Marieb: I, too, have had lots of surgeries before being diagnosed with AS. I really don't want to go thru another recovery and PT that could last a year or more. I already have vertebrae fusing and bone spurs on vertebrae that are fusing with adjacent spurs. My lower back HURTS also. Believe it or not, Tylenol Arthritis takes the edge off the pain and I can walk with a (almost) straight back - still working on getting my head in line with my torso.

One article I read says my bones will become brittle and hollow and break if looked at sideways. Does anybody have this problem yet?

When I'm in a really bad flare up I usually take steroids. I hate to use them but sometimes it's necessary.I also get a tordol shot. It will help also. Sending hugs and hope you are soon up and moving better. I will tell you that the biologic's are your best option for long term pain relief. I have used enbrel, methotrexate, and humira and did well with them. They just messed with my liver enzymes. 😢I'm on Taltz now and it is doing well also.

I use ice for my feet and ankles. I bought a COLD Velcro boot you can wear with or without socks and you can walk in them. My back and sacrum hurt all the time I utilize heat pad and ice packs during flares. I also use a walker to steady myself to do a therapy routine my physical therapist created a group of stretches. And knee and leg exercises for sciatic relief. I have had 2 major surgeries with fused cadaver bone replaced neck discs and screws and a plate to stabilize cervical spine. I had a disc blow into spinal cord in 2014 had emergency surgery die to paralyze legs and arms. I had to re learn to walk and use my arms hands. I have spinal arthritis and Ddd. Painful. I d not want injections so trying to eat a non flammatory diet. Walk stretch when I sit nite than an hour or o keep joints ligaments moving. Drink lots of water or green tea with mint. ginger and turmeric.

Walking , physical therapy and drugs. My discs are retrolisthesis above my fusion now, just because imaging says it's not severe doesn't always mean it isn't. I'm seeing my neurosurgeon soon about it and would recommend you do the same and get a second opinion. good luck

I have MS also and am already on immune depressant infusion so another like Humira isn’t a option for me unfortunately. And the back issue is making my MS worse than it is as far as walking. I feel so defeated right now