myVancouver Ankylosing Spondylitis

optiklocal.com Andrew Morren has a form of arthritis that many in Canada haven't heard of. At 24, his spinal joints are fusing together, and by his mid-30s he's expected to have "the body of a one hundred year old man." Spend a day with Andrew to see how he overcomes the day-to-day challenges of living with AS, how he stays positive, and the plans he's making for the future. myVancouver #442 Faces & Places. Airing week of May 20th, 2013.

[@becca1aaron2matt3]

My 14 year old daughter was just diagnosed. Took a year of endless tests and specialists. Has taken away her love of cheer/tumbling/gymnastics. There are no words as a parent when you cannot help your child.

[@Carloshernandez-sp9ex]

Inspiring human being, so glad and fortunate that I actually meet him! Thanks Andrew!

[@glovere2]

Your fellow sufferers know what you are going through. I have had AS for over 30 years now. Just so you know, most people don't get the extreme fusing shown in the pictures. It's important to do the stretching exercises every day and to stay as active as possible. What I did was to pursue every natural remedy I could find in the early years. Then I progressed to NSAIDs and then to drugs to modify the disease like Humira. I had a bad experience with biologics, so that is something to be careful with. I get uveitis every 2 years or so and as soon as I notice eye pain, I go right to the ophthalmologist. You want to treat that right away. Untreated it will damage your vision. AS is a spectrum and nobody can predict how your illness will progress. Now in my 60s, I don't have anything like the pain I had in my 20s-40s. What I do have is a lot of persistent fatigue, which is way worse than the pain in terms of how it affects your life. Beware of those who offer cures. I had many remissions in the early years of my illness, some that lasted a year or longer. If that happens, it's normal to attribute it to whatever you are doing at the time, but that does not prove cause and effect. AS is designated as incurable for a reason. You might think you are "cured" from a diet or something else, but don't be surprised when your illness comes back. Mine did even after the no-starch diet and many other things I did that people swear by. Everyone is different. If you find something that works, by all means, keep doing it. It's a long haul and there will be dark times. You are young enough that you may indeed see a cure in your lifetime, or at least better treatments. There is always hope. Just last year I found a new pain doc who prescribed Dapsone (an anti-leprosy antibiotic) and Leflunomide (a DMARD). One month in, about 80% of my pain was gone with no side effects and a year later it's still working vs. only 5 months with Humira. It saved me from having to go on disability only 3 years away from Medicare eligibility. Unfortunately, I still have extreme fatigue, which is very disabling, but at least I'm not in so much pain. I'm thankful for any relief I can get. Good luck!

[@jethrox827]

Interesting read bro, I'm almost your age and I found out I had b27 in my 20s due to my eyes being inflamed, I've had unusual symptoms all my life, like a constant inflamed neck and middle back flare ups and some SI pain most of which I've assumed was sport related. I've kept most of it at bay by training in the gym for many years especially with heavy weights which I believe put heavy force on bones and vertebra cause them to resist deteriation, I've damaged my neck due to self manipulation giving me occipital neuralgia but I can live with that too. The more I read about AS the more I relate to the symptoms. I guess I'm not full blown but there isn't much info on not full blown AS

[@bluaurora8635]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I hope you are doing well

[@SignMeUpForThisBaby]

My man, I wish I could reach in and give you a hug! I don't have AS but have other spinal issues that cause chronic back pain. Everyday is a struggle with pain and no one really understands. Stay strong and I wish you all the best!

[@jennyhmdeh]

I nearly cried when watching this. I was diagnosed when I was 18 (I first started getting systems when I was 13), I'm now 26 and things are pretty bad. The English health system has failed me on numerous occasions, and the fusing of my spine is already well underway. It's a horrible condition. No one thinks that anything is wrong with me from the outside. Thank you for posting this.

[@mrlolegz]

Jenny how has the English health system failed you ?

[@teacher-author]

Good story. You're still so new to it. I've had it for over 20 years--still not hunch-backed. They say I will be. Massive neck pain, though. Good to know you're out there.

