Meet

Real

RINVOQ patients

Inspiring stories, real results

Stephanie has active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and was still experiencing symptoms on a TNF blocker. Hear how she fought back with RINVOQ.

Watch Stephanie’s nr-axSpA journey:

Music track throughout.

STEPHANIE: My symptoms really started in my lower back and kind of like across my hips, and when it will flare up, it almost feels like an ice pick in my right hip specifically.

I was on a TNF blocker and was still experiencing symptoms. I kind of hit a breaking point where I knew I needed to do something different, just because of the amount of pain that I was in, and that I couldn’t do the things that I wanted to be able to do.

I would say to anybody who’s exploring different treatments, you really have to be an advocate for yourself. You can’t give up on yourself. You have to be willing to try new things. And you need to find a doctor that will really listen to what you’ve been through and how you feel.

After I started taking RINVOQ, I noticed that a lot of the pressure that I was having in my spine and in my lower back started to go away. I noticed that the stabbing pains in my joints and my hips and my lower back weren’t always present. They weren’t always nagging with every step that I took.

I really just look forward to being present in the moment with the people that I care about without being in pain all the time.

ANNOUNCER VOICE-OVER (AVO):

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

RINVOQ may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Serious infections. RINVOQ can lower ability to fight infections. Serious infections, some fatal, occurred, including tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses.
  • Increased risk of death in people age 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor.
  • Cancer and immune system problems. Increased risk of some cancers, including lymphoma and skin. Current or past smokers have higher risk for lymphoma and lung cancer.
  • Increased risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in people 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor, especially in current or past smokers.
  • Blood clots, some fatal, in veins of the legs or lungs and arteries. This occurred more often in people 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor.
  • Serious allergic reactions. Do not take if allergic to RINVOQ or its ingredients.
  • Tears in the stomach or intestines; changes in certain laboratory test results.

Please see additional Important Safety Information on this webpage.

Be Your Own Advocate

It’s important to be open and honest with your rheumatologist about how you’re feeling. Watch how Stephanie successfully advocated for herself and partnered with her rheumatologist to build an nr-axSpA treatment plan.

Music track throughout

STEPHANIE: I really just felt defeated by the circumstances. Having nr-axSpA is very difficult to explain to somebody. It’s, at times, uncomfortable or even embarrassing to try to explain to somebody that you’re having back pain or that your back or hip pain is keeping you from doing something.

I missed out on things because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to either physically do it or I wouldn’t have time afterwards to rest.

I ended up at a rheumatologist who took the time to sit down and talk to me about all the treatments that I’ve been through. I was on a TNF blocker and was still experiencing symptoms.

After starting RINVOQ, I would say I started to notice some minor differences within the first couple weeks. I noticed that the stabbing pains in my hips and my lower back weren’t always present.

Within a matter of two to three months, I was back to doing activities without giving them thought.

Since I’ve been on RINVOQ, I feel like I can be a mom again. And I feel like I can be a wife again. And I feel like I can just be me.

ANNOUNCER VOICE-OVER (AVO):

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

RINVOQ may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Serious infections. RINVOQ can lower ability to fight infections. Serious infections, some fatal, occurred, including tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses.
  • Increased risk of death in people age 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor.
  • Cancer and immune system problems. Increased risk of some cancers, including lymphoma and skin. Current or past smokers have higher risk for lymphoma and lung cancer.
  • Increased risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in people 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor, especially in current or past smokers.
  • Blood clots, some fatal, in veins of the legs or lungs and arteries. This occurred more often in people 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor.
  • Serious allergic reactions. Do not take if allergic to RINVOQ or its ingredients.
  • Tears in the stomach or intestines; changes in certain laboratory test results.

Please see additional Important Safety Information on this webpage.

Making the Switch

Deciding to change your treatment is never easy, but neither is living with nr-axSpA symptoms. See how Stephanie worked with her rheumatologist to make the switch and learn how RINVOQ can help >

Thinking About Goals

If your nr-axSpA treatment isn’t helping you reach your goals, it may be time to discuss another option. Discover how Stephanie partnered with her rheumatologist to create an nr-axSpA treatment plan that got her back to doing what she loves.

Music track throughout

STEPHANIE: I always wanted to be a mom, that was always, I guess, my dream job was to be a mom. And I had that opportunity and I didn’t want to lose it. I didn’t want it to be taken away because of a disease or a physical limitation.

Having nr-axSpA is very difficult. Sometimes it feels like a stabbing pain, sometimes it’s more dull. But I think the biggest part about it is that it never goes away.

Driving, even at times, was painful because of the pain that I had in my SI joint and my hip. The smallest movement of your leg would just like send a shooting pain through those joints. It’s just always there. It’s always naggy.

I ended up at a rheumatologist who took the time to sit down and talk to me about all the treatments that I’ve been through. I was on a TNF blocker and was still experiencing symptoms.

So, I feel like I abandoned people in my life at times, just because I couldn’t be there with them.

After I started taking RINVOQ, I noticed that a lot of the pressure that I was having in my spine and in my lower back started to go away. I noticed that the stabbing pains in my joints, in my hips, in my lower back weren’t always present.

Now that I am taking RINVOQ, I can do those again. I feel like I can actually enjoy life without having to worry about what’s going to hurt tomorrow.

So since I started taking RINVOQ, I can sit on the floor and play a game. I can go on a hike with my husband. I can just do normal, everyday activities.

I feel like now that I had an opportunity to reflect on what my life was like before RINVOQ, I have a different outlook.

ANNOUNCER VOICE-OVER (AVO):

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

RINVOQ may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Serious infections. RINVOQ can lower ability to fight infections. Serious infections, some fatal, occurred, including tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses.
  • Increased risk of death in people age 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor.
  • Cancer and immune system problems. Increased risk of some cancers, including lymphoma and skin. Current or past smokers have higher risk for lymphoma and lung cancer.
  • Increased risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in people 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor, especially in current or past smokers.
  • Blood clots, some fatal, in veins of the legs or lungs and arteries. This occurred more often in people 50+ with at least 1 heart disease risk factor.
  • Serious allergic reactions. Do not take if allergic to RINVOQ or its ingredients.
  • Tears in the stomach or intestines; changes in certain laboratory test results.

Please see additional Important Safety Information on this webpage.

Start your RINVOQ story

Share your experience with RINVOQ to help inform and inspire others. To participate, please email us at info@SPEAKnetwork.net or call 877-861-6180.

Expect more from your nr-axSpA treatment plan

You have a right to feel better. If you don’t believe your current treatment is working, partner with your rheumatologist to help find an nr-axSpA treatment option that’s right for you.

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