Nicole Maher

Spread The Word: Educate Others About AS

One of my favorite things to do to relax is to have a massage. No matter how stressful or exciting my day is, I can always relax during a one-hour Swedish or hot stone massage and they really help lower my pain level. I try to get one monthly, but this does not always happen. Yesterday, before my massage, the therapist asked me if there were any particular areas I would like to work on. I couldn’t help but laugh…I mean, come on, with A.S. everything hurts, right? As usual, I told her I have chronic pain just about everywhere, but… Read More »Spread The Word: Educate Others About AS

The Healing Power of Yoga

I started casually practicing yoga my freshman year of college. I took a Yoga class, and I was surprised to find how relaxed and energized I felt after each class. I noticed that my mobility was improving and my back did not hurt nearly as much after class as it did before. As my back and joint pain worsened through the years, I still found myself feeling my best after yoga class. I knew that I was not the most flexible, and no matter how hard I tried, I could not get my body into some of the harder poses. However,… Read More »The Healing Power of Yoga

The Impact of Ankylosing Spondylitis Awareness Month

April is Ankylosing Spondylitis Awareness Month. By raising awareness, more research can be focused on AS progression, treatment, and potential cures. One of the reasons why Walk Your AS Off is so important is the awareness it raises for Ankylosing Spondylitis. By raising awareness, there is a potential for more research to be focused on AS progression, treatment, and potential cures. One of the things I struggle with the most is that we are in the year 2015 and yet there are few effective treatments for AS and other diseases like it. Those that are effective come with a laundry… Read More »The Impact of Ankylosing Spondylitis Awareness Month

When I get knocked down…

As many of you know, dealing with A.S. can be quite a battle. A few nights ago, I was walking in my bedroom when I slipped and fell to the ground. Thankfully, I landed on the carpet, but it still was not a good feeling especially because I was in the midst of a bad flare. As I lay on the ground, frustrated, in tears, feeling defeated, and unable to pick myself up, I realized something. Throughout a lifetime of dealing with A.S., there are many times where we can feel beat up and knocked down. However, if we allow… Read More »When I get knocked down…