Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group UK members, PLEASE READ THIS!

Hi,
Can you tell where else such courses are organised.

Regards.

Jay

Hi Jay, as far as I know, this specific course runs in the UK and in Canada, other than that, I really don't know. Maybe if you had a Rheumatoid hospital near you than that would be somewhere to start looking. In the UK we have NASS (National A S society), maybe you have something like this in India? It was at my local NASS exercise evening that I was told about the course, and if you have something like NASS then I would really recommend attending.
Hope this helps

Hi tor,
Thank you.

Jay

Saw my GP this afternoon. Had printed out the information re the AS Residential Course for him - including notes from the posts here on this thread (thanks Tori et al). He will be writing a letter for me to Dr Stone and including with it the letter he received from my Prof. He seemed quite impressed by the ground covered in the course and agreed that there was NOTHING akin to it available in France.

Found out the costs for non UK residents, PHEW!! There goes my holidays for a couple of years, at LEAST... But think it will be worth it. Now getting real excited - sure WISH I'd known about it beforehand though. Sigh. (Would have saved me a small fortune.)

Molly C (France)
Keeping on Keeping on (stuffing along - with a hole in me pocket! )

I would like to know more about this. Is it one of the Radon baths I read about in How to Conquer Ankylosing Spondylitis By Micah Cranman, his diet has helped some but I am not sure I can keep this up. Does this hospital take US Citizens? What kind of results did you get? Do you have AS or another form Rheumatic disease?

Hi Kbeadle, I have not heard of radon baths, sounds interesting!?, what i'm talking about is a two week residential course that trains you in coping methods for AS, many stretches, exercises,and educational talks, and daily hydrotherapy. Yes, I have not had a really pain full day since so i am impressed, I finished course on the 8th July , For me now, stretching is nice, and its part of my routine, its stuff that your doctor or regular phisio just doesn't know, these guys do because all they deal with is AS, they get you stretching while your brushing your teeth or waiting for the kettle, so its much easier than having to find the time to do it every day. Also, because of the course, I now have a gym ball, and a 'thera-band'-a bit of elasticy-rubber attached to the leg of my table which I routinely place my foot in and exercise my hips- amazing, all for under £10, feels like i have a gym in my bedroom!
I know this course also takes place in Canada, for more info on the one I went to in the UK, look at my other post, think its now just below Molli's post, where I explain a load about it, also see BATH Rheumatic hospital web page, ->specialities and departments-> AS- inpatient course. Hope this helps, I cannot recommend the course enough.
All the best
T

Hey Molly, glad you got referral letter sorted, you guys across the water have to pay? That's a shame. I know what you mean by AS putting a hole in your pocket. I used to hitch, sleep on sofas, on the ground at festies, and not worry about looking after myself, now its all different.
I'm so much happier for doing this course , putting yourself first can be hard, but do treat it as a holiday, all the focus is on you, and there's loads to see and do in Bath. As an inpatient, you are aloud into the historic roman baths free, and you get a discount into the heated 'therma baths' which has a rooftop pool, pure luxury!
Do let me know how you get on when you get there
All the best
Tori

Just can't thank you enough for giving us the 'heads up' on this'un Tori. Fantastic.

As for Bath. Sort of 'know' it and, have a cousin who lives there...'smile'. So, will catch with a visit to her. Strangely, the cost of attending the course is cheaper for an in-patient than to attend as a daily patient!

Tori. The MTB (?) shoes. Did you purchase em at the hospital, nearby to the hospital, or...? Want to get myself a pair, and, although can purchase on-line, it is always a matter of 'correct' fit. I can take anything from a 5.5 to a 6.5 (occasionally even a 7!) Depends on the cut etc (used to even take a 5 in some styles, but, with my now arthritic feet, no longer). So, would never buy on-line.

Also, clothes. I 'suppose' sort of general gym wear and swim wear - this last diff for me as I have a TOTAL adversion to 'sharing' tubs, water etc. And, chlorine will 'do' a right number on my psoriasis. Get around it somehow though. Perhaps they have a suana...'smile'.

I have thera bands (for rehab after my shoulder replacement and SAD/ACJ surgeries); also a gym ball - that I don't rightly know how to use! So these exercises will be of particular and pertinent interest.

I'll let everyone know how I get on...can't hardly wait. (Going to dove-tail trip with a *much needed* visit to the dentist - desperate.)

Thanks Tori.

Molly C (France)
Keeping on Keeping on (one foot in front of the other, hopefully even skipping soon...haha)

Hey Molly, aw, I'm excited for you now too!

I don't know what their waiting times are, but it came so quick for me, I just got a phone call and got offered a few dates over the next months.

So, the MBT shoes, I was advised to wait until I got there, and within the first few days, we had a session with a podiatrist, she checked everybody's feet and she talked about the MBTs, told us how they can be of great benefit to some of us, but for others, they would not be suitable right now due to the planterfasci thing, I was one of those and had no idea, so they have sorted referral for me at home, I'm so lucky to have that picked up so early,and now can work on it. My friend on the course, Jane, got some MBTs as soon as she got home, she thinks there fab, and wrote on Kickas about them on the tips pages. If you want some whilst your there, they have plenty in baths shops at about £100-150, if you have some good trainers already that your comfy in,they would probably be fine for the classes.

Yes, for clothes, you would just need a couple of outfits that resemble comfy gym clothes, I lived in my Yoga pants, now I have a purpose for them its easy to get your clothes washed where you stay, and don't worry about the pool, its LOVLEY, I must admit, I was worried about the pool being clean, it being a hospital n all, but it was spotless, and always having its water replaced. They have individual little changing/showering areas for each person, and your a few minutes walk from the house you stay in.

You mention psoriasis, I swear by my hemp oil, a few others on my course did as well, you may be using it already, i don't know, all i know is that i cant get enough of the stuff and it can do miracles for skin, not to mention our bones . You can get it in many supermarkets now, also directly as a moisturizer- www.hempshop.co.uk
for anyone who is reading and wants to know more about hemp seed consumption in relation to many health issues we are affected by- http://www.regenerativenutrition.com/content.asp?id=64
sorry, i cant help but rant a little about the hemp

Unfortunately, they don't have a sauna, but there are lovely steam rooms at the therma baths, half my group went to the baths both weeks they liked it so much.