Editorial Policy

Who writes this

My name is Andrew Hunt. I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis about 20 years ago, after roughly a year of misdiagnosis. I have managed the condition since then without biologics — mild to moderate disease, but it shapes every day.

Everything on this site comes from lived experience — not clinical training, not a research department, not a content agency. I write as someone who has been there, because that is what I would have wanted when I was first diagnosed.

What this is not

This site does not provide medical advice. Nothing here should be taken as a substitute for advice from a rheumatologist, GP, or other qualified health professional. AS affects everyone differently. What works for me may not work for you.

Always consult your doctor before changing your treatment, starting a new exercise programme, or making decisions about your medication. I am not qualified to advise on any of that — and I am not trying to.

How content is created

Content on this site is built on two foundations: my own 20 years of living with AS, and a research library of 13 deep-dive files covering diagnosis, treatment, exercise, diet, mental health, work, relationships, and more — drawn from published medical literature and patient community accounts.

I set the editorial direction and voice for everything published here. Articles are drafted against the research library and then shaped to sound like a patient, not a clinic — because that is the whole point of the site. Where an article covers something outside my direct experience, I say so plainly.

I am not a clinician and this is not a peer-reviewed journal. Treat it as one patient's perspective plus honest research — useful as a starting point, never a substitute for a rheumatologist.

Last reviewed dates

Every guide and FAQ entry shows when it was last reviewed. AS treatment is evolving — new biologics, new JAK inhibitors, changing guidelines. Content is reviewed on a rolling basis to make sure it reflects what is current. If something is out of date, the date will tell you.

Contact

Questions about content, corrections, or anything else? Email andrew@painintheas.com.