Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Last updated Friday, February 11, 2005
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Coping
Strategies for coping
People who develop a chronic illness such as ankylosing spondylitis learn over time to cope with emotional ups and downs.
Learning to cope with ankylosing spondylitis often requires
accepting changes. You may need to make changes in your relationships,
work habits, and leisure-time activities. You may have to deal with
changes in your appearance. All of these possible changes may leave you
sad, stressed,
depressed, or angry. Sometimes it helps to talk about these feelings
with a family member, close friend, counselor, or someone else who has
ankylosing spondylitis.
Asking for help
There may be times when you and your family are faced with problems
caused by your disease that you do not know how to solve. You might
want to talk to a counselor who has experience working with people who
have arthritis. If so, your doctor probably can recommend one. It also
may help to get to know other families who are living and coping with
ankylosing spondylitis.
There are several organizations devoted to educating and supporting people with ankylosing spondylitis. One of these is the Spondylitis Association of America.
In addition, to find a rheumatologist (physicians who specialize in
treatment of spondylitis) or to learn what is new in the understanding
or treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, contact the American College of Rheumatology.
Work
The majority of people with ankylosing spondylitis are able to continue a productive, active work
schedule. Whether you work in or outside the home, the following
suggestions may help. It may be helpful to discuss your work with your
rheumatologist.
If your current job involves prolonged stooping or excessive strain on your back, you may want to contact a vocational rehabilitation
agency in your state for guidance. The agency also may be able to help
you if your experience, education, or training make it difficult for
you to change jobs.
Family and friends
Most forms of arthritis do not limit one's ability to enjoy romantic and sexual relationships.
From time to time, however, problems such as pain and limited
movement--especially of the hip joint--may get in the way of sexual
enjoyment. Some extra planning may be all that's needed.
One of the most important aspects of a good sexual relationship is
good communication. If you and your partner can comfortably discuss
each other's needs, you probably can overcome almost any difficulty.
Adaptive aids
If some of your joints have fused or if you already have limited joint
mobility, you may find it helpful to use some adaptive equipment or
self-help aids. For instance, long-handled shoehorn or sock aids can
help if your back or hips don't bend easily.
When driving, always wear a seat belt with a shoulder harness and
have the headrest in your car adjusted to support your neck. If a stiff
neck or back makes backing into parking spaces difficult, try fitting
your car with extra-wide mirrors.
Because your neck and spine may be hurt easily, avoid activities
that could cause falling or produce a sudden impact. Talk to your
doctor or occupational therapist about ways to avoid injury and ways to
improve your ability to function.
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