Jeff Shaw
My name is Jeff Shaw and I was diagnosed with AS in 2008. I started having severe pain in my hips and buttocks in 2001 but the pain would go away. My doctor thought I had AS but couldn’t find a rheumatologist to agree with him. Then in 2008 I had the worst flare of my life. I could hardly walk, turn my head or open my mouth. Pain killers and prednisone would not even touch it. From that point on the pain never went away. I was sent back to a rheumatologist that I had been to before and he looked at my new x-rays and told me that he had to eat crow. I am now on Enbrel and pain killers along with a host of other drugs. I also have Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis in my knees and degenerative disc disease. I have been on disability since 2012 but still manage to work 2 or 3 half days if I can. Every day is a struggle but I try to keep a positive attitude.
Wisconsin, United States of America
Dear Jeff,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
Sincerely Cookie