Jordan Langille
I am 28 years old and have been diagnosed with AS twice. I guess the story starts late summer 2003. I had a soccer game and was hit from behind during the second half, woke up the next day and was in a lot of pain. I thought that pain was related to the hit and I let it go. I played a high level in a few sports for a long time up to four times a week, bumps and bruises were part of my every day. After about two months the pain still had not gone away, I became inactive and gained about fifty pounds due to the inactivity. The pain became almost unbearable, so I decided to finally see a doctor. I was told to see a physiotherapist so I went to physio and that didn’t seem to help either. In the following spring I saw a rheumatologist did some blood work, this was when I was first diagnosed with AS, was given naproxen for the first time and that helped. There was one problem I didn’t believe the diagnosis, so I took the pain meds here and there only when I really needed them. Over the next seven years things began to get worse I was taking pain killers three times a day. My pain peaked in 2007 ended up driving myself to the hospital was given naproxen again and noticed instant relief, but I let the medication run out again. After years of taking ibuprofen daily, I decided to see a rheumatologist again. Since June of this year I have accepted that I have AS. Over the years I have still made time to play soccer but with each passing year I become a lot slower and less flexible. Getting off the couch and getting out of bed can be the two hardest parts of my day. Coughing and sneezing are two things I strive not to do. When my pain is at its worst it is almost always near my shoulder blades or neck. There was a two year span where my attitude was pretty poor as a result of the pain, I have since learned that I have two choices either feel sorry for myself or have fun and live my life. I choose having fun and living my life.
Jordan Langille Ottawa Canada
The Faces Of Ankylosing Spondylitis 
Dear Jordan,
Thank you for sharing your story with us. I agree, live life to the fullest and make the best out of what you have.
Sincerely Cookie