Questions you may be asked by your healthcare professional
It might be helpful to prepare yourself for questions your healthcare professional might ask you at your next visit. These may relate to your AS symptoms (e.g. pain, stiffness etc), your treatments (e.g. medicine, physiotherapy etc) or how you are feeling and coping. Below is a list of the types of questions you might be asked:
Symptoms
- What symptoms do you have?
- Have your symptoms changed since your last visit? Are they worse or better?
- How is your overall level of fatigue / tiredness?
- What is the overall level of AS pain in your neck, back or hips?
- What is the overall level of AS pain / swelling you have had in joints other than in your neck, back or hips?
- What level of discomfort have you had from any areas tender to the touch?
- What level of joint stiffness have you had when you wake up in the morning? How long does it last?
Treatments
- What treatments are you receiving / taking to relieve the symptoms?
- How you feel your treatment is working?
- Are you experiencing any unwanted side effects which you think might be related to the treatment?
Living with AS
- Is your AS stopping you from doing any activities that you were previously able to do? What are these activities?
- Are your symptoms affecting your ability to work?
- Is your AS affecting you emotionally?
- How is your family coping with your AS?