Although many people with ankylosing spondylitis have mild back pain that comes and goes, others develop severe, constant, debilitating pain that can cause the spine to become inflexible.
The most severe cases of ankylosing spondylitis have symptoms that include:
Because the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis are similar to other inflammatory diseases, it is important to be seen by a specialist in order to be properly diagnosed and treated (see Diagnosing and Treating Ankylosing Spondylitis). At Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, our specialists have advanced training in diagnosing and treating conditions of the spine.
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Reviewed by: Paul Park, MD
Last reviewed/last updated: April 2024