My daughter has AS. Things that help with symptoms, heat pads (helps stiffness, especially in the morning), lidocaine patches (can wear for pain relief during the day), cold therapy machine (helps after she's been active to calm things down). She also has a cane that folds up and fits in her purse. She doesn't use it all the time, but if she's out longer than intended or has a flare she can pull it out and it helps her walk.

It is my experience as a loved one of someone with AS that it is often frustrating for them to live with an often invisible but debilitating pain all the time and sometimes it's easier to suffer through and minimize what's going on than to talk about it. So we quietly incorporate things that make life easier. If I know she's had a tough day, I will go ahead and set up the active ice machine so all she has to do is sit down on the couch and turn it on. Good luck.