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Ankylosing spondylitis (pronounced ank-kih-low-sing spon-dill-eye-tiss), or AS, is a form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine, although other joints can become involved. It causes inflammation of the spinal joints (vertebrae) that can lead to severe, chronic pain and discomfort.
In more advanced cases this inflammation can lead to ankylosis — new bone formation in the spine — causing sections of the spine to fuse in a fixed, immobile position.
AS can also cause inflammation, pain, and stiffness in other areas of the body such as the shoulders, hips, ribs, heels, and small joints of the hands and feet. Sometimes the eyes can become involved (known as iritis or uveitis), and — rarely — the lungs and heart can be affected.
The hallmark feature of ankylosing spondylitis is the involvement of the sacroiliac (SI) joints during the progression of the disease. The SI joints are located at the base of the spine, where the spine joins the pelvis.
- 2019 Resource Guide to Chronic Pain and Treatment
- Ankylosing Spondylitis - Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ankylosing-spondylitis/basics/definition/CON-20019766?p=1&METHOD=print
- Spondylitis Association of America: http://www.spondylitis.org/main.aspx
- Ankylosing Spondylitis: MedlinePlus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ankylosingspondylitis.html
- Consumer Guidelines for Low Back Pain [PDF]
Ability Chart
| ACPA MedCard PDF
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Back Pain Map | CARE Card
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Daily Activity Checklist PDF | DPN Pain Map |
Fibro Log | Fibro Pain Map |
Follow-Up From Your Visit
| Head Pain Map |
Migraine Conversation Guide
| Migraine Log
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OIC Log
| Opioid Induced Constipation Conversation Guide
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Pain Log
| Prepare For Your Visit PDF
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Quality of Life Scale
| Quality of Life Scale - Spanish |
Where Does It Hurt? / Nerve Man
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Back Pain Map | Daily Activity Checklist PDF |
Head Pain Map | Migraine Conversation Guide
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Opioid Induced Constipation Conversation Guide
| Pain Log
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Quality of Life Scale
| Quality of Life Scale - Spanish |
Where Does It Hurt? / Nerve Man
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ACPA MedCard PDF
| CARE Card |
Prepare For Your Visit PDF
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Follow-Up From Your Visit
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- AgrAbility: Growing Well With Pain
- Patients as Equal Partners
- Pathways Through Pain: Priorities and Goals
- Preparing for an Opioid Emergency
- ProActive Communication Kit
- Relaxation Guide
- Taking Care
- Veterans In Pain
AgrAbility:Growing Well With Pain
Involving Patients as Equal Partners in Research
Pathways Through Pain: Priorities and Goals
This video is a powerful learning tool, blending content with context and information with emotion. Through this series, people with chronic pain can see and hear how others have become actively involved in their own recovery and enhanced the medical treatment they receive. Join us as we explore why setting personal priorities and establishing and working toward personal goals are so important in managing daily pain. * * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Preparing for an Opioid Emergency
It is important for you to know the signs of an opioid overdose, even if you do not take an opioid as part of your pain management treatment. An opioid overdose can happen to anyone who takes too much of an opioid. The faster you can act, the better the opportunity to save a life.- Download our poster to learn more:
ProActive Communication Kit
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Important:
This information should not be used as a substitute for necessary consultations with a qualified health care professional to meet your individual needs. Always consult a medically trained professional with questions and concerns you have regarding your medical condition.
Relaxation Guide
Tension increases pain. This five-minute relaxation exercise can help you let go of physical stress and begin to reduce your sense of suffering. If you enjoy this short relaxation experience, you may want to send for the longer audio version, available in our on-line store. * * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Taking Care: Talking With Your Pharmacist
ACPA and APhA have come together in a spirit of collaboration to maximize our collective experience, knowledge, and expertise to help raise awareness and build meaningful partnerships between people with pain and the pharmacists that care for them. In this video we will explore the benefits of having your pharmacist be part of your pain management treatment team. * * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Veterans In Pain. Learning to Live With the Pain
Learning to Live With the Pain: Many of our veterans are returning home with life-changing injuries. Chronic pain is one of the major obstacles to returning to a full life. In this video we explore the coping skills you need to deal with ongoing pain. It also can help you improve communication with your health care professionals and become an active member of your treatment team.Video #1 What is Chronic Pain?
