REAL LIFE: Anne-Marie blamed her back pain on ‘being a mother’ until her doctor finally diagnosed her condition

Young women, especially mums, are being urged not to ignore persistent back pain as new evidence reveals a hidden ‘male’ condition, known as axial spondyloarthritis (AS), is just as common in women as men.

While back pain is common for mums, pain or stiffness that is persistent, particularly in the mornings – is not normal – and the charity Arthritis Australia want mums to be vigilant and ensure it’s investigated.

Axial spondyloarthritis (AS) is caused by the immune system attacking healthy tissue and if ignored, affected joints can deteriorate and potentially fuse, leading to crippling pain and irreversible damage.

Arthritis Australia, are launching MyAS website to help people with axial spondyloarthritis understand their condition, how to manage it, and where to access support.

At a time when she could barely sleep or walk from the pain, and after seeing countless specialists, her doctor finally took notice and mum-of-two, Anne-Marie was diagnosed with AS, at 40 years old.

Anne-Marie shares her story below:

For most of my adult life I have dealt with persistent, severe back pain.

My worst experiences of pain were at night. I would wander around the house in the dark, bent over and crying as quietly as I could. It hurt to lie, stand, sit and move and I was so sleep deprived I felt close to losing my mind.

During my two pregnancies the pain disappeared. But as my girls got older, the pain came back with a vengeance. It was easy for me to dismiss the pain.

I often thought the source was motherhood-  holding my daughter on my hip for too long, or pushing a pram up the hill.

I would have done anything to get out of pain at that point, but I was so lost in the fog and overwhelm that I didn’t know where to begin.

At the age of 40, I was finally diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis. Getting this strange-sounding diagnosis felt like a relief at first, as if the mystery was solved and I could get back to living. But as reality set in and the pain didn’t go away, I realised my story with AS was only just beginning.

I’m now a passionate coach helping others living with AS learn to manage their pain and lead better lives. I believe greater awareness around AS is desperately needed to ensure that more people living with AS, especially women, don’t get missed.

I’ve often wished I could reach back through time and reassure that former version of me, so lost in pain and scared of what lay ahead.

It’s easy for mothers to put their own needs aside and focus on the family, but no family runs well when mum is sick, exhausted and in pain. The most common advice I give to young parents with AS is to prioritise getting on top of their pain so they can go back to being the best version of themselves.

Arthritis Australia’s MyAS website provides resources on symptoms, treatment options, managing pain, mental health and support services. It’s a brilliant starting point for people with or without a diagnosis and gives loads of practical advice you can start implementing straight away.