The Patient's Perspective on the Burden of Disease in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

A patient who has had ankylosing spondylitis for 50 years describes her long journey to diagnosis, living with the disease, the different types of treatments she has tried (both traditional and nontraditional), and her participation in clinical studies. She describes her use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as well as biologics to help manage inflammation and the importance of diet and exercise-Pilates, yoga, and physical therapy-to maintain and improve movement and flexibility. She offers her own personal advice to those recently diagnosed.