Understanding Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a long-term (chronic) condition in which the spine and other areas of the body become inflamed. The symptoms of AS can vary but usually involve: back pain and stiffness that improves with exercise and isn’t relieved by rest pain and swelling in other parts of the body, such as the hips, knees, and ribs fatigue (extreme tiredness) These symptoms tend to develop gradually, usually over several months or years and may come and go over time. In some people, the condition gets better with time, but for others, it can get slowly worse. What Causes Ankylosing Spondylitis? In AS, various areas of the spine and other joints become inflamed. As well as causing pain, stiffness, and swelling, this inflammation can damage affected areas of the body over time, and in some cases can lead to some of the individual bones of the spine fusing (joining together). This fusing of the spine is known as ankylosis. It is not known what causes the condit...