(Part 2) Best products from r/ankylosingspondylitis

Here is the link to what I purchase at a local store like Whole Foods or Mom's Organic store: https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Formulated-Probiotics-Acidophilus/dp/B010M9I9L0

So for me, I didn't have any biologics after my diagnosis and it got a lot worse. So bad, in fact, that I couldn't move at all without excruciating pain. Once I started on the biologics, in a few months a good amount of the pain and inflammation subsided. However, I was still unable to move my spine quickly or get up out of my bed very well.

I started taking this one after reading a lot about probiotics and how gut bacteria imbalances may be linked to AS / rheum flare ups. After about 3-4 weeks, I was able to get up out of bed with very minimal problems. Additionally, I was able to begin jogging on a treadmill again; previously I could only go 2-3 minutes but now I can go 15+. Last weekend I was able to throw a football again, in which previous attempts had me spasm.

Your mileage may vary, but even my mother in law who doesn't have AS but had a lot of digestive issues and general inflammation started taking this and started feeling a lot better in a couple of weeks. Best wishes - I hope it does the same for you.

I just started giving it to my husband on saturday. He's very early in the dusease and still has many symptom free days. When he woke up on Sunday, it was a symptom free day. Today is Monday and I haven't seen him yet.

It's too early to say whether its helping, really.

I also gave him about two teaspoons of this in tea

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QBCRQJ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1501529945&sr=8-2&keywords=chrysanthemum+indicum&dpPl=1&dpID=51TnvrgwE1L&ref=plSrch

On the same day. I'm the laaast person to go for herbal woo woo, but a rat study showed this is a powerful anti inflammatory, and unlike NSAIDS, there's no stomach bleeding. It tastes like barley tea.

This jar lid popper has allowed me the freedom to open any jar! It just breaks the seal immediately. I got mine at Canadian Tire, but this is what it looks like: https://www.amazon.com/Opener-Jarpop-Jarkey-Vacuum-Breaker/dp/B01D50U4IE

I bought a car specifically so that the seat didn't dip at the back. To help with cushioning and stop my hips dipping I use a wedge cushion like this. It also provides relief for my tailbone.

This is timely for me. I've been thinking of getting one of those C-shaped or U-shaped pregnancy body pillows -- as I've heard they really help people with AS (and I have a lot of shoulder pain and neck at night). As a side sleeper, I'm still confused as to how ... or what benefits it offers.

Does a body pillow provide you with any extra support? A standard body pillow doesn't look it would provide much at all. How is it better than a memory foam pillow for just your head?

Nope.

This https://www.amazon.ca/Capsuline-Clear-Gelatin-Empty-Capsules/dp/B00PYV9D6M/ref=pd_cp_121_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=GAN5K128ECY36SRBCCP0

with this https://www.amazon.ca/Capsule-Spreader-Vitamins-Cosmetics-Capsules/dp/B077NYR49S/ref=pd_sim_121_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=TMADHX6VHXTGFCM2QY67

And, if I have flare up, take 8-10 capsules before going to bed. Some will say the capsules are bad way to take Kratom, but for me, it works perfectly.

I started out trying the Trader Joe's brand stuff - it's pretty cheap (in the store, not Amazon). I was taking four of these every morning:
https://www.amazon.com/Trader-Omega-3-Fatty-1100mg-90softgels/dp/B004TUYRTM/

These days, I'm experimenting with Krill Oil, as I've heard that it's more efficient for absorption, but haven't noticed too terribly much of a difference from the TJ brand stuff. I'm taking four of these every morning, now:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L4E5RSG/

https://www.amazon.com/Paleo-Approach-Reverse-Autoimmune-Disease/dp/1936608391/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=stop+autoimmuntity&qid=1555264988&s=gateway&sr=8-3-spell

She was one of the founders of the diet. I tried it for about 2 weeks and found my energy levels up and day to day pain was better, but I still flared a couple times. I just stopped it because my
Rheumatologist finally ordered an MRI of my SI to get a clinical diagnosis, so I don’t want to influence the results. I’ll start it back up once the MRI is done because it was starting to help and I had already lost 10 lbs (did 2 weeks grain free before AIP).

Backpacks are absolutely the way to go. When I'm in a bad flare up, there's no way I could handle uneven distribution of weight, even from just a purse. I bought this off Amazon a year or so ago, and it has held up really well for being so cheap. It's very slim, though. You can't hold too much beyond a laptop, a portfolio, and maybe a few other small items.

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Good luck!

My SI joints and neck are the worst this time of year. I use a jade-infrared heating pad for my hips/SI because the heat seems to penetrate deeper. I think I have this one:

Back Rescue Infrared Heating Pads, Fast Pain Relief for Back and Neck, Real Jade, no EMF, FDA, Easily Adjust Temperature and Time, 21 x 32 Inches, with Carry Bag -1 Year Warranty https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0759VN36T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_CAu1DbQA6727V

For my neck I use a regular neck heating pad like this:

Sunbeam Heating Pad for Neck & Shoulder Pain Relief | Standard Size Renue, 4 Heat Settings with Auto-Off | Spa Green, 14-Inch x 22-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JCXJTW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SCu1DbZY2B0P0

I’m debating about switching to some sort of heated mattress cover that will stay on for 6-8 hours because most heating pads (like the neck one) shut off at 90 — 120 minutes, which means I wake up with a sore neck and have to turn it back on 1-2 times a night.

I’d love to hear any other ideas or suggestions you’ll have.

What about something like THIS? Too much?

This knee wrap will help https://www.amazon.com/Heating-Infrared-Arthritis-Rheumatism-Varicose/dp/B075YHFT5F/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1509692077&sr=8-1&keywords=B075YHFT5F

Do you mind sharing where you got yours from and the weight on it? I was thinking of buying this one on Amazon.
I'm also worried about it being too hot for summer.

https://www.amazon.com/ZZZhen-Weighted-Blanket-Construction-Year-round/dp/B07DY5ST76/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=weighted+blankets&qid=1555204647&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell-spons&psc=1

I use that exact pillow plus one of these knee pillows. Not sure if that might be part of your issue, but I was really surprised at how much the knee pillow helped out my neck/back.

My friend just got this North Face one a month or so ago. It’s hard to tell in the pics but it’s (mostly) all black with rose gold zipper pulls. Plenty of room for her MacBook and other life necessities you’d typically find in a purse

https://www.amazon.com/Chrysanthemum-Indicum-Flos-Extact-Ganules/dp/B00QBCRQJ4/ref=sr_1_cc_2_a_it?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1502162085&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=chrysanthemum+indicum

It came as a powder. I've just been heating up water in the microwave, then stirring half a spoonful of powder in. I'm totally guessing on the dose....

The taste is not bad, and can be enhanced by flavoring the water with another tea before adding the powder.

It's only been a short time since he started taking it, but maybe it is helping. When he skipped it, he had a bad morning afterwards.