I received large lidocaine patches 5% from my pain dr, and biofreeze, muscle relaxers and my pain med. I recently got a lift chair that has heat and massage. That helps too

After reading the responses, I realize how blessed I am. I have 3 girls (6, 29months, and 18 months) that I homeschool daily. (Retired Special Educator). That requires A LOT of movement for 4 hours a day. I’m not going to say that by 6pm I feel great, because that would be a HUGE lie. I have yet to see a rheumatologist (9/5/23 is going to be my initial visit). As for now, I take 2700mg of Gabapentin , B-complex, and Arthritis strength Tylenol. There are nights I get in the garden tub and just soak with lavender Epsoms salts and just pray for a better day tomorrow.

In my early 20s, it was a persistent lower back pain that got worse as I started my working life as a draftsman bending over a drawing board. I was in my 30's when my chiropractor felt I had AS and x-rays proved him right. Through the years the pain and other symptoms moved up my spine and grew worse, especially in my 40s and I needed the prescription Celebrex to get through my work days (it helped but a side effect it gave me was an ulcer in my esophagus). One of my doctors discovered I had a sensitivity to glutens, and when I cut it out of my diet it did lessen the severity of things. I also would get hit with tiredness that required a 20-minute nap to get past that. In my 50s, it was mostly a little stiffness or a lot of stiffness and acute pain issues subsided. In my late 60s, the pain has subsided and it is mostly stiffness in my spine and upper neck that I deal with. My spine is not fused solid so I guess I am lucky. Stretching, massage, and exercise all seem to help the situation. I only need an occasional aspirin to help me sleep.

A typical day looks like waking up and having to lay still for a while before being able to get up. Then it's taking an ibuprofen, amlodipine, and my first dose of dicyclomine. Go to work where I am a hairdresser on my feet and moving for about 9 hours. On my break I usually take another ibuprofen and massages my swollen knees at that point. Drive 40 minutes home constantly moving my self up and down my seat to get comfortable. Always have my heated seat on for my back. Pick up my daughter and drive another 10 minutes. Cook and play. Then showers and sleep. It's a constant pain some days are worse than others but have to work to survive and the field I chose was before I really knew what was going on. Currently working on a degree so I can move to a work from home job that will make my life slightly easier.

Went to see my PT quite early in the morning yesterday. I wanted him to see how miserable I am in the morning and, maybe, figure something out. He started out with a set of "does this hurt?" touches. (didn't ask, I didn't answer but jumped and yowled appropriately ;) He then explained how AS attacks the "insertion" (attachment) points of muscles and tendons and that where I yowled corresponded to attachment points of the Piriformis muscle. He then led me through a set of exercises/stretches. Not so different from the ones I always do, but more effective! (details make a difference, apparently). One he likened to teeth flossing (?). On back, one knee raised, hands holding raised thigh in place, raise foot as high as comfortable, hold, lower, repeat. This slides the sciatic nerve back and forth in its sheath next to the (swollen) Piriformis. Dunno how it works but I felt a lot better when I hobbled out than when I hobbled in. No NSAIDs no opiates no surgery no equipment. Of course, I had to do it all over again this morning.
Keeping on keeping on, and I pray you are too.