10 Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms
Our immune system does a very good job of helping to keep us safe from disease. As effective as it is, though, our immune system can sometimes work against us. It will sometimes attack our own bodies in what is known as an autoimmune disease. Ankylosing spondylitis is one of many examples of an autoimmune disease.
Ankylosing spondylitis attacks joints and other parts of the body, causing inflammation. This inflammation can cause pain and also limit mobility. The condition is considered to be a type of arthritis.
Ankylosing spondylitis causes some very unwelcome symptoms, some of which can have a considerable impact on the patient’s quality of life.
Symptom #1: Pain Gets Worse When Still
When we have an illness or injury, we will often do what we can to prevent it from getting worse. This will often mean staying as still as we can and doing what we can to protect the area. Sometimes, though, remaining still can have the opposite effect.
One of the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis is that the patient will feel more pain if they remain stationary for a while. This means that sitting for a long time can be agonizing for them, while they can also experience a great deal of pain in the morning. This occurs because the chemicals that cause inflammation are able to settle in the joints.
Symptom #2: Heel Pain
Entetheses are points in the body where our tendons and ligaments attach to our bones. These enable our muscles to act on our joints, giving us our strength and mobility. In people that have ankylosing spondylitis, these areas can become quite inflamed and painful.
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis will most often experience inflammation of the entetheses located at the back of the heel. It can occur anywhere else in the body, though. These are known as hot spots, and the pain can be severe enough to seriously impede somebody’s mobility. Doctors will often check these hotspots when the patient is being examined.
Symptom #3: Low Fever
Fevers are actually very useful to us, especially before the days of modern medicine. Before medicine, our bodies were left to fend for themselves against disease but, thankfully, we have some very effective weapons in our arsenal. One of these is a fever which helps to make the body an inhospitable place for pathogens.
Ankylosing spondylitis is the result of an overactive immune system and this can cause what is known as systemic symptoms. Once such symptom is a low fever, which can come and go or may remain more persistently. The fever itself is not necessarily a threat to the patient.
Symptom #4: Buttock Pain
Our buttocks are among the largest of all muscles in our bodies. They need to be as, after all, they help provide the support that allows us to keep our bodies upright when walking. They are also often used to sit on, and you might feel pain in them in the case of certain ailments.
Patients that have ankylosing spondylitis are quite likely to find that they experience pain in their buttocks. It will mostly be felt in the lower back and will generally move from one side to the other. This can make it difficult for the patient to remain seated for long periods.
Symptom #5: Jaw Pain
When you stop and think about it, the jaw bone is very important to us. It helps us to eat and crush our food and it also helps us to perform complex language. Life would likely be a lot more difficult for us if we didn’t have the use of our jaws. This is something that can happen in people with ankylosing spondylitis.
The inflammation caused by ankylosing spondylitis can affect the joints in the jaw, and this can be very painful. Such pain can limit the mobility of the jaw considerably, making it difficult for the patient to eat and even speak.
Symptom #6: Pain Relief from Heat
After a hard day’s work, all that many of us want us a long soak in a hot bath, while a hot shower is also very welcome. It isn’t only good for our hygiene, of course, as it can also be very enjoyable and relaxing. It can also help to relieve the pain of people that are suffering from ankylosing spondylitis.
The heat from a hot bath or shower will help to loosen the chemicals that are causing inflammation. This, in turn, can provide relief from the pain it is causing. You could also try using a heating pad, a hot water bottle, or anything else that can apply heat to the body.
Symptom #7: Pain in Rib Cage
Our rib cages do a very good job at helping to protect the delicate organs inside. Because it contains the lungs, it also needs to be able to expand as the lungs expand. As such, there is flexibility at the joints where the ribs meet the spine and breastbone.
In cases of ankylosing spondylitis, the areas where the ribs meet with other bones can become inflamed. This can cause them to become painful and also very stiff. This makes it harder for the patient to breathe freely because of the stiffness and the pain. You should always see a doctor if you are experiencing any difficulty with your breathing.
Symptom #8: Psoriasis
Some people have difficulties keeping their skin in good condition. Psoriasis is a skin condition that appears as silvery, red scales on the skin and it is often very visible. It is caused by an autoimmune disorder and it is a potential symptom of ankylosing spondylitis.
While psoriasis is a condition in its own right, it is often associated with arthritis. Some patients might have ankylosing spondylitis and psoriasis, whereas others may have psoriatic arthritis. If you have signs of psoriasis along with joint pain it is a sign that you need to see a rheumatologist.
Symptom #9: Uveitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a condition that can cause pain, discomfort, and mobility. As such, you might expect that these are the symptoms that initially encourage people to see their doctor but this is not always the case. In some cases, it is actually swollen eyes that cause people to make an appointment.
Ankylosing spondylitis can cause uveitis. This is the inflammation of the uvea, which is the pigmented section of the eye. This inflammation can cause sensitivity to sunlight and it can also be quite painful. Regular eyedrops treatments are not likely to be effective so you will need to speak to a medical professional for help.
Symptom #10: Fatigue
When we start feeling tired, we know that it’s probably time for us to go to bed or to at least get something to it. Most of the time, we should wake the following morning feeling fresh and ready again. This may not always be the case for people that are sick, however.
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis will often feel very fatigued, even when they are well fed and well rested. They are likely to be both physically and mentally exhausted and not feel like doing anything at all. If you do feel continually fatigued and you don’t know why, you should arrange to speak with your doctor.
