Hi all,

First of all, I should mention that I apologize for constantly posting questions and stories about myself.

I read about everyone's problems and deeply sympathize and empathize as much as I can. I often don't respond with encouragement or whatnot because I'm so new at this that I feel I don't have the experience or the wherewithal to give a good response.

So, that being said, let me move on to the main reason for my post..

I've only had AS symptoms for about five months now... and looking back, I believe it first started mainly in my neck.

I woke up this morning with a ton of stiffness in the left side of my neck. I've had stiffness in my neck a few times in the past couple months, but not this much. I turned my head back and forth to stretch and heard a disturbing cracking/ripping sound.. that's a new one on me.

Anyhow, it seems to me that most people here started out with symptoms in their lower back. I've also read that women are the ones who usually show signs in their neck.

(On a note, this stiffness seems to have coincided with both a bad head cold, and having eaten a small slice of pizza on Wednesday, and basamati rice last night.)

Any thoughts/insights on this one?

Also, I can pinpoint when my symptoms started back to when I got sick with a flu or something in March. Developed a burning pain in my lower back, then pains in my groin, neck and dry eyes. Since then I've been getting pain and cracking/popping all over my body, SI pain/clicking, continued eye irritation, weakness in my let arm, muscles twitching... and so on.

(But the rheumy doesn't seem to think it's anything to be concerned about!)

I just wanted to throw this out there because, from what I've read, my experience has been vastly different than any else's I've read. I haven't had undiagnosed symptoms for years, no family history... just a strange, sudden illness.

Basically, I'm wondering if there is anyone out there like me. Perhaps that's why we're all here, anyhow.

Thanks for listening.

Namaste,

Colin

"Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation, can that which is indestructible be found in us."

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