Your Stories
Discover the powerful and inspiring stories of Canadians living with spondyloarthritis on our dedicated Spondyloarthritis Stories page. Each journey showcases resilience, strength, and hope, offering firsthand experiences of navigating life with this chronic condition. From overcoming challenges to finding effective treatments and support, these personal accounts highlight the importance of awareness, early diagnosis, and community. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been managing spondyloarthritis for years, these stories will remind you that you are not alone. Explore real-life perspectives, share your own experience, and be part of a supportive network that empowers and uplifts.
Dawn’s Story
Canadian Spondyloarthritis Assocation's member Dawn tells her story about how Ankylosing Spondylitis affects her life. She also describes her road to diagnoses and how it made her feel.
Sara’s – Young Adult Feature
I want every young person to know that arthritis doesn’t have to derail your life. Ten years ago, after graduating with a degree in Kinesiology at the age of 21 I was feeling excited and optimistic about my future. I was hired for my first full time job as a research assistant and I was loving my new position.
Maryssa’s Story – Young Adult Feature
My journey with arthritis started at only 2 years of age. Random rashes turned into inexplicable sore joints and fatigue. Years and many medical appointments later, I was (finally) diagnosed at the age of 11 with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis as well as...
Katie’s Story – Young Adult Feature
“God gives challenges to those who are strong enough to overcome them” ~ Unknown It was a particularly bad flare, not too long ago, when my mom turned to me quite randomly and asked, “do you remember what it feels like to not have back pain?” My response, “no.” As...
Marilyn’s Story
Getting the right diagnosis changed my lifeLike so many Canadians, Marilyn Walsh had her life plans derailed by the devastating effects of arthritis. Fortunately, a proper diagnosis and treatment helped correct years of pain and suffering, and now Marilyn is devoted...
Jen’s Story – Young Adult Feature
My name is Jen and I live in Northeastern Ontario. I am currently 26 years of age and have been diagnosed with two forms of inflammatory arthritis: undifferentiated connective tissue disease and axial spondyloarthropathy with peripheral involvement.It was towards the...
Marie’s Story
In retrospect, I think the first signs of AS started about 25 years ago, when I was about 40 years old. I remember lying on the floor and my back was really stiff when I stood up. I never thought much about it as it would quickly disappear once I walked around. Around...
Gloria’s Story
Throughout my life, I always felt like the pain had a name nobody could speak. Joint pain in my early teens was dismissed as “growing pains”. Always active, I heard throughout my life that stiffness and pain came from over-doing it with weights or training too hard...
Gerald’s Story
Hear former CSA president Gerald Major tell his story and put his life on display to create awareness in honor of national Psoriatic Arthritis Awareness Day.