When did I find out….

About 14 years ago when I moved back to the US. I finally found out what for so many years has brought be to excruciating pain. I haft to say that looking back on life. Even though AS is genetically generated. I started having symptons at the age of about 11. Had pains that no hospital and doctor could figure out what they were. Was always diagnosed with other things. Be honest with you having AS is tough because I dont think anybody understand how painfull it really is.

This is basically how it works. You are born with a lack of a gene. Your body produces too much calcium. You live in 24 hours inflamatory process in your body. All the calcium created is then deposited between your joints, which in turn slowly eats away at all the cartilage that is located there, and if you are not mobil enough to keep the movements up you will eventually loose the mobility of that joint because cartilage will be gone and it will turn into a entire bone structure.

During that process is where the excrutiating process occurs. Imagine buying a brand new Jeep. Taking of the shocks and going for a strole on the worst country road you could find. At 100mph. It will certainly be a very harsh ride. Well that is what I deal with 24 hours a day. Pain in my joints because of lack of cartilage, so my bones are rubbing one against the other. Not the way things were intended to be. And until there is fusion the pain does not subside. But after the fusion you have the loss of mobility, so its a never ending cycle.

I have been through so many doctors its not even funny. To me most dont care. It just another car on the assembly line. In fact you can problably can count on your hand the doctors that really care now a day. They are desensitized and carry it on as if it was a general motors car assembly line. Sorry to be blunt but that is how I feel. Specially here in the USA.

Two years ago I decided to abandon medication. My problem does not have a cure, the drugs only produce patches for the real problem, they dont fix anything. Only maintain the levels of inflamation low and confortable. Well I am a christian and my FAITH keeps me going. I have learned to control my pains with my mind. Of course from time to time its impossible because when the flair up come nothing holds things back but for the most part I control my pains and suffer quietly.

I alway look for new alternatives and specially natural things, have learned to cut back on certain foods that generate a more accute state of my 24 hour inflamation. So here I am a AS carrier that is slowly learning to deal with it. I am 42 today. I have my limitations due to my fusions. But I still have not givin up on anything. I do everything with my kids although sometimes the rollercoaster produce tears in my eyes due to the intense pain. But I figure its not there fault and I must enjoy things with them. I regret not being able to play soccer any longer and tennis but I guess that is just par for the course. Will try to come back as much as I can and keep sharing what happens…. Thanks for taking the time to listen to me !!! 

2 Comments

Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI