Spondylitis

Spondylitis Pain

Inflammation of the joints of the backbone.

Ankylosing spondylitis North Carolina

Is spondylitis serious?

Ankylosing spondylitis is a complex disorder that can cause some serious complications when left unchecked. However, symptoms and complications for many people can be controlled or reduced by following a regular treatment plan.

What does the pain feel like?

Chronic pain and stiffness in the lower back where your spine meets your pelvis. Ankylosing spondylitis causes chronic pain that can come and go. You might experience periods of flares and stiffness, and other times when you don’t feel pain as acutely.

How do you know you have spondylitis?

The first symptoms are usually dull pain and joint stiffness in your lower back and hips, and possibly in your ribs, shoulders, and back of your heel. The pain may initially only be felt on one side. This pain and stiffness usually improves with exercise and then worsens with rest.

Can spondylitis be cured?

There’s no cure for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but treatment is available to help relieve the symptoms. Treatment can also help delay or prevent the process of the spine joining up (fusing) and stiffening.

Early signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis might include pain and stiffness in your lower back and hips, especially in the morning and after periods of inactivity. Neck pain and fatigue also are common. Over time, symptoms might worsen, improve or stop at irregular intervals.

The areas most commonly affected are:

  • The joint between the base of your spine and your pelvis
  • The vertebrae in your lower back
  • The places where your tendons and ligaments attach to bones, mainly in your spine, but sometimes along the back of your heel
  • The cartilage between your breastbone and ribs
  • Your hip and shoulder joints
Ankylosing spondylitis North Carolina

References-

F Ahlhelm J KelmN NaumannK ShariatI GrunwaldW ReithA Nabhan 2006 Jun;46(6):480-5. doi: 10.1007/s00117-006-1368-5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16609839/
B HuttnerM Opravil 2006 Feb;65(1):7-11. doi: 10.1007/s00393-005-0017-0. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16421642/