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Ankylosing spondylitis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Rheumatoid spondylitis; Spondylitis; Spondylarthropathy

Symptoms:

The disease starts with hip or low back pain that comes and goes and is worse at night, in the morning, or after inactivity.

Back pain may begin in the sacroiliac joints (between the pelvis and the spine) and involve all or part of the spine.

Pain may go away by bending over. You may not be able to fully expand your chest because of the involvement of the joints between the ribs.

Specific symptoms:

Chronic stooping to relieve symptoms
Eye inflammation
Fatigue
Heel pain
Hip pain and stiffness
Joint pain and joint swelling in the shoulders, knees, and ankles
Limited expansion of the chest
Limited range of motion, especially involving spine and hips
Low-back pain that is worse at night, in the morning, or after inactivity
Loss of appetite
Neck pain
Slight fever
Stiffness and limited motion in the low back
Weight loss

Signs and tests:

Tests may include:

CBC
ESR
HLA-B27 antigen
X-rays of the spine and pelvis

Skeletal spine

Cervical spondylosis

Reviewed last on: 4/24/2008
Neil J. Gonter, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Columbia University, NY and private practice specializing in Rheumatology at Rheumatology Associates of North Jersey, Teaneck, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Goldman L, Ausiello DA. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007.

Sidiropoulos PI, Hatemi G, Song IH, et al. Evidence-based recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondylitis: systematic literature search of the 3E Initiative in Rheumatology involving a broad panel of experts and practising rheumatologists. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2008. 47(3):355-61.

Dagfinrud H, Kvien TK, Hagen KB. Physiotherapy interventions for ankylosing spondylitis. Cochrane Database, Syst Rev. 2008. (1):CD002822.

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