Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group A pat on the back!!

I just wanted to send every one of you that offer advice and support to people on this site, a pat on the back... (I'll be gentle on any of you who need me to). I've found myself lately sneaking a quick look at the site whenever I have a moment because it makes the everyday challanges a little less taxing. As a new member and AS kicker I am psyched to have this resource at my finger tips.
One fairly broad question for the group..... outside of prescription meds, how would you all rate the best sources of relief from the everyday discomforts (i.e. 1. stretching 2. NSD/LSD 3. etc....)?? Being a newbie waiting to have my Dr. confirm my diagnosis and refer me to a rheumy I want to figure out what I can do for myself that I may not be doing. Fortunatly for me I've been doing yoga for a few years and that seems to have been helpful to some people who post on here... Let me know

Thanks again to all the helpful people!!

For me its kinda like a stew. Leave out any ingredient and its just not hte same.

If I miss my weekly massage, I'm toast.
If I allow stress to creep in to my daily existence, I'm toast.
No exercise preferably in a pool, I'm toast.
Too much cheating on my LSD, toast again.
Skip my daily lurid fantasy about Michelle Pfieffer...well.. my AS doesn't mind this so much but then what's the purpose of living.

 
stevec-they also serve who stand and wait

Darnit stevec! Would you pleeeaaase stop talking about toast. Oh how I miss it. *sigh*

Christina

I can't speak for anyone else but I had the most amazing luck with the NSD. I quit starches completely for a month and a half and most of my pain went away. When I cheated and ate a hamburger bun I found myself having an allergic reaction. Same thing with popcorn. Since cutting those permanently out of my diet (potatoes too) most days I can get away without taking the heavy duty pain meds. I have lost about 20 lbs too without even trying.

Christina

Stretching is an important ingrediant in my life to get me moving.I am a 5 days old NSD starter so far the pains have almost cleared but not yet completely.And I don't have any intention to break it for the next maybe atleast for 3 months, since I am pretty much doing a lot of high impact excercises and have a normal life like any other healthy person ,which I was not able to do completely previous to the diet.
I will keep doing the diet so that I get to do other things.
Fighter

I do pilates and take Flamenco dancing. Both of them are integral to my physical (and mental) well being. Also, my chiro mobilizes my spine every week or two and I go for massage.

Not to mention that I've cut wheat and cow dairy out of my diet, both of which I have found exacerbate my AS. I cut them out at the suggestion of my naturopath, and we are currently testing other foods that might have an effect.

Hope that helps.

Hugs,

Kat