Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a complex condition that can affect many parts of your body. It can cause complications in your day-to-day life and lead to additional health conditions.
Although most people with AS remain fully independent or minimally disabled in the long term, some people with the condition eventually have severely restricted movement in their spine.
This usually only affects the lower back and is the result of the bones in the spine joining up (fusing).
Fusing of the spine can make it difficult to move your back and can mean your posture becomes fixed in 1 position, although it does not lead to severe disability in most cases.
In rare cases surgery may be recommended to correct severe bends in the spine.
AS can cause joints such as the hips and knees to become inflamed. This can damage the affected joints over time, making them painful and difficult to move.
If a joint becomes particularly damaged, you may need surgery to replace it with an artificial joint.
Iritis, also known as acute anterior uveitis, is a condition sometimes associated with AS where the front part of the eye becomes red and swollen. It usually only affects 1 eye, rather than both.
If you have iritis, your eye may become red, painful and sensitive to light (photophobia). Your vision may also become blurred or cloudy.
You should visit your GP as soon as possible if you have AS and think you may have developed iritis, as the condition can cause the loss of some or all of your vision if not treated promptly.
If your GP thinks you have iritis, they'll refer you urgently to an ophthalmologist, a medical doctor who specialises in eye problems, for treatment.
Iritis can usually be treated with corticosteroid eyedrops.
Osteoporosis is where the bones become weak and brittle. In AS osteoporosis can develop in the spine and increase your risk of fracturing the bones in your backbone. The longer you have the condition, the more this risk increases.
If you do develop osteoporosis, you'll usually need to take medicine to help strengthen your bones.
There are a number of medicines that can be used to treat osteoporosis, which can be taken by mouth (orally) as tablets or given by injection.
Read about treating osteoporosis.
If you have AS, you may also have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels, such as heart disease and stroke.
Because of this increased risk, it's important to take steps to minimise your chances of developing CVD.
Your rheumatologist, a specialist in treating muscle and joint conditions, can advise about lifestyle changes you should make to minimise your risk of developing CVD.
These changes may include:
- stopping smoking – if you smoke
- losing weight – if you are overweight or obese
- taking regular exercise – 150 minutes of exercise a week can greatly improve your health
- making changes to your diet to keep other conditions you may have under control – such as diabetes or high blood pressure
You may also be prescribed medicine to reduce your blood pressure or blood cholesterol level.
Cauda equina syndrome is a very rare complication of AS that occurs when nerves at the bottom of your spine become compressed (compacted).
Symptoms of cauda equina syndrome include:
- sciatica on both sides of your body
- weakness or numbness in both legs that is severe or getting worse
- numbness around or under your genitals, or around your anus
- finding it hard to start peeing, being unable to pee or being unable to control when you pee – and this is not normal for you
- not noticing when you need to poo or not being able to control when you poo – and this is not normal for you
Go to A&E or call 999 if you have AS and you develop any of these symptoms.
It's common for people with AS to also have psoriasis, a skin condition that causes flaky patches of skin.
There's no cure for psoriasis, but your GP can recommend treatments that can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches.
Some people with AS also have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Symptoms of IBD include:
- pain, cramps or swelling in the tummy
- recurring or bloody diarrhoea
- weight loss
- extreme tiredness
There are treatments that can relieve the symptoms and prevent them returning, including specific diets, lifestyle changes, medicines and surgery.
See your GP if you have symptoms of IBD.