[@timotheaa]

Wonderful!! Thank you for sharing!

[@kelseyirene7620]

I was diagnosed about a year ago, but definitely had symptoms for years before!

[@mrlolegz]

Kelsey Irene Same here stay strong also love your videos 💛

[@llamamonkey9212]

Thanks for this.

[@harsarajshakya358]

i am with you

[@MegaGreva]

bad luck man, i was diagnosed today and now im unable to join the army saddest day of my life.

[@johnasee2049]

"A pain to get coverage for" must be that golden Canadian healthcare

[@bluesdirt5889]

Mic Mars has this and seems really locked up

[@glycerin256]

Thx for the video. My AS started while was in the Army. Eventually they discharged me for it. I am 30 now, still wondering what to do... Keep fighting every day.

[@anthonyledington3143]

Same situation

[@ItsJustMe-nq1dg]

This guy should try going 15-20 yrs trying to get diagnosed. I was diagnosed at 44.

[@LordWalsallian]

It isn’t a competition mate 🙄

[@ItsJustMe-nq1dg]

@@LordWalsallian Never said it was, mate. Just stating a fact. You win the competition for dumbest comment. Now buzz off.

[@ItsJustMe-nq1dg]

@@LordWalsallian Never said it was. Now, if you’re fine with the nonsense. Go spread your misery somewhere else. 🙄

[@LordWalsallian]

@@ItsJustMe-nq1dg Was there a competition for that too? Because you definitely won that with the “this guy should try going 15-20 yrs” as if he hasn’t struggled as much as you…that’s how it sounded.

[@ItsJustMe-nq1dg]

@@LordWalsallian I don’t care how it sounded to YOU. I never said he hadn’t struggled. I am saying my facts from my life because of how long women go without a diagnosis and being misdiagnosed. If you just have to spread your nastiness with nothing of substance then this conversation is done, mate! 🤦‍♀️

[@allnaturalsingh6705]

please try naturopathy.... warm water drinks ONLY, warm showers ONLY, and specific diets to SLOW it down also im not saying it for the hell of it.. theres ALWAYS a way to SLOW things down, even if we CANT stop them

[@Curt11111]

I have AS homie Been doing metal vocals for 13 years we can start a new deathcore band from living room lol.

[@texasinstruments2842]

Looks bad, painful. Try this meloxican 15 mg once daily or arcoxia 90 mg. (You might take a bit more I weigh less). They say more women and more swimming on your back are... useful... also mobility is a huge issue. I need a car.

[@texasinstruments2842]

hop in with these new people n animals : - ) Drugs on me

[@stephenmurphy8915]

Hey this is reversible. Its not a prescription drug deficiency so MD's don't know much about how to remedy and heal it but it is caused by a nutrient deficiency with the root cause of something called a mycoplasma (bacterial infection). This is how Rheumatoid arthritis occurs as well. The Mycoplasma must be eliminated with either an anti biotic or a silver sol over a period of time. Then Supplementing with mega dosages of preferably plant derived Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Boron, Selenium, omega 3/6/9, collagen, glucosamine and chondroitin.

[@benbecker1282]

Steven, i see you posted this a few years ago

[@getbennt]

You think it's funny to watch television differently. Don't forget when that happens you'll probably be more interested in the fact that the small of your back will be your bottom and just then you'll understand that those are the bones behind the black bruised skin you are trying to leather up with iso.

[@hiddenbicycles]

You're right, I shouldn't have a positive outlook on how my future looks, and just think about the bad. Good call.

[@getbennt]

OK? It's your eyes that watch the horizontal line, that won't change until you start seeing your chest straight ahead. It's like a chalk mark on a tire, roll the tire forward and the mark looks back and roll the tire backwards and the mark looks forward, that's how TV is watched. Never focus on a negative unless you are trying to change the focus.

[@hiddenbicycles]

I guess you simply cannot see a joke for what it is. One person isn't going to change the fact that I have a positive attitude about what is happening to me.

[@getbennt]

The analogy has upset you, yet you are not there yet.