Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Can't walk

My back flared up Friday night and I can't stand up or walk for more than 2-3 minutes at a time before excruciating pain sets in and I have to quickly lie down. I'm on enbrel, diagnosed since 2012. I am seeing the NP at my rheum. Office tomorrow at 9 am. Anything I can do besides lie here and wait for it to get better? Is this a normal occurrence? This is new for me except for one episode in 2001. Thank you

I don't personally think this is normal for AS. My AS has always gotten better with activity, as long as we're talking moderate activity.

I started getting upper back pain, and from the spring it got progressively worse. At first I was able to be up and active for about 2 hours. Then 1 hour. Then just 1/2 hour until I reached the breaking point and couldn't be up for more than 3-4 minutes at a time before being in such pain my husband was asking me if we needed to go to Emergency Room.

That was 3 months ago. I still can't really be on my feet for very long at all but here is what I found so far.

#1: I believe this is something other than AS, although perhaps brought on by AS.

#2. My "regular" doctors are clueless as to the cause. Even my rheumy said she totally agrees, it does NOT seem like AS, but her only offering is "let's prescribe some new drugs for AS". I said no thanks to that.

#3. Skipping a few inbetween steps, saw a Naturopathic doctor. Given that MRI and xRays showed nothing that would cause this, he performed a manual exam and concluded that most likely it is a facet joint issue. Cause unknown. I suspect maybe AS is underlying the physical changes, since upper back pain is fairly uncommon for this type of completely debilitating pain. I have been unable to be on my feet for the last 3 months now.

#4. Getting PRP injections (Platelet Rich Plasma injections) I am getting better, no doubt about it, but it is a SLOW, SLOW progress.

#5. Started warm water exercise therapy, only had two sessions so far but it feels divine

#6. If you think this may apply for you, and you have additional questions, let me know.

Hello, Jamie:

There were times I was totally unable to walk, due to hip bursitis. That was a very regrettable time as it was when I began taking NSAIDs--the worst mistake of my life!

It takes a long time to get this bad, and it can take a long time to eliminate the inflammation causing this. I used to get by with occasional six days of fasting. But if You had time to run out and get borage seed oil about six or eight capsules would help, but also fresh wheatgrass juice at perhaps 6oz on empty stomach.

I would avoid the steroid taper except as last resort.

And would RUN AWAY from NSAIDs totally.

AS was not caused by drugs and drugs cannot eliminate this; it is LIFESTYLE.

HEALTH,
John