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Ankylosing spondylitis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Rheumatoid spondylitis; Spondylitis; Spondylarthropathy

Symptoms:

The disease starts with low back pain that comes and goes.

Pain and stiffness are worse at night, in the morning, or when you are not active. It may wake you from your sleep.
The pain typically gets better with activity or exercise.
Back pain may begin in the sacroiliac joints (between the pelvis and the spine). Over time, it may involve all or part of the spine.

You may lose motion or mobility in the lower spine. You may not be able to fully expand your chest because the joints between the ribs are involved.

Fatigue is also a common symptom.

Other, less common symptoms include:

Eye inflammation or uveitis
Heel pain
Hip pain and stiffness
Joint pain and joint swelling in the shoulders, knees, and ankles
Loss of appetite
Slight fever
Weight loss

Signs and tests:

Tests may include:

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

Skeletal spine

Cervical spondylosis

Reviewed last on: 6/21/2011
Neil J. Gonter, MD, 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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