I think the rate of damage definately decreases when one is in remission, but just because your pain isn't intense doesn't mean there isn't inflammation. AWESOME that you are in remission.

The research seems to indicate that the inflammation correlates to radiographic changes over time.

My dad (who was a doctor) taught me that diseases can go into either complete remission or partial remission.  If you have intermittent flare ups, you have intermittent little bits of what AS does to the body.  It helps a lot that you're not in a state of chronic, severe inflammation, and you should sustain a whole lot less damage than someone whose AS does not respond to drug therapy at all.  So yes, you should feel very good about how things are going for you.

I believe that there are different degrees of remission. With AS the definition of remission is that pain levels drop below the threshold of pain tolerance. If you don't notice the pain then you would be "in remission." How fast the activity of the disease drops below that threshold would indicate how much damage is being done. The damage probably never drops to 0, but it may drop to insignificant levels.

I didn't even know that AS can go in remission?

If AS stops physical damage or slows physical damage enough, AS is in "remission" according to some researchers.  My belief is that if AS is not stopped altogether and is progressing (however slowly), damage will continue.  Hopefully progressing so slowly, that any damage, is minimal.  So one can enjoy life, without pain/damages, that AS does.. If continued treatment for AS is required, in order to keep you in remission, you have AS. If you no longer need treatment and all tests show no AS, maybe your cured.  I still would be seeing a rhuemy to monitor for changes.

I too am in remission, for 4 years I have felt small flare ups. I have always been scared that it would come back. I haven't s started the medicines for the
AS Symptoms. When the area isn't flared they are not very concerned. Even if tested positive for the gene. I'm very sorry to hear that you both are hurting, I know because I remember the pain and I thank god for the time it hasn't hurt.

I have wondered the same thing, thanks for asking this question. When you say you are in remission, do you ever have a bad day of pain or fatigue or any AS symptoms at all?