HI Steve, that's a really difficult question to answer.
For one thing, AS is so very individual in nature that what applies for one will not necessarily apply for anyone else. Also, the disease presents itself very differently in men and women. There are always exceptions, of course, but as a rule that's how it is.
The trend seems to be that men fuse more quickly and drastically than women. Women, perhaps because of our estrogen, tend to fuse later on in the disease, usually as they come to the end of their child bearing years. Again, there are always exceptions.
I've had AS since my late teens, had my first full blown flare when I was about 27 in 1991/92, but showed no visible signs of fusing until I was 37. I don't know when the fusing happened, but it was some time during the 1990s I think.
However, one of our male KAers went from being 'fine' to being in a wheelchair in about seven years.
Did that help?
Hugs,
Kat
"A life lived in fear is a life half lived." - Strictly Ballroom
