The main symptoms of this disease are pain and stiffness. Any pain or stiffness that does not go away after three months needs to be investigated. The disease sets in usually after a person is twenty years old but there are cases when a child has been ten and has suffered from it. The pain begins in the lower back and as the disease progresses, it starts spreading to the whole back. The pain always gets worse with inactivity and better with exercise and movement. So typically, the pain gets worse at night and in the morning and gets better as the day goes by and you are on your feet.
Ankylosing Spondylitis is diagnosed by a total overview of the symptoms and then evaluating it. In the early stages, the pain can be deceptive and could seem to be a symptom of some other condition. This is why it sometimes takes years to diagnose this condition for what it is. Today, a blood test can go a long way in diagnosis with the presence of the HLA-B27 gene. This does not mean that everyone who has this gene has the condition. All it does it help a person who does have this gene and suffers from backache because it helps his doctor diagnose this condition. The doctor could also recommend X-Rays to see the extent of damage to the joints. A urine test will also be done in the case of back pain to eliminate the possibility of a kidney disorder. Symptoms that will be taken into consideration are the flexibility of the back and the expansion of the lungs. The disease decreases the mobility of the spine and this in turn causes lower back ache and tenderness of the upper buttocks joints. As the condition worsens, the upper spine is also affected and this decreases the expansion capacity of the chest. In some, there could be stooping. In severe cases, there could be osteoporosis so the person will have to be very careful so as not to get a fracture.
Certain other symptoms could also be present for this condition. The iris of the eyes could get inflamed, there could be joint pains in the heels, ankles, knees, hips and shoulders – more so in the case of women than of men – and there might also be weight loss and fever. When it affects the heel, it is called Achilles tendonitis and this symptom can make walking, especially up stairs, very difficult and painful. It could also affect the soles and this is called plantar fasciitis where this condition causes a spur to be calcified in the heel bone, causing discomfort. Another common symptom is extreme tiredness all through the day. Sometimes, the bowels are also affected and there can be inflammatory symptoms.
Ankylosing Spondylitis is a painful condition and if you go to the doctor and tell him your symptoms in time, you might be able to get onto a treatment program in time and that helps a lot to bring about relief from the pain and the stiffness.