End stage in your mid-twenties?
Ankylosing spondylitis
In his mid-twenties and confined to a wheelchair, Bechterew's disease robbed Martin of all hope. Medication did not help; instead, he suffered from severe side effects. It was the Gastein Healing Gallery that brought about the turning point: today, he lives pain-free, is back at work, hikes with his wife, and enjoys life.
Contrary to popular belief, ankylosing spondylitis is not a disease that affects older people. Although the long-term effects of the disease—flattening of the lumbar spine and the development of a hump in the thoracic spine—often only become apparent in old age, the disease itself usually breaks out between the ages of 15 and 35. The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis are not always clear, and it usually takes many years to reach the correct diagnosis.
Martin Schroth also developed ankylosing spondylitis at a very young age. Even before he turned 18, he began experiencing unspecific symptoms such as back pain. By the age of 18, his pain was so severe that a doctor initially diagnosed him with Scheuermann's disease. Two years later, during a stay at a rheumatology clinic, he was finally diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a condition he has now been living with for more than 40 years. We spoke to him about his illness and his desperate situation in his mid-twenties, when he was already confined to a wheelchair due to the pain.
Mr. Schroth, receiving such a serious diagnosis at a young age must have been terrible. How did you cope during that time?
"When I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, I embarked on a long and painful journey filled with therapies and medications. My pain moved from one part of my body to another. My mobility became increasingly limited and I could only move around with great difficulty. An X-ray revealed that my upper body was already completely ossified. My X-ray looked like a turtle's shell, not that of a young person. This also explained my frequent shortness of breath."
Was pain the main symptom?
"Yes. And I was labeled a psychological hypochondriac because everything hurt. During an injection, a doctor told me to decide where exactly it hurt. At the age of 25, I even spent several weeks in a wheelchair because I was no longer able to walk independently."
That almost sounds like the final stage of the disease. What did you do about it?
"I took numerous pills to make the pain bearable. But nothing helped. I was literally pumped full of medication, but even high doses of cortisone, painkillers, etc. did not provide any real relief. At times, the pain was so severe and I was taking so much cortisone that I couldn't even remember the name of my 1-year-old son. But it didn't help. Only the side effects of the strong medication became more and more apparent. I was constantly exhausted and physically drained. Diarrhea, intestinal and stomach problems were my daily companions."
What happened next?
The whole thing culminated in pill poisoning. The doctors had reached the end of their drug therapies; there were no further options for me. So in 2013, I suffered three minor strokes within a year. We had already heard about the Gastein Healing Gallery from relatives who had been there for treatment. My wife urged me to try the therapy in the radon tunnel. However, I had very little hope that anything could help me at all. But what did I have to lose?"
Why did you think the Gastein Healing Gallery wouldn't help?
No doctor had ever mentioned this treatment option to me, and I was sure it wouldn't help. How could a healing gallery possibly relieve pain? What's more, we had to pay for everything ourselves, and I thought that more than 60 euros for one visit was very expensive. Today, I know better.
So you tried it after all?
Yes, I had nothing to lose. In 2015, we went to the Gastein Healing Gallery for the first time for a course of treatment with 10 visits. On the way there, I couldn't even drive my car myself because of the pain, but had to be chauffeured. The tunnel entrances were exhausting for me; I struggled with shortness of breath and panic, feeling like I couldn't get any air. But after just the first five visits, I noticed an improvement in my symptoms. After the entire treatment, the pain was gone. I could hardly believe it."
This is an extraordinary success story; usually, the healing gallery effect takes a little longer to kick in.
The doctor at the healing gallery said the same thing back then. But after my first treatment, all my pain was gone. I drove myself home and was pain-free for almost 10 months. I didn't need a single pill. That brought back my zest for life, and my life was finally beautiful and worth living again for the first time in a long time. Since then, I've been coming here once a year, mostly at my own expense. My doctor prescribes me mild sedatives, so I can control my fear of shortness of breath and relax well in the tunnel."
Are you paying for the treatment yourself?
Yes. I usually come twice a year for five visits, so I split the treatment up. Health is the most important thing in life, and I'm happy to pay the costs. When you visit the healing gallery for the first time and see how much effort goes into each visit, you quickly realize that it's not too expensive. After all, I also had to pay extra for medication, but it didn't help. In addition, my wife and I combine the treatment with a vacation in the Gastein Valley. We love hiking in the Gastein Valley, Angertal, and especially in the Anlauftal, so we have to go there every time."
And the pain hasn't returned?
"No. A course of treatment keeps me pain-free for about nine months. I can go back to my job as a warehouse worker and take care of my small farm with cattle. Before, that wasn't possible anymore. The healing gallery has stopped my illness. Of course, the stiffness in my back is still there and I find it difficult to bend down, for example, but I no longer have any pain. Cycling, swimming, or hiking—everything I enjoy is possible again. The healing gallery is a miracle for me! Gastein Healing Gallery and the healing gallery therapy have become an integral part of my life, and I am very grateful for that.
What advice can you give to other patients with ankylosing spondylitis?
Just give it a try! Many people don't dare to try it or find the journey too much effort. But the healing gallery therapy has definitely changed my life. I still regret not having visited the healing gallery much earlier. Above all, I don't understand why my doctors didn't recommend the treatment. It would have helped me a lot at the time. My thanks also go to the staff at the health center. I always feel very well looked after; everyone is so friendly and helpful."
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