Hi, I happened upon your site today while I was researching and wanted to correct some of what you say in your segment regarding Ankylosing Spondylitis.

"Ankylosing Spondylitis is the third most common arthritic disease (after osteoarthritis and rheumatiod arthritis)". According to whom, please? As a patient with A.S., I can tell you that it is considered rare. If it were the third most common arthritic disease, it would get funding for research. It doesn't a lot of the time.

It runs in families and almost (but not completely) exclusively affects young white males between the ages of 15 and 25 years old. It does have a genetic factor, yes, the HLA-B27 tissue type; however, this tissue type is not present in approximately 10% of sufferers. Also, it does not "almost (but not completely) exclusively" affect young white males. The current ratio of men to women is either 10:3 or 10:5, depending who's research you look at. Also, because A.S. presents very differently in women than in men, it is entirely possible that there are many women out there with this disease undiagnosed.

I have had A.S. since I was in my teens (at the least) but was not diagnosed until I was 37 because a woman's sacroilliac area does not fuse as quickly as a man's (as a rule).

The condition is caused when excessive calcium deposits are laid down, with the results that bones become fused together and ligaments become inflamed and eventually calcify. The spine - particularly the lower back - is the part of the body most commonly affected but other large joints can be hit too, and there is nearly always some general illness. A.S. is not caused by excessive calcium deposits, this is a result. The cause is the immune system attacking the area where the ligaments join the bone/joint casing. The calcium deposits only occur after a long period of unceasing inflammation. Many people fuse up through the cervical spine and also through the thoracic spine. Not only "other large joints can be hit", but also the small bones of the ankle and feet, the knees, fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips and jaw. There is no limit to what A.S. will affect, except based in the individual's case. The spine is always affected (hence the name of the disease - "Stiffness of the spine with inflammation").

After some time, if enough joints are affected, the whole of the spine can become rigid or ankylosed, with the result that the sufferer cannot bend. The ligaments which join the vertebrae onto the ribs may also harden with the result that the rib cage becomes flatter and the patient finds it difficult to breathe. Most sufferers also have inflammation of their eyes. Also, fusing of the ribs does not cause the ribcage to become flatter, but instead keeps the ribs from expanding as you inhale, thus making it difficult to take a deep breath.

Also, "most sufferers" is an overstatement on the number of people who actually present with iritis on a regular basis. I myself have only had a full blown iritis episode once in the 20 odd years I've had A.S.

The symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis are pain and stiffness in the back and other affected joints, and although these symptoms are usually worse in the mornings or after any rest or lack of movement they are often relieved by gentle exercise. You are correct that gentle exercise is of great benefit to A.S. patients; however, I would also point out the importance of proper treatment through a rheumatologist.

A.S. does not necessarily have to become as debilitating as it does if the patient takes steps to decrease inflammation, makes changes to the diet to determine if this is a factor in inflammation, exercises, learns good relaxation techniques and takes control of the disease by learning about it so he or she can work with a care giving team effectively.

I hope you don't mind me correcting you on this points, but as a woman with A.S. and as a patient who has learned about this disease through both research and living it, it is important to me that A.S. be presented correctly. There is far too much misinformation available about A.S. as it is.

Thank you
Kathy Hall

Gaz
No, thank you Kathy. Knowledge and experience is what I hope people find in these pages. You are an excellent example of someone who cares.

This is the previous text on the page - for reference.

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Ankylosing Spondylitis is the third most common arthritic disease (after osteoarthritis and rheumatiod arthritis). It runs in families and almost (but not completely) exclusively affects young white males between the ages of 15 and 25 years old.

The condition is caused when excessive calcium deposits are laid down, with the results that bones become fused together and ligaments become inflamed and eventually calcify. The spine - particularly the lower back - is the part of the body most commonly affected but other large joints can be hit too, and there is nearly always some general illness.

After some time, if enough joints are affected, the whole of the spine can become rigid or ankylosed, with the result that the sufferer cannot bend. The ligaments which join the vertebrae onto the ribs may also harden with the result that the rib cage becomes flatter and the patient finds it difficult to breathe. Most sufferers also have inflammation of their eyes.

The symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis are pain and stiffness in the back and other affected joints, and although these symptoms are usually worse in the mornings or after any rest or lack of movement they are often relieved by gentle exercise.

Further information can be found at:

KickAS.org -

Our mandate is to create a safe, supportive place where people with Ankylosing Spondylitis and their loved ones can share their experiences with, and learn from, others coping with this disease. Ultimately, our goal is to close this site for lack of AS sufferers, but in the meantime we are deeply committed to KICKIN' AS!