I was 19 years old and in university when I first heard the words Ankylosing Spondylitis. At the time, I had no idea how much those words would shape my life. Like many young adults, I was focused on my studies, my future, and figuring out where life would take me—but suddenly, I had to navigate all of that while also learning to live with a chronic illness. The pain, the stiffness, the uncertainty of what lay ahead—it was overwhelming. But I refused to let AS define me.
Through the years, I faced each stage of life with determination. I finished university, pushed through the challenges of starting my career, got married, and built a family—all while dealing with the ups and downs of my condition. There were days when the pain felt unbearable, times when fatigue made even the simplest tasks exhausting, and moments when I worried about how AS would shape my future. But through trial and error, I found ways to adapt, to keep moving forward, and to focus on what I could do rather than what I couldn’t.
In this section, I’ll share my personal journey—how AS affected different stages of my life and the strategies I used to overcome its challenges. From handling the demands of work and family to finding treatments that helped me stay active, I hope my story can offer insight, encouragement, and maybe even a little inspiration to others facing a similar path. No matter where you are on your arthritis journey, know that you’re not alone. We may be stiff, but we are strong.