Ankylosing spondylitis commonly affects the sacroiliac joints. These joints connect the base of the spine (sacrum) to your pelvis. Other joints such as the hips and shoulders can also be affected, as can the eyes, skin, bowel and lungs. Ankylosing spondylitis affects men more often than women.
Another autoimmune disease, lupus occurs when your own immune system begins to attack your healthy tissue. Systemic lupus is associated with chronic pain and fatigue. It can lead to inflammation of the hip and other joints, causing significant pain.
Back pain and stiffness are usually the main symptoms of AS. You may find: the pain gets better with exercise, but does not improve or gets worse with rest. the pain and stiffness is worse in the morning and at night – you may wake up regularly during the night because of the pain.
At this time, no single test diagnoses ankylosing spondylitis. Your doctor may order a blood test to check for the HLA-B27 gene, which is present in most people with the disease. You may have the HLA-B27 gene and never develop ankylosing spondylitis, but it can give doctors more information when making a diagnosis.
Ankylosing spondylitis may affect more than the spine. The disease may inflame joints in the pelvis, shoulders, hips and knees, and between the spine and ribs. People with AS are more prone to spinal fractures (broken vertebrae).
Ankylosing spondylitis, also known as axial spondyloarthritis, is an inflammatory disease that, over time, can cause some of the bones in the spine, called vertebrae, to fuse. This fusing makes the spine less flexible and can result in a hunched posture.
Fibromyalgia, a condition of widespread muscle pain and fatigue. Kidney stones or infections. Endometriosis, which is the buildup of uterine tissue in places outside the uterus. Infections that involve the bones of the spine or the discs between these bones, which can cause back pain.
Lupus can cause neck and back pain, however, because muscles can become inflamed by lupus. Furthermore, the muscle pain syndrome called fibromyalgia that can cause pain in these areas is commonly associated with lupus.
Some systemic diseases can cause hip pain; for example, sickle cell disease or Lyme disease causes joint swelling, leading to hip pain. Autoimmune conditions like lupus can cause joint inflammation and even arthritis, which can cause hip pain.
Lupus often causes myalgia, or aches and pains in the muscles. Less often, lupus can cause myositis, or inflammation in the muscles — usually in the hips, thighs, shoulders, and upper arms.
Despite both being autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are unrelated conditions. They rarely coexist, and they differ significantly in symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Plain X-rays are used to detect and monitor ankylosing spondylitis because they are effective and relatively inexpensive. Although the hallmark signs of AS may not be visible on an X-ray early in the disease, conventional radiographs produce reliable images that show bone and joint changes.
at least 3 months of lower back pain that gets better with exercise and doesn't improve with rest. limited movement in your lower back (lumbar spine) limited chest expansion compared with what is expected for your age and sex.
Your doctor will diagnose AS from your symptoms, a physical examination and blood tests to measure levels of inflammation. Your doctor may also order x-rays of your spine, but these tests can all be normal in the early stages.
According to the Spondylitis Association of America, people typically develop AS between 17 and 45 years of age. Most people develop AS in their 20s and 30s. In a 2022 study, the average age of onset worldwide was 26.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain in muscles and soft tissues all over the body. It is an ongoing (chronic) condition. It can affect your neck, shoulders, back, chest, hips, buttocks, arms, and legs. The pain may be worse in the morning and evening.
Trochanteric bursitis is a common condition in patients living with fibromyalgia. Trochanteric bursitis develops when two particular bursae in the hip become inflamed. One bursa is located on the greater trochanter and the other, called the iliopsoas bursa, is found on the inside of the hip in the groin.