Ax SpA takes too long to be diagnosed!

We are a group of physios and GPs from around the UK, working together to try and drive down the time to diagnosis from 8.5 to 1 year for Axial Spondyloarthritis. To celebrate the end of our two year project we have decided to embark on a virtual Tour of the coast of Britain and totaling 6,835 miles!

We all have busy lives, with our own personal limitations, so we are sharing the load. We will cover the miles on foot, by pedal power, or in water, but we aim to finish together, at our final meeting in June, somewhere in the Midlands.

Exercise is fundamental in the management of Axial SpA, but there is so much more that needs to be done. This painful and debilitating inflammatory spinal condition affects people in the prime of life, at times when they are building careers and families, when they want to be active and participating in all sorts of things. Once diagnosed, treatment can be life changing, allowing a return to all these things.

But diagnosis is too often delayed and the longer it is, the harder it is to treat, with irreversible changes in the spine causing tremendous stiffness, pain and other complications. We aim to raise the profile of this condition, among the general public, GPs, physios, chiros, osteos, exercise professionals, and beyond, to get people referred as soon as possible to Rheumatology, where they can get the help they need. This is our project, supported by NASS.

Now we want to say thank you for the support we have had by raising money to help fund more of their work.

Please help us get there, and raise huge amounts for this incredible charity doing so much work to support people living with this challenging condition.

Thanks!