# New Disease of the Day: Ankylosing Spondylitis **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 20, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407 "2013-03-20T01:16:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/21 "2013-03-20T13:54:08Z")
I just read _Shakespeare’s Tremor and Orwell’s Cough: The Medical Lives of Famous Writers_ by John J. Ross. IIRC, he said Herman Melville may have had ankylosing spondylitis. However, Ross didn’t insist on this diagnosis. (He was on much firmer ground when he said the Bronte sisters died of tuberculosis.) ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/22 "2013-03-20T14:57:17Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > You have one fucking post from me claiming a disorder. One. > > You know what? As someone who has a disorder verified by a doctor, Two now. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/23 "2013-03-20T15:26:55Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I am intrigued by the suggestion that diverticulitis is an invented disease, and I haven’t seen any pharma ads urging people to load up on drugs to treat it. Cite? I don’t think that was the intent of the gripe. I think it’s a general kvetch about people who think they have a disease based on self-diagnosis and make the people in their lives crazy because their disease somehow gives them the right to be a royal pain in the ass. See **BigT** ’s bullshit, if you need an example. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/24 "2013-03-20T15:52:34Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > [Spontaneous ankylosaur.](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d0kriWUwmUg/TrfN6mox23I/AAAAAAAADE4/NiofnAeLyFE/s1600/ankylosaur_trex.jpg) That crippling leg pain MAY not be your fault! ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/25 "2013-03-20T20:03:55Z")
I hate it when people spondilyze my ankles. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/26 "2013-03-20T20:06:01Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > I hate it when people spondilyze my ankles. I’ll bet you don’t like giving head either. Bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/27 "2013-03-20T23:08:26Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > About what I’d expect from a guy with a pathological hatred of comic books that he can only admit to himself when he’s drunk. WTF? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/28 "2013-03-21T01:27:10Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > I just learn about Morgellons: [Morgellons - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgellons) I don’t trust bugs nearly as far as I can flick 'em. Read [a book](http://www.amazon.com/The-parasites-we-humans-harbor/dp/B0006E1N5G) that cured me of any desire to visit the tropics or any place that doesn’t get below 0F at least once a winter. OTOH, people with Morgellons are fucking nuts. > [@BigT](#): > > About what I’d expect from a guy with a pathological hatred of comic books that he can only admit to himself when he’s drunk. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > WTF? 😕 It’s a fair cop as it earned me a 90-day suspension for thread shitting, as well as the removal of the SDSAB honorific beneath my name. I asked **Tuba** to stretch it out a few more months because I kinda liked it. However, inevitably somebody was so wrong on the internet that I petitioned to be reinstated. Ed granted it reluctantly because I had been a massive jerk, so I have been on what passes for my best behavior since. What is inaccurate is that I cannot admit when I am sober that I dislike comic books and lose some respect for adults when I learn they are fans. No, I just can’t do that in Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/29 "2013-03-21T01:44:27Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > … About what I’d expect from a guy with a pathological hatred of comic books that he can only admit to himself when he’s drunk. Okay, we passed over into an Actual Fo’Reals Medical Issue there. Fortunately, there is an over-the-counter salve for that (Nicolas Cage has used it since _Fast Times at Ridgemont High,_ and if it weren’t for a daily regimen of cream, suppositories, and a 12-Step support group, we wouldn’t have _Wicker Man_ or _Ghost Rider_). ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/30 "2013-03-21T02:18:16Z")
> [@digs](#): > > …if it weren’t for a daily regimen of cream, suppositories, and a 12-Step support group, we wouldn’t have _Wicker Man_ or _Ghost Rider_). So that’s what and who we blame? Because I can state, with no need for Dutch Courage, that I can’t stand Nick Cage. And _Wicker Man_ isn’t even based on a comic book! ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/31 "2013-03-21T16:15:23Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > I’ll bet you don’t like giving head either. > > Bitch. I don’t know, I haven’t tried it. It doesn’t seem like something I would like, though, being a heterosexual dude and all. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/32 "2013-03-21T16:19:07Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > I don’t know, I haven’t tried it. It doesn’t seem like something I would like, though, being a heterosexual dude and all. Hmmm, I was assuming you were a fugly slut, my bad. ---
