What is Ankylosing Spondylitis? A Simple Guide
Understanding Ankylosing Spondylitis in Everyday Terms
If you’ve ever woken up with a stiff back that feels like it’s been welded together overnight — and it keeps happening for weeks or months — you might have heard of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). It’s a bit of a mouthful, isn’t it? Let’s break it down together.
AS is a type of arthritis that mainly affects the spine. But it’s not your average “I overdid it in the garden” kind of backache. It’s an autoimmune condition, which means your body’s defense system goes a bit haywire and starts attacking healthy joints — especially where your spine meets your pelvis (sacroiliac joints).
Over time, the constant inflammation can lead to pain, stiffness, and even bones fusing together. That’s where the name comes from: “ankylosing” means stiff or fused, and “spondylitis” just means inflammation of the spine.
So What’s Actually Going On Inside the Body?
Imagine your immune system is a bit like an overenthusiastic guard dog. Instead of barking at the real intruders (infections), it starts growling at your own joints — especially the spine and hips — and causes inflammation that just won’t settle down.
To “fix” the problem, your body starts laying down extra bone, which sounds helpful… but it actually makes things worse by causing the spine to stiffen up. That’s why movement can get harder over time if AS isn’t managed.
Where Does AS Usually Strike?
Lower back and hips — This is often the first place people feel it.
Spine — From your neck to your lower back.
Ribs and chest — Sometimes it even makes it hard to take a deep breath.
Shoulders and knees — Less common, but it happens.
Eyes, skin, or gut — In some people, AS is linked to things like eye inflammation or digestive issues.
Signs to Watch Out For:
Pain and stiffness in your lower back or hips, especially first thing in the morning
Relief with movement — not rest (which is pretty unusual for most pain)
Feeling super tired even if you haven’t done much
Flare-ups that come and go — some worse than others
Eye problems like redness or pain in one eye (a condition called uveitis)
Who Gets AS?
AS usually starts between the ages of 20 and 40, and it’s more common in men — though women can definitely get it too. There’s a gene called HLA-B27 that many people with AS carry, but having the gene doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get it.
I (Clive) didn’t know anything about this stuff until my own diagnosis. Looking back, I can see the early signs showed up way before I realised what was going on.
Is There a Cure?
No cure yet — unfortunately — but there are ways to manage it. Medication, exercise, stretching, supplements, diet, and mental strength can all play a role in keeping it under control. 
I’ll be sharing what’s worked for me in future posts.
A Note from Me – Clive Burkinshaw
I’m not a doctor — I’m just a bloke who’s living with this every day. My journey with AS didn’t start when I got diagnosed. I reckon it started much earlier — even back in childhood, with things like migraines and weird back pain after sports.
The main symptoms hit hard in my early 30s, and to be honest, it took me a while to figure out that something serious was going on. That’s why I’ve started this series — to help other people spot the signs earlier, understand what’s happening to them, and know they’re not going through it alone.
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