Living with Ankylosing Spondylitis: My Ongoing Journey

by Clive Burkinshaw

I’m Clive, currently in my late 50s, working as an HGV truck driver, and a proud father of four. My passions include photography, working with my hands, immersing myself in nature, and enjoying a good read.

Living with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) has been a significant part of my life, and through this section, I aim to share my journey, insights, and experiences.

👉 For more about my background and our family life, visit the About page.

What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)?

AS is a long-term autoimmune condition that mainly affects the spine, but it can also involve other joints. For me, it’s been more than two decades of learning how to manage pain, stiffness, fatigue, and the mental side of things too.

From mysterious early symptoms and misdiagnoses to eventually getting a confirmed diagnosis — I’ve seen it all:
🔹 medication trials
🔹 lifestyle overhauls
🔹 flare-ups and setbacks
🔹 unexpected breakthroughs

And still, it keeps me on my toes.

Learning to Adapt

If there’s one thing I’ve realised, it’s that this disease doesn’t follow a straight path. Everyone’s AS journey is different. What works for me might not work for you — and vice versa.

Managing it becomes a personal process of trial and error: figuring out what helps, what hurts, and what needs adjusting as life goes on.

What I’ll Be Sharing Here

This part of My Tip Offs is where I document everything I’ve tried and learned along the way — including:

• Exercise and mobility ideas

• Anti-inflammatory habits

• Food triggers (and some surprises)

• Vitamin experiments

• Dealing with migraines

• The effects of testosterone, stress, and sleep

I don’t have all the answers. But if even one post helps someone feel less alone or more in control, then I’ve done what I set out to do.

New to AS? Start Here

If you’re newly diagnosed or just trying to understand what AS actually is, begin with the Overview & Diagnosis page. It breaks down the early signs, the road to diagnosis, and what you can expect at the beginning of the journey — in plain English.

Managing Pain With AS

I published a full page on my approach to managing day-to-day pain, flare-ups, and staying mobile with AS. It’s the foundation for several upcoming pages about relief strategies.

👉 Read it here: AS Pain Relief

This page introduces the methods that have worked for me — and some that haven’t — plus the mindset I’ve learned to carry with me. It’s a great next step if you’re looking for practical help.

🔜 What’s Coming Next

This section is a work in progress. I’m continuing to add helpful posts as I go. Here’s what’s already available, and what I’m still working on:

✅ Already Published:

• Managing Day-to-Day Pain – My approach to staying mobile and keeping pain levels manageable on an everyday basis.

• How I Deal with Flare-Ups – What I do when inflammation kicks off hard and fast.

• Stretching and Mobility – Simple movements and routines I use to stay flexible and reduce stiffness.

🛠️ Still to Come:

• Posture and Ergonomics – How I’ve adjusted my everyday movements to protect my spine and reduce strain.

• Staying Mentally Strong – Managing the emotional and psychological challenges of living with AS.

🔁 Check back soon for updates — or even better, bookmark this page or follow along on Facebook so you won’t miss anything new.

✅ Last updated: 31st May 2025