1980s. This was in the U.K. but I can't seem to find where you are located wherever it is I am sure you will have as much benefit from it as I have had. "BUT" and there is alway a but with these things be very careful you now look after yourself as your spine is still in a very delicate. The benefit I had from the surgery lasted me over 20 years but then things went wrong. I am now trying to find another surgeon to re-do the original surgery but am not able to do so as they all say I am now at over 70 years of age too old to undergo such radical surgery. Enjoy your new life but just be carefull.

Way to go man!

Keep on fighting.

It's pretty rare for someone to suffer from such severe disease these days.

If I'm not intruding, do you take meds?

That is inspiring AJ.

I concur that exercise is important. It keeps the immune system calm but strong. I used to be an exercise junkie: swam, ran, lifted weights, tennis,... I was self motivated too. I got high from it. But ironically getting an education changed my habits. Now I am a brain junkie.

Cheers! Keep your chin up!
Robin