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Video #2 Communications Tools
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Video #3 Learning to Live With it
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Video #4 ACPA Materials
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Disclaimer:
The information contained in this video is made available with the understanding that ACPA is not engaged in rendering medical advice or recommendations. The content of this video is provided for informational purposes only. This information should not be used as a substitute for necessary consultations with a qualified health care professional to meet your individual needs. Always consult a medically trained professional with questions and concerns you have regarding your medical condition. No patient-physician or patient-nurse relationship is intended to be created by ACPA making this information available to you.
- Fibromyalgia 101
- Fibromyalgia PSA
- Implantable Medical Devices
- Living With Fibromyalgia
- Opioid Induced Constipation
- Opioid Safety: PSA
- Preparing for an Opioid Emergency
- Understanding Migraines
- Using NSAIDs Safely & Effectively
Fibromyalgia 101
A look at what Fibromyalgia is, its causes and how to live life in spite of the pain. * * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Fibromyalgia PSA
Idaho’s First Lady Lori Otter offers a message of hope for those living with chronic pain. * * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Implantable Medical Devices
What You Need to Know About Medication Pumps and Neurostimulators: If your healthcare provider has suggested an implantable device, such as a medication pump or neurostimulator, you probably have lots of questions. Your own healthcare provider is the best source for answers that apply in your unique situation, but this video series provides some basic information to get you started. Knowing more can help you have more realistic expectations of how the device can help you as part of your overall pain management strategy. The greater your understanding, the better your chance of success and satisfaction with your decision.Introduction Video
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Disclaimer:
The information contained in this video is made available with the understanding that ACPA is not engaged in rendering medical advice or recommendations. The content of this video is provided for informational purposes only. This information should not be used as a substitute for necessary consultations with a qualified health care professional to meet your individual needs. Always consult a medically trained professional with questions and concerns you have regarding your medical condition. No patient-physician or patient-nurse relationship is intended to be created by ACPA making this information available to you.
Intrathecal Medication Pumps
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *How Do They Work?
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *What are the Benefits?
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *What are the Risks?
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Reasonable Goals
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Who is a Good Candidate?
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Who is Not a Good Candidate?
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *What is the Procedure?
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Intrathecal Placement
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Living With a Pump
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Maintenance
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Disclaimer:
The information contained in this video is made available with the understanding that ACPA is not engaged in rendering medical advice or recommendations. The content of this video is provided for informational purposes only. This information should not be used as a substitute for necessary consultations with a qualified health care professional to meet your individual needs. Always consult a medically trained professional with questions and concerns you have regarding your medical condition. No patient-physician or patient-nurse relationship is intended to be created by ACPA making this information available to you.
How Do They Work?
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *When Can They Help
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Who is Not a Good Candidate
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *About the Device
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *What Does it Feel Like?
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Pain Control Expectations
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Risks
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Benefits
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *The Process
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Living With a Stimulator
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Ongoing Responsibilities
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *The Big Picture
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Disclaimer:
The information contained in this video is made available with the understanding that ACPA is not engaged in rendering medical advice or recommendations. The content of this video is provided for informational purposes only. This information should not be used as a substitute for necessary consultations with a qualified health care professional to meet your individual needs. Always consult a medically trained professional with questions and concerns you have regarding your medical condition. No patient-physician or patient-nurse relationship is intended to be created by ACPA making this information available to you.
Living With Fibromyalgia
If you have fibromyalgia---or any other long-term pain condition---you may have been told that you will need to "learn to live with it." In this presentation, Penney Cowan, ACPA founder and executive director, explains that it is possible to live with FM and still have the quality of life you want and deserve. * * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Opioid Induced Constipation
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Opioid Safety: Public Service Announcement
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Preparing for an Opioid Emergency
It is important for you to know the signs of an opioid overdose, even if you do not take an opioid as part of your pain management treatment. An opioid overdose can happen to anyone who takes too much of an opioid. The faster you can act, the better the opportunity to save a life.
With more than 30 million people living with migraines, this video will help you understand the symptoms, triggers and ways to have a meaningful conversation with your health care professional. * * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *
Using NSAIDs Safely & Effectively
* * * Please click on the video in order for it to start playing * * *Important:
This information should not be used as a substitute for necessary consultations with a qualified health care professional to meet your individual needs. Always consult a medically trained professional with questions and concerns you have regarding your medical condition.
- Car With Four Flat Tires
- Family Matters Series
- Is There Life With Pain?
- Meet Penney Cowan
- The Impact of Pain
- What is Chronic Pain?
- What ACPA Groups Offer
- Welcome to the ACPA
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