Imagine Dragons Singer Has a ‘Trial-and-Error’ Process He Uses to Treat His Chronic Illnesses and Pain
Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds wants to let you in on what he’s done to treat his chronic illnesses.
Reynolds tweeted a message Tuesday explaining that he has ankylosing spondylitis and ulcerative colitis, and plans to share the “way of life” that has led to him being “relatively pain free.” He said when he first got his diagnoses, he felt like his world was “caving in” and thought he wouldn’t be able to do what he loved anymore, but with “discipline and sacrifice” he’s worked to find a way of life that helps him live as he wants.
He also criticized articles that have described him as a “bro” because he cares about his body and does strength training. He said core strength and “constant correct exercise” is essential to reducing his pain.
To those writers who have bullied and body shamed me throughout the years because I am an ‘artist’ and am supposed to fit some image you have in mind of the typical ‘rockstar’ — shame on you. I honestly hope you never have to deal with chronic pain — though it would certainly make you think twice before judging another’s way of life, especially when you have no idea of the details of their struggle.
Reynolds said he’s going to start sharing what he eats every day, the supplements he takes, and his exercise routines, which help him deal with his autoimmune diseases as well as depression.
I do this so you can hopefully find the mental and physical relief that I am finding through years of trial and error. Or, you can completely disregard it. I am no professional, but I do believe in sharing personal details of my life with this platform I have been given to hopefully spread awareness and bring something of worth to the world.
He said he lives an “anti-inflammatory” life, and will explain what that means over the next couple of weeks.
You can read his full statement below:
— Dan Reynolds (@DanReynolds) April 4, 2018
— Dan Reynolds (@DanReynolds) April 4, 2018
— Dan Reynolds (@DanReynolds) April 4, 2018
— Dan Reynolds (@DanReynolds) April 4, 2018
Reynolds was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, at 21 years old and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), an inflammatory arthritis that affects the spine and large joints, when he was 24 (two of his brothers also have AS). He first went public with his AS while performing a concert at Leeds Arena in 2015.
“I’ve never said this publicly ever,” he told the crowd. “I have something called ankylosing spondylitis. It’s an autoimmune disease. Basically… your immune system thinks that your joints are a disease and so [it] attacks your joints and you get arthritis… and your joints can fuse together and it’s a pretty scary thing.”
Since then he’s been an advocate for AS, partnering with the Spondylitis Association of America to host an interactive web series called “This AS Life.”
“This disease can be really lonely,” he told Practical Pain Management in 2017. “It’s important to find a community where you can speak with people and learn that you can get to a point where the disease won’t keep you from doing what you want to do.”
Image via Creative Commons/burningbelief
Erin is the former senior editor and chronic illness editor of The Mighty. She joined The Mighty in 2015 and previously worked at Inside Weddings magazine, Mic, and The Huffington Post. She was also the features editor at The California Aggie, UC Davis' student newspaper. She is honored to be a part of the Mighty community!
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