I first started having what I later realized were AS events as a student pilot in the Air Force. I was 23 years old. I would have bouts of terrible back pain. At one point, I thought my career was over. I went to the flight surgeon in severe pain, sure I was done. He said, “Nope, just muscle pain,” gave me some exercises, and sent me home. The pain subsided, and I went on with my training.
I became an USAF pilot instructor in the T-37 [a two-seat jet trainer], but painful episodes continued. At times I would be in so much pain I could hardly walk out to the aircraft. Once I was strapped in, I could do anything! Aerobatics, formation, low level navigation, everything. Then I would land and be in great pain walking back in.
Later I became a chase pilot at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB. I seemed to be in a period of remission.
I ended up getting out of the Air Force because they wanted to put me in a ground job in flight test due to multiple master’s degrees in engineering. I still wanted to fly.
As an airline pilot, I was still having AS flare ups (not recognized by me at the time, as I was undiagnosed).
Sometimes I would be in so much pain that I would spend the entire layover in bed while the rest of my crew was out having fun.
Then one day…I was laying tile in my home and suffered pain so severe I just wanted to die! It was that terrible and intense.
My wife took me to the emergency room, and at age 33, I was diagnosed with advanced AS.
Treatment started with NSAIDS. They would be effective for a few years and then I would need to try a new one. But at least I could function fairly well. Finally, I went on Enbrel. I was rather hesitant at first to try it, but it has been very effective for over a decade.
I am now retired from airline flying. I have limitations due to a fused spine, but I function well. I do free weights, elliptical and treadmill for cardio, and since I live on a lake, I frequently kayak. My biggest exercise limitation is getting in and out of the kayak due to flexibility issues.
I own two airplanes. A Cessna T310R for travel and a Great Lakes open cockpit biplane, in which I routinely fly aerobatics, which I enjoy very much.
Living the good life in retirement!
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