What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Ankylosing Spondylitis (pronounced ankle-low-zing spond-ill-eye-tiss or AS for short), is a chronic inflammatory form of arthritis that mainly affects the joints of the spine (vertebrae). Inflammation, swelling and irritation cause back pain and stiffness. Over time, people living with AS tend to stoop forward. This leads to a rounding of the back. In severe cases, vertebrae may fuse together causing the spine to stiffen. This results in a major loss of movement.

Inflammation of the tendons and ligaments that connect and support the vertebrae can cause pain and tenderness in the ribs, shoulder blades, hips, thighs, shins, heels, as well as along the bony points of the spinal column. However the main problem with AS involves the lower back joints where the spine joins the pelvis (known as the sacroiliac or SI joints).

AS may affect different people in different ways. Some patients have only temporary episodes of back pain. Others have more chronic severe back pain that may lead to stiffness of the spine over time. In almost all cases of AS, there are acute painful episodes and periods of remission when the problem tends to settle.