**Author:** ![\_ies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/bbe5ce/32.png) [@\_ies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_ies)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/33 "2015-03-03T17:08:32Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Note: This is not intended to insult people who actually suffer from this and other painful and debilitating conditions. Far from it. Instead, I would like to insult those who claim it and other diseases without benefit of a diagnosis in order to gain sympathy, weasel out of work, or make me want to kill them. I just came across your post today and I am angered by it. I do have ankylosing spondylitis and I’ve not heard of anyone self-diagnosing themselves with it. For me AS is an absolute nightmare I wake up every hour from sleep in agony. It feels like a dog has been gnawing on my spine on my better days. This is not a new disease and it isn’t something that’s over-diagnosed. In the 2 years since your post have you actually heard of anyone being hypochondriac and self-diagnosing themselves with this condition? It’s quite hypocritical that one can read such ignorance on a forum dedicated to fighting ignorance. Might be people will read your post and actually think there’s a shred of truth to it. If anything you should be angry with the insurance and pharmaceutical companies for the stranglehold they have on our healthcare system. Have a nice day. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/34 "2015-03-03T17:45:32Z")
> [@\_ies](#): > > I just came across your post today and I am angered by it. I do have ankylosing spondylitis and I’ve not heard of anyone self-diagnosing themselves with it. For me AS is an absolute nightmare I wake up every hour from sleep in agony. It feels like a dog has been gnawing on my spine on my better days. This is not a new disease and it isn’t something that’s over-diagnosed. In the 2 years since your post have you actually heard of anyone being hypochondriac and self-diagnosing themselves with this condition? It’s quite hypocritical that one can read such ignorance on a forum dedicated to fighting ignorance. Might be people will read your post and actually think there’s a shred of truth to it. If anything you should be angry with the insurance and pharmaceutical companies for the stranglehold they have on our healthcare system. Have a nice day. I don’t believe you. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/35 "2015-03-03T17:58:40Z")
I swear, that “fighting ignorance since…” tagline is like bait for people to come in and post ignorance accusing the Straight Dope of ignorance. Not knowing of anyone who self-diagnosed with the disease du jour does not mean it does not occur. And the existence of people who self-diagnose with _your_ diagnosed disease du jour does not mean that you have not been diagnosed with the actual disease. Therefore, people complaining about self-diagnosis does not affect your own diagnosis. There: ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/36 "2015-03-03T18:01:59Z")
> [@\_ies](#): > > Might be people will read your post and actually think there’s a shred of truth to it. Which is now much more likely to happen because you bumped a thread that no one had seen in two years. Nicely done. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/37 "2015-03-03T18:04:21Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > I don’t believe you. Why dubious? Is it the pipe? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/38 "2015-03-03T18:09:05Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > The one I heard was definitely a “see your rheumatologist” ad. It’s weird, though. It’s phrased with all this “it’s not your fault” stuff, as if people with arthritis and bulging discs and spina bifida are somehow responsible for their own back pain. :rolleyes: I’m not sure if you’d be surprised at how often people have blamed my spouse with spina bifida for his back problems (“you should have taken better care of yourself!”) but it does happen, ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/39 "2015-03-03T18:40:06Z")
My wife blamed me for becoming a diabetic. One of the reasons we’re separated… ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407/40 "2015-03-03T18:42:04Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I’m not sure if you’d be surprised at how often people have blamed my spouse with spina bifida for his back problems (“you should have taken better care of yourself!”) but it does happen, Not even a little bit. Surprised, that is. People are teh dumb. (Not much better is blaming his mom for not taking folic acid. But I’m sure he’s heard that too.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disease-of-the-day-ankylosing-spondylitis/653407.md?page=3)