I had a traffic accident when I was 24, before I was diagnosed with AS. I fractured T8 and had a spinal fusion done with rod placement from T2 to T12. Just recently have started having more issues above and below the rods. I know I will eventually have to do something more about these as the Celecoxib I take is allowing more break through pain than it used to. I don't want to be confined to one city right now, which is what I will have to do when I finally decided it's time to get serious about different medications, but we are just getting to where we are marking things off our bucket lists. I am hoping I can hold out another year, we have a trip to London (from US) and then are coming back across the "pond" on a cruise ship.

Just finding out I have it after 10 years of my Dr and Rheumatologist ignoring me had x-ray shows my thorasic spine fused am going to get an MRI of thorasic spine and neck next week. I went to an Ortho walk in clinic to find this out!

Have had my thoracic spine fused and rod placed. I have AS issues throughout the whole spine. Neck is fused as well. So yes i have AS issues in that specific area. It has helped the pain immensely. See a spine ortho surgeon for help. B

I was first diagnosed with Sacrolilitis in my Pelvis, then fully blown AS I have had it since I was 23, and was finished from work @ 25 because things where getting worse. I have a few other issues going on to just like your dad and it kills me, but like everyone else I try my best and plod on with it all. Hugs to you & your family .

My Dad has AS too and his neck is totally fused and he is hunched over, he had to have his whole bowel removed because of Ulcerative Colitis, and he has a bag it causes him such problems trying to look down to change his bag, my AS affects my lower spine, the pelvis area, I was diagnosed in 2010 and I get bad flare ups but thankfully my rheumatologist said my movement in my spine has not got any worse which I am completely thankful for.