I live in california. And originally from mumbai. I was suffering from intermittent severe back pain, hip pain from last two years. Sometimes I could not even walk. I could not run or play cricket or volleyball. When I was visiting India in February 2007 I developed pain in my ribs. And that's when I visited Dr Akerkar and discovered that I have Ankylosing Spondylitis. I came back to US and consulted my doctor here and he suggested Enbrel. Since then I am taking enbrel and am very happy with the results.
The day since I started using enbrel, I had relief from every pain I was suffering from in a couple of hours. I have to take the subcuteneous injection weekly once. For a first few times, I used to go to the hospital and get injected. But for last few months I have started taking enbrel on my own at home.
My doctor had done a few tests like TB test and given me vaccine for Hepatitis B. As enbrel is immune suppressant, we have to be a little careful from the infections. But so far in more than a year of using the enbrel, I have never suffered from a major infection apart from an occasional cold.
I visited Dr Akerkar after a year and he suggested me reducing the frequency of the injection. So I have started taking the injection once in 2 weeks. And I am quite healthy now. I can run, play volleyball/cricket like my other friends, exercise and do not feel any pain. And enbrel is supposed to delay other effects of the spondylitis too. So I am going to continue using enbrel until my doctor asks me to stop.
Talk to your doctor about Enbrel and for more information visit www.enbrel.com.

Thanks