LETS MEET LEE JOHNSON

A FEW YEARS AGO, I MET LEE IN MY HOMETOWN OF OXFORD AND BECAME GOOD FRIENDS.

HOWEVER RECENTLY, LEE HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH SOME HEALTH ISSUES AND MADE THE DECISION TO SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHAT HE WAS GOING THROUGH

AFTER A LITTLE THINKING, I DECIDED TO REACH OUT TO HIM AND SEE IF HE WANTED TO SHARE HIS JOURNEY FURTHER ON MY WEBSITE FOR YOU ALL TO READ TO BRING AWARENESS AND HE SAID YES

THESE ARE WORDS FROM HIS SOCIAL MEDIA POST AND I HAVE PERMISSION TO SHARE BUT IF YOU WANT TO GIVE HIM SOME LOVE, PLEASE GIVE HIM A COMMENT BELOW 💙💙

LOVE STEVE 

❤️

I wasn't planning on sharing this today, but it's Ankylosing Spondylitis Awareness Day/Month 2025 and this year is personal ...it's personal. 

This year I was diagnosed with Radiographic Ankylosing Spondylitis (rAS). 

A chronic autoimmune disease that attacks the spine and joints.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that primarily affects the spine and sacroiliac joints, but can also impact other joints, tendons, and organs. Over time, it can lead to stiffness, "N fusion of the spine, and reduced mobility. 

Radiographic Ankylosing Spondylitis (rAS) is a form of axial spondyloarthritis where joint damage and inflammation-especially in the spine and sacroiliac joints -are visible on X-rays. It causes chronic back pain, stiffness, and can lead to spinal fusion over time. 

There was times - knew something was wrong. I'd often feel like I had been fight training, but I hadn't.

Years of pain. Stiffness. Fatigue. I thought it was just from training hard, having a hard job active lifestyle. 

Fatigue is common in AS due to chronic inflammation, poor sleep from pain, and the body's immune system being constantly activated. Fatigue has been one of the hardest things for me to accept. No matter how hard I pushed, Ifelt myself getting weaker almost by the week. 

But this pain wasn't just wear and tear. It was something deeper, invisible.. progressive. 

Muscle tightness occurs because surrounding muscles compensate for joint instability and pain, especially in the back and hips. 

Ankylosing spondylitis causes weakness due to chronic inflammation, joint stiffness, and pain that limit movement and reduce muscle use over time. This leads to muscle wasting (atrophy), poor neuromuscular activation, and fatigue. Inflammation also affects energy levels and recovery, making muscles feel weaker even when not severely deconditioned.

Joint pain is driven by inflammation where ligaments and tendons attach to bone, especially in the spine, hips, and shoulders. And in my case, many other joints. 

AS has No cure. It's Lifelong..

But manageable-with knowledge, movement, nutriention, medication and mindset. 

Brain fog may result from systemic inflammation, poor sleep, and chronic pain affecting mental clarity and cognitive function. My mood has been greatly affected. I've gone from feeling like: an Avenger to feeling weak, tired and feeble in just a few years. I started to think my knowledge was the problem. That the years of learning and training did nothing for me. 

I've started biologic treatment-one step at a time. It's a lot to process, but l'm ready to face it head-on, Just as Ihave been this entire time. 

Along with so many other life adjustments. I do what fighters do. I adapt, endure and evolve. 

In people with ank ylosing spondylitis (AS), flare-ups can be triggered by inflammatory foods like processed sugars, refined carbs, nightshades (e.g. tomatoes, peppers), dairy, gluten, and high-starch foods, which may feed gut bacteria linked to immune activation 

AS causes joint damage by inflaming the areas where ligaments attach to bone, especially in the spine and hips, leading to pain, stiffness, and potential spinal fusion. Over time, it can affect the ribs, shoulders, knees, and eyes, and increase cardiovascular risk. 

AS is closely linked to gut issues like IBS and ulcerative colitis (UC). Many people with AS have gut inflammation, even without symptoms, and imbalances in gut bacteria may trigger or worsen the immune response that drives the disease 

I'm sharing this to raise awareness. And to let others know: if you're going through this, you're not alone. 

This is the start of a new chapter." If you're on your own journey with chronic pain, av autoimmune illness, or healing... Follow along. I will show you how l've been able to protect my body throughout this process. Let's walk this path together. 

For someone with chronic pain, adopting a warrior mindset is vital because it builds mental resilience, helps them push through setbacks, and stay committed to movement, self-care, and healing. Chronic pain can break you down mentally, but a warrior mindset turns suffering into strength, turning each challenge into a reason to keep fighting, because one thing is for sure, and warrior doesn't know what quiting is. 

Love

Lee

💙

Thank you for taking the time for reading this blog post. 

IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING THEN PLEASE SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP