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nurseclaire

Hi, I am looking for some advice/info, I am due to see a specialist in December for ankolosing spondylitis, I am a 37 yr old single parent and work full time as a nurse on a heavy ward. After nine months of waking up 2-3 times a night with back pain and numerous visits to the drs at least I know am not loosing my marbles! I am worried however, about what this means for the future, family and my job as I have only been qualified for a year. I have read up on the condition but would welcome any advice/info from anyone with experience of the disease x

valval

hi can not help with advice except to say welcome to forum i have inflimation arther (that as far as got so far) but some one will come along with help soon i am sure it hard to say for certain as we all differ in how arther affects us and how we react to meds but good luck let us know how you get on we good at pocket duties if you need them val

skezier

hi Claire,

welcome to the forum and this lot are a good bunch.

i am sorry you have AS and i know it can get hard but hang in there cus with a bit of decent pain relief and some exercises you can help it to hold out and fuse up better than you fear.

work wise flower can you get some kind of help to make it a bit easier for you there? oh or similar maybe?

Claire have oa and spondy head to tail and the back is fusing its self up a fair bit but its been okish so please don';t look at the future with fear... there is life after the diagnosis, there really is.

hope the appointment will go well and its not too far away and hopefully they will help you. nice to meet you. Cris x

woodbon

Hi,
I'm glad you've found this forum as not only do we support and help each other, but the helpline is really good and can point you in the way of finding the right information and it sounds as if they might be able to help you.
I don't have AS, but I do have a bad back that keeps me awake or wakes me up and I had a heavy job, working with the elderly as a care assisstant. So, I remember the times when by the end of a shift it was hard to walk around the floor and do my job properly, I have OA in my neck and spine.
Hopefully, when you see the specialist you will get the treatment that you need to help you keep going.
Wishing you lots of luck and best wishes for when you see the specialist. Love Sue xxxx

suzygirl

Hi and welcome from me, I have inflammatory arthritis and oA in neck and spine. With meds your condition can be controlled and exercises are important so ask for a referral to physio.

Work wise, you are covered by the Disability Discrimination Act, so can ask to be transferred to lighter work.

I hope your appt goes well.

kellerman

Hi and welcome,
I'm afraid I can't help much as I haven't been diagnosed yet.
I nursed for 29 years and am now retired.I do miss my work but I am sure I couldn't have done it now.
Suzygirl is right....you can ask to be transferred to a lighter ward.
It won't help just battling on.Ok none of us want to think we are giving in and letting this dreadful disease beat us but you have to think whats good for you.
You can't lawfully lose your job.I hope you get sorted with pain relief soon.May

barbara12

Hi claire
And welcome from me, sorry I cant really help, has I have OA but I am sure others will be able to, I just want to wish you well with it, and we are always here to support one another.
You take care xx

frogmorton

Hi Claire

just a welcome form me l'm sorry as l know nothing!!!

Having said that l do know that this site will be a great help to you and support as you get some help with your AS.

A lot of the treatments fro As are similar to those of other inflammatory arthritis-es so we will be able to help.

Love and lovely to meet you

Toni xx

resusjan

Hi, I am a nurse too (with rheumatoid arthritis)/ The occupational health department where I work have been really supportive. They came and assessed me in the workplace and made recommendations to my manager on how things could be made easier for me at work. You can self refer to Occupational Health if you don't want to go through your manager - if you self refer - they do not speak to your manager without your approval, if your manager refers you - they do have to feed back to your manager but you can read and amend anything they are going to write about you first. Good luck - hope all works out well for you.
Jan xx

CJHunter

Hi Claire, just to wish you all the best.
There are others on here who know more about this than me so will leave it to them.

Take care and all the best.

nurseclaire

Thankyou to all those who replied to my message, I feel better knowing that there is support out there and things arent that bad. will try and keep you all posted and best wishes x