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