Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that causes vertebrae to fuse. This can reduce mobility and cause a hunched-forward posture. If your ribs are affected, it can become difficult to breath. The disease affects men more commonly than women, and symptoms usually present themselves in early adulthood. The inflammation can occur in other parts of your body such as the eyes.

Early symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis include pain and stiffness in the lower back and hips. Neck pain and tiredness are also common. The joints at the base of your spine and pelvis, the vertebrae in your lower back, places where your ligaments attach to the bone in your spine, cartilage between your breastbone and ribs, hips and shoulder joints are most commonly affected.

Complications from ankylosing spondylitis include eye inflammation called uveitis, where the eyes become sensitive to light, vision is blurred, and you will experience rapid-onset eye pain. Compression fractures caused by thinning bones can damage the spinal cord. Heart problems result from the aorta becoming inflamed, which impairs function.

The exact cause of ankylosing spondylitis is not known, but it is believed to be linked to the gene HLA-B27. However, not all people with this gene develop the disease. 

Treatment will aim to relieve pain and stiffness as well as prevent or delay complications and spinal deformity. Treatment will be most successful if it is done before irreversible damage to joints has occurred.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are mot commonly prescribes to treat ankylosing spondylitis. They can relieve inflammation, pain and stiffness. They can however cause gastrointestinal bleeding. If the NSAID’s don’t help, you may be prescribed a biological medication such as a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker.

TNF blockers target the cell protein that causes inflammation and can help reduce pain, stiffness and tender and swollen joints. They are usually administered by injection or by IV.

Physical therapy will play an important role in treatment and a physical therapist can design specific exercises for your needs.

In rare cases your doctor may recommend surgery if you have severe pain or joint damage caused by ankylosing spondylitis.