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Joints, Muscles and Bones Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms
Symptoms
About Ankylosing Spondylitis

Symptoms

The slow-onset symptoms of AS vary from person to person and can come and go over time.1

The most characteristic symptom people have with AS is lower back pain and stiffness that persists for longer than 3 months.2,3  These symptoms often vary throughout the day, with stiffness eased by activity but worst in the mornings after a long period of inactivity, often even waking people from their sleep.3

5 boxes, each containing one letter and some information to form an anagram for spine. The first box “S” says “Stiffness felt most in the mornings and eased with exercise”, the second is “P” and says “Pain in the lower back and other joints”, the third is “I” and says “Inflammation, heat and swelling around the joints”, the fourth is “N” which says “Night time awakening”, and the last is “E” which stands for “Extreme tiredness”.

AS can affect everyone differently, so it is advised that you talk to your doctor if you experience any combination of the above symptoms persistently.1

References

  1. Ankylosing Spondylitis Overview– NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ankylosing-spondylitis/. Last accessed April 2025.
  2. Lata M et al. Targeting tumor necrosis factor receptors in ankylosing spondylitis. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2019 Apr;1442(1):5-16. doi: 10.1111/nyas.13933. Epub 2018 Jul 15. PMID: 30008173
  3. Axial spondyloarthritis (including ankylosing spondylitis):When should I suspect a diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis?– NICE CKS. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/axial-spondyloarthritis-including-ankylosing-spondylitis/diagnosis/diagnosis/. Last accessed April 2025.