It’s important to learn as much as you can about your condition. That includes understanding your symptoms and how AS affects your body. Knowing more can help you talk with your doctor about the treatment that’s right for you.
Ankylosing spondylitis (pronounced ank-kih-low-sing spon-dill-eye-tiss) is an inflammatory type of arthritis that can cause pain and stiffness:
- In the spinal joints
- In the joints between the spine and hip
- In other joints, too, more commonly in the lower body
What Happens When You Have AS?
Normally, your immune system works to protect your body from foreign substances like bacteria, viruses, and germs. While the exact cause is unknown, when you have AS, your immune system attacks healthy tissue and cells in your body. That’s why it’s called an autoimmune disease.
What Are the Symptoms?
The symptoms of AS vary from one person to another. They may include pain and stiffness in the:
- Lower back (sometimes worse during the night or in the morning)
- Hips
- Shoulders
- Ribs
- Neck
These symptoms sometimes get better with a warm shower or light exercise.
You might have spine stiffness in the morning and during the night. You might also feel pain and stiffness in other joints, including:
- Heels
- Knees
- Ankles
- Hands and feet
Some people only have flare-ups once in a while. For others, symptoms may last more than 3 months. Symptoms may be severe and affect several joints.
AS Is a Chronic (Long-Term) Disease
The pain and stiffness symptoms can worsen over time. That’s why early diagnosis and treatment are important. While there is no cure, there are medicines that can help relieve these symptoms.
Who Gets AS?
0.2% to 0.5% of people in the United States (US) are affected by AS
The condition is about 2x more common in males than females.
In many cases, symptoms start in the young adult years.
Biologics—A Treatment Option
for AS
Biologics may help relieve the pain and stiffness in the joints caused by AS. They are prescribed for people whose symptoms have not fully responded to other types of treatments. These medicines may include:
Talking With Your Doctor
Your doctor needs to know about your symptoms and how they affect your everyday activities.
Be open and honest with your doctor about your symptoms.
Here are a few suggestions:
Write down the symptoms you’ve been having and make note of any new ones. Has anything changed since your last doctor visit?
Go into detail: If something hurts, describe how bad it is
Write down how symptoms affect your ability to do everyday activities
Make a list of the medicines you take, previous medical procedures, and your disease history
doctor about your treatment goals and the types of activities you’d like to get back to doing.