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.
Joint stiffness with ankylosing spondylitis typically worsens with lack of movement, especially upon waking in the morning.
The pain typically worsens during periods of rest or inactivity, which may cause some people to experience more pain during the middle of the night or after prolonged sitting. Usually, moving and exercise can help improve pain. Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis vary from person to person.
“Lying down for sleep can pinch or press on nerves around the spine that are compromised by spinal or other health conditions,” Dr. Chang explains. “Our inflammation levels also rise at night as circulation slows, so this too can contribute to our sense of pain.”
Ankylosing spondylitis causes chronic pain that can come and go. You might experience periods of flares and stiffness, and other times when you don't feel pain as acutely. The symptoms may ease up or disappear for a period of time, but they ultimately return.
Types of AS Flares
Generalized flares are more severe and may affect multiple parts of the body. In addition to the above symptoms, they also include flu-like illness (fever, sweating); hot, burning joints; muscle spasms; and more sensitivity.
Severe discomfort, particularly at night, significant weight loss that wasn't intentional, or worsening pain while lying on your back are all warning signs of a spinal tumour or cancer, especially in those under the age of 18.
Night Pain or Pain at Rest
Experiencing back pain at night or at rest can be—but isn't necessarily—a sign of a serious condition such as an infection or cancer. This is particularly true if your night or resting back pain occurs alongside another symptom.
While AS flares can vary from person to person and the symptoms and their severity can change from one flare to another, they typically cause increased back pain and fatigue and can last from a few days to a few weeks, according to the Spondylitis Association of America (SAA).
Lack of Exercise Worsens Stiffness
“A sedentary lifestyle will worsen the stiffness and decreased mobility and flexibility that accompany ankylosing spondylitis,” says Waseem Mir, MD, the founder of New York Integrative Rheumatology and a rheumatologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) can make your back stiff and achy. And it can feel even worse if you sit for a long time.
Key Takeaways. Back pain during sleep can be attributed to various causes, including poor posture, an unsuitable mattress, or underlying health conditions. The role of the mattress is significant in mitigating back pain; both the type of mattress and its firmness can affect the comfort and support it provides.
L5 radiculopathy is usually associated with numbness down the side of the leg and into the top of the foot. S1 radiculopathy typically results in numbness down the back of the leg into the outside or bottom of the foot. Weakness is another symptom of nerve root compression.
Autoimmune disease
Certain autoimmune diseases can cause problems with back pain, including: Rheumatoid arthritis. Ankylosing spondylitis.
Steroids: Using steroids or intravenous drugs puts one at greater risk for back infections and particularly spinal epidural abscesses. History: If you have a history of cancer, HIV or tuberculosis, back pain can mean a serious complication or recurrence. Get treatment immediately.
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.
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.