Karen Nolan-Evans
A little about me
From Wales, UK.
SPORT:
I played football for most of my childhood and early 20s. I also praticed TKD where I gained my 2nd Dan Black Belt,
Mid 20s I started Kibckboxing.
During the last 6-12 months of training in kickboxing I was finding movement and twisting a big struggle. I could barely do sit ups as I was getting intense back pain. My knees started to weaken and I needed several surgeries on them.
My left knee needed an osteotomy which resulted in me not being able to return to kickboxing. I could have returned and concentrated on earning my belts but I found it too difficult to watch others sparring and not be able to join in.
Bodybuilding:
I moved home January 2012 and joined a local gym called Muscle and Fitness Barry Island. After a while the owners (Guy and Karren Sillett) encouraged me to take part in a local bodybuilding competition. Although I have always weight trained, since age 16 years, I never trained with the intention to grow as much muscle as possible. My previous training background certainly gave me a good stepping stone into bodybuilding training as I loved the intensity and discipline of the sport. I entered the NABBA Wales Miss Trained Figure category where I placed 2nd. I was hooked and couldn’t wait to compete again. Two months later I entered and won the BNBF Welsh Natural Bodybuilding Championships. I was invited to the BNBF British Finals in Manchester. I was an opportunity I couldn’t resist and although I didn’t feel quite ready I decided to enter for the experience and to learn as much as possible. Just being on the same stage as some o the more experienced girls was an honour.
After this season I was selected to represent the UK at the INBA World Championships in Slovakia June 2014. An opportunity I couldn’t let slip between my fingers. I travelled to Slovakia and although I didnt place I learnt a lot about my body. The journey over caused a huge flare up and I struggled to walk. Competition day I struggled to remove the excess water I had built up due to the inflammation and what use to be a nice set of abs turned into a bloated mess. Despite this I remained positive and did my best. I was proud of myself for competing in an able bodied class with this disease.
Soon after I decided not to compete in bodybuilding again. That was until Sonia Armitage, organiser of the IBFA Miss England championships encouraged me to enter her competition. I wasn’t even aware there was a disAbility category available and thought it was just for people in wheelchairs. I am looking forward to making my debut in this category.
I am still hooked on this sport and cant ever see me stopping. Bodybuilding helps the symptoms of my A.S. The strength work helps with the joints and I;m convinced the healthy diet required for this sport also helps my symptoms.
A.S
I continued to have joint trouble and saw a spinal physio who referred me to a rheumatologist. As a result and many examinations I was diagnosed with sero-negative Spondyloarthropathy.
Since that time I have been on several DMARDs (Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) namely Sulfasalazine, Oral Methotrexate, Sub cut Methetraxate (self administered) and Leflunomide, aswell as anti-inflammatory medication. I am currently receiving antiTNF (Cimzia) aswell as other meds.
I started to develop increasing spine and hip pain over the autumn and winter of 2013 and had an MRI in January 2014.
The results showed quite bad inflammation in 5 vertebrae (lower 3 thoracic and upper 2 lumbar) which led my Rheumatology Dr to change my diagnosis from Spondyloarthropathy to Ankylosing Spondiltiis. I was then referred for anti-TNF treatment.
Since the diagnosis I’ve had several surgeries aswell as the osteotomy including ankle reconstructions with LARS (http://www.lars-ligaments.com/) on both ankles. End of 2014 both LARS ankle surgeries failed. The ligaments had ruptured somehow. Dec 30th 2014 I had my left ankle LARS repaired and had arthrex ligaments fitted. I am now on the waiting list for my right ankle to have the same procedure.
AntiTNF was going well until I had to stop taking it so I could have surgery over new year. I have restarted it but it hasnt had the same effect. I am currently waiting for another MRI scan result to determine whether the disease has progressed so my doctor can decide whether to change the treatment.
The Faces Of Ankylosing Spondylitis 
Dear Karen,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
Sincerely Cookie