What are the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is also known as ankylosing spondylitis in clinical practice. It is a chronic inflammatory disease. The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis are very obvious. Patients may experience symptoms such as morning stiffness in the early stages. At the same time, they should also pay attention to the systemic symptoms caused by ankylosing spondylitis.

1. Morning stiffness

Morning stiffness is one of the common early symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis may feel waist stiffness when they wake up in the morning, which can be relieved after exercise. Morning stiffness is also one of the indicators of ankylosing spondylitis disease activity, and in severe cases it can last all day. In addition to activity, hot compresses and hot baths can also relieve morning stiffness.

2. Low back pain

Low back pain or discomfort is the most common symptom of ankylosing spondylitis, with an incidence of about 90%. It occurs insidiously, is often dull and painful, and is difficult to locate. At the beginning, patients with ankylosing spondylitis often feel pain or discomfort deep in the buttocks. Severe pain is often located in the sacroiliac joints, and sometimes radiates to the iliac crest or the back of the thigh. The pain may be aggravated by coughing, sneezing, or other movements that strain the back.

3. Peripheral joint symptoms

More than half of ankylosing spondylitis cases experience peripheral joint symptoms during the course of the disease. Among patients with peripheral joint involvement as the first symptom, about 50% have combined peripheral joint symptoms. Peripheral arthritis is more common in children with ankylosing spondylitis. Among children with ankylosing spondylitis, 75% of patients suffer from peripheral arthritis.

4. Systemic diseases

Ankylosing spondylitis may affect the eyes, heart, lungs, and kidneys of patients. Eye invasion may cause uveitis and iritis, and in severe cases may lead to blindness. Ankylosing spondylitis that invades the heart is often asymptomatic or causes mild aortic valvular insufficiency and conduction block. A small number of ankylosing spondylitis patients also develop upper pulmonary fibrosis or abnormal renal function.