Ankylosis Spondylitis Symptoms

  • Initial Symptoms: Low back pain especially in sacroiliac and lumbar areas (may appear to be sciatic pain); stiffness on awakening; nocturnal pain; and stiffness causing insomnia.
  • Advanced Disease: Pain spreads up spine often into the mid-back and neck; hips and shoulders may also be involved (1/3 of patients); fatigue; weight loss and anorexia; slight anemia; muscle stiffness or

cramping; pain breathing or decreased ability to draw in deep breath; limited mobility of spine, bent-over stance, increased dorsal kyphosis, waddling gait; normal neurologic examination; chronic iritis.

  • Joints Affected: Sacroiliac (nearly always); general spinal from neck to lumbar (always, eventually); hips

(often); shoulders (often); peripheral joints (rarely).