Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips Suggestions

i wouldn't look at it as anything YOU are doing wrong, rather are there other things to manage your disease even more than you already are?

like kat said, heat for stiffness, ice for inflammation.

if i'm sitting at home in the recliner, i've got the heating pad set on low on my upper back, often with an icepack over my SI.

i also can't imagine starting my day without a hot shower in the morning. usually end my day with a hot bath as well, with epsom salts and lavender oils.

i have a paraffin wax bath for my hands and feet.

when my hands or feet are at their worst, i do contrast baths instead. that back and forth in the hot-cold water helps more than heat or cold alone. learned that trick from a hand therapist in PT.

since i have undiff spondy and that's harder to "quantitate" with blood work or scans, its been a long time coming to the stronger drugs. and nsaids have been a challenge (either they work but cause gastritis and/or edema, or don't work enough). because of this i started LDN (but if you are on a biologic, not sure about the combo, drizzit is the one i know who either is or was on both). the LDN has been really helpful for me.

and zanaflex, helps my muscles not be so tight, which helped my joints (tendons really) not be so inflamed.

so many other little things really that i often forget til i do it / use it, then remember, lots of assists to help my body out.