Faces of AS

Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis is a website dedicated entirely to the stories of those living with AS. Men, women, and children from numerous countries and continents have shared their stories and photos, and we will be sharing some of them here with you, with our gratitude to all, including project founder Cookie Hopper. You can read all of the stories (there are over 2,000!) at thefacesofankylosingspondylitis.com.

ByMelissa

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My name is Melissa and I am 24. I have suffered from AS for an estimated five years, though I was only diagnosed two years ago.

ByKevin Stevenson

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I began experiencing symptoms around the age of 23. Although I had periodically experienced symptoms prior to then, my first distinct memory was when my roommate, some friends and I went to the movies.

ByAmy Hicks

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I first began having pain in my very early 20s. I went to my primary doctor, who told me it was a pulled muscle, gave me pain pills and sent me on my way with a “come…

ByAmber Panagos

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Amber Panagos Although my diagnosis is new my disease is not. I’ve had chronic back pain since my early 20’s and it’s been slowly progressing ever since. By the time I hit 30 I refused to accept…

ByRichard Howard

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Richard Howard 9 Days. The approximate number of pain free days in the last 24 years. One would think that I would know for sure how many days. The pains are 24 hours/day. Well, perhaps not 24…

ByMichael Smith

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Michael Tracy Smith My name is Michael Tracy Smith (a.k.a. Spenser23) I am a Face of AS. This is my story. I was in a stairwell in 30 Rock, (the building, not the sitcom), when I first…