New Member - AS

I just joined after a recommendation from my Chiro.  It is wonderful to see the support here.  I don't have anyone here at home who knows what this is like and I know he's grown numb to the whining. 

I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis about six or seven years ago.  I have run the range of meds and used about every option.  I like the Enbrel as I can actually get up in the morning and start moving.  Within the last six months it has moved into my middle-back area and makes use of my arms difficult at this point.  I have been VERY lucky and am fairly mobile and only use a cane during bad spells (about a month this year). 

Here's my question - are there any AS sufferers out there who have had it affect their neck?  That is my biggest fear.  I am able to limit movement/change activities if there is a flair in a back joint, but we all know how difficult that is in the neck!  In the past year I have realized just how disabled I am becoming and kind of want to know what is coming down the road (potentially).

N2slugs

Fortunately I have not had problems with my neck. I main issues are my SI joints, hips, and shoulders. So many of my tendons are calcified at the insertion points that my tendons are severely compromised. According to my rheumy many of them look like Swiss cheese. I have to be careful because sudden exertion can cause them to rupture. It seems I recall reading that men are more prone to cervical spine fusion. I do try to do exercises to strengthen the muscles that support the areas where I am prone to inflammation. If I fuse, I want to be as straight as possible.