Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Called up for Jury duty

I'll be honest-this ticked me off!

I've already stated that I've done jury duty before. But, there is such a thing as a sitting disability-it doesn't get much press but it does exist. Sitting for longer than 30 minutes is TORTURE; not annoyance, not inconvenience but shear agony. Blood pressure raises, break out in a sweat and possibly pass out from it-a guarantee of a major flare in the following days/weeks.

If someone cannot stand for very long would you think that it would be "negative thinking" to acknowledge a need for a chair? Or for someone who cannot walk to need a wheel chair?

I kind of have to agree with Pezami - I hope this was just a bad wording because like Pezami, I physically don't have the ability to sit more than 20-30 minutes (and THAT is with padded seating) before the pain causes me to climb the wall (hence my previous comment about the waiting room seating).

It's possible that you have not reached the degree of advancement with AS that it causes you to have this severe discomfort (as I can promise you when and if you do - the world changes).

For years after my diagnosis, I was uncomfortable and would squirm around in my seat at work (and people would joke about it), but about 4 years ago, the discomfort went to extreme pain. I don't do hard seats at restaurants or go to movie theaters anymore because I just can't sit still without it becoming overwhelmingly unbearable.

Doctor gave me a letter that I turned in with my notification.

"I follow ******** for Ankylosing spondylitis with erosions in her sacroiliac joint, inflammatory back pain, arthritis , history of plantar fasciitis, and dactylitits. She has difficulty sitting for long periods of time because of pain and stiffness. She is being treated with medications including NSAIDs and Humira, as well as hydrocodone. Given the severity of her disease, I do not think she will be able to partake in jury duty."

I hope that is enough for them! I also wrote a note on the paperwork I turned in specifying that I cannot sit longer than 30 minutes.