What is Axial Spondyloarthritis?
Axial Spondyloarthritis also known as axSpA or axial SpA – is a painful, chronic arthritis that mainly affects the joints of the spine. It can also affect other joints in the body, as well as tendons and ligaments.
Axial Spondyloarthritis may be difficult to diagnose as it cannot always be identified on x-rays or MRI scans of the back. If arthritis of the sacroiliac joints (pelvis) or spine can be seen on x-ray, the term used is radiographic axial Spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA). This condition was previously called Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and today, both terms (r-axSpA and AS) are used interchangeably.
If there are no signs of sacroiliitis on x-ray but there is evidence of inflammation in the joints on MRI, the term used is non-radiographic axial Spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA).
To learn more about Axial Spondyloarthritis please visit the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS) Website.
This video explains more about AS and how it affects other parts of your body:
Axial Spondyloarthritis – Not just back pain
Ankylosing spondylitis, otherwise known as axial spondyloarthritis, or just AS for short, mainly affects your spine. But you may also experience pain and stiffness in other areas, including your hips, knees, shoulders, and ribs. Your ribs can become inflamed where they attach to the spine.
This may cause pains that can be confused with heart or lung problems. If you have chest pain, and you aren’t sure if it’s related to your AS, do seek immediate medical attention. If you do suffer with rib pain, try doing regular breathing exercises to try to keep your ribs flexible.
Problems with your feet, including plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis, are more common in people with AS. A podiatrist can help. Around a quarter of people with AS develop uveitis at some point in their life. This is an eye condition caused by inflammation in the front part of the eye. Symptoms include eye pain, redness, and sensitivity to light. If you develop symptoms of uveitis, you should see an eye doctor– an ophthalmologist– as soon as possible to confirm it and start you on treatment.
Early treatment with steroid eye drops reduces the risk of damage to your eye. AS is also linked to inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and skin conditions such as psoriasis. If you develop stomach or skin problems, do talk about it to your GP or rheumatologist. You may need to be referred to another specialist for treatment. NASS is backing you to understand more about your AS. Join as a member by visiting www.nass.co.uk.