{"id":707,"date":"2025-10-30T15:13:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T15:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?page_id=707"},"modified":"2025-11-04T18:24:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T18:24:27","slug":"conditions-we-treat-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?page_id=707","title":{"rendered":"Ankylosing Spondylitis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title has-background has-text-color has-pure-white-color\" style=\"background-color:#37a670\">What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\" style=\"border-color:#37a670\">\n<p class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family has-custom-font wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-family:poppins\">Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic, autoimmune inflammatory arthritis predominately affecting the axial skeleton, including the spine and sacroiliac (SI) joints. Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of seronegative spondyloarthropathy, which is a group of disorders characterized by negative labs (seronegative), inflammatory back pain, and enthesitis (pain and tenderness where ligaments and tendons connect to the bone). Vertebrae of the spine may fuse over time leading to decreased range of motion and a stooped posture.<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title has-background has-text-color has-pure-white-color\" style=\"background-color:#37a670\">What are common symptoms and characteristics of Ankylosing Spondylitis?<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\" style=\"border-color:#37a670\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-2\">Alternating buttock pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-3\">Back pain for greater than 3 months<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-4\">Fatigue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-5\">Gradual onset<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-6\">Greater than 30 minutes of morning stiffness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-7\">Improvement with exercise\/activity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-8\">Pain worst during the second half of the night and into the morning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-9\">Typical onset before age 45<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title has-background has-text-color has-pure-white-color\" style=\"background-color:#37a670\">What are the types of Ankylosing Spondylitis?<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\" style=\"border-color:#37a670\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-10\">Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), also known as radiographic ankylosing spondylitis (axSpA), with hallmark radiographic findings including sacroiliitis and fusion of the spine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-11\">Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) is characterized by typical clinical features without structural damage present on x-ray.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title has-background has-text-color has-pure-white-color\" style=\"background-color:#38ab68\">What other parts of the body are affected?<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\" style=\"border-color:#38ab68\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-12\"><strong>Joints<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-13\"><strong>Peripheral joints: <\/strong>approximately 1\/3 of AS patients will develop joint symptoms outside of the axial skeleton, especially prevalent in the knees, hips, and ankles.  Presentation is usually asymmetric.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-14\"><strong>Enthesitis:<\/strong> inflammation at ligament or tendon insertions.  Most commonly affect the Achilles tendon (ankle) and plantar fascia (feet).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-15\"><strong>Dactylitis:<\/strong> swelling of an entire finger or toe and commonly called &#8220;sausage digit&#8221;. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-16\"><strong>Eyes<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Uveitis:<\/strong> inflammation of the eye causing pain, redness, and occasionally vision loss.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-17\"><strong>GI tract<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-18\"><strong>Irritable Bowel Disease:<\/strong> IBD (Crohns, Ulcerative Colitis) may occur in a small portion of patients with AS.  Symptoms include diarrhea and abdominal pain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-19\"><strong>Cardiovascular system:<\/strong> chronic inflammation increases the overall risk for heart attack and stroke<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-20\"><strong>Lungs:<\/strong> \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Structural: <\/strong>fusion of the spine and stooped posture may lead to obstructive sleep apnea and shortness of breath from restricted movement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inflammation:<\/strong> chronic inflammation may lead to pulmonary conditions like interstitial lung disease.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title has-background has-text-color has-pure-white-color\" style=\"background-color:#38ab68\">How is Ankylosing Spondylitis diagnosed?<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\" style=\"border-color:#38ab68\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-21\"><strong>Labs:<\/strong> \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-22\"><strong>HLA-B27:<\/strong> approximately 70-90% of AS patients will test positive for this antigen.  It is a disease marker and indicates likelihood of developing the disease.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CRP &amp; ESR:<\/strong> both tests are indicators of systemic inflammation and are used to both diagnose and monitor disease.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-23\"><strong>Diagnostic Imaging:<\/strong> \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-24\">X-ray and MRI are recommended as first-line imaging for diagnosis.  Key findings include erosions, flowing syndesmophytes, ankylosis, and sclerosis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title has-background has-text-color has-pure-white-color\" style=\"background-color:#38ab68\">What are the treatment options for Ankylosing Spondylitis?<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\" style=\"border-color:#38ab68\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-25\">Physical Therapy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-26\">Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-27\">Biologic medications\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-28\">TNF inhibitors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-29\">IL-17 inhibitors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-30\">JAK inhibitors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title has-background has-text-color has-pure-white-color\" style=\"background-color:#38ab68\">What can patients do to help manage symptoms?<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\" style=\"border-color:#38ab68\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-31\">Adequate sleep<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-32\">Regular exercise\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-33\">Physical inactivity is associated with worse outcomes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-34\">Smoking cessation\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-35\">Tobacco use is strongly associated with increased disease activity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-highlight-color has-text-color has-link-color has-poppins-font-family wp-elements-36\">Stress management<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_wpcom_ai_launchpad_about_page":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_gallery_page":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_contact_page":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_events_page":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_video_page":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_portfolio_piece":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-707","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ankylosing Spondylitis - Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?page_id=707\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ankylosing Spondylitis - Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?page_id=707\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61561376694583\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-04T18:24:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/?page_id=707\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/?page_id=707\",\"name\":\"Ankylosing Spondylitis - Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-30T15:13:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-04T18:24:27+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/?page_id=707#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/?page_id=707\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/?page_id=707#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Ankylosing Spondylitis\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates\",\"description\":\"Dedicated To Your Care\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/thumbnail_Outlook-xttga4pt-3.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/thumbnail_Outlook-xttga4pt-3.png\",\"width\":1235,\"height\":419,\"caption\":\"Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/profile.php?id=61561376694583\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Ankylosing Spondylitis - Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?page_id=707","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Ankylosing Spondylitis - Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates","og_url":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?page_id=707","og_site_name":"Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61561376694583","article_modified_time":"2025-11-04T18:24:27+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?page_id=707","url":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?page_id=707","name":"Ankylosing Spondylitis - Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-10-30T15:13:11+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-04T18:24:27+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?page_id=707#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?page_id=707"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?page_id=707#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Ankylosing Spondylitis"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/","name":"Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates","description":"Dedicated To Your Care","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/#organization","name":"Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates","url":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_Outlook-xttga4pt-3.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/thumbnail_Outlook-xttga4pt-3.png","width":1235,"height":419,"caption":"Carolina Rheumatology and Neurology Associates"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61561376694583"]}]}},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"newspack-article-block-landscape-large":false,"newspack-article-block-portrait-large":false,"newspack-article-block-square-large":false,"newspack-article-block-landscape-medium":false,"newspack-article-block-portrait-medium":false,"newspack-article-block-square-medium":false,"newspack-article-block-landscape-intermediate":false,"newspack-article-block-portrait-intermediate":false,"newspack-article-block-square-intermediate":false,"newspack-article-block-landscape-small":false,"newspack-article-block-portrait-small":false,"newspack-article-block-square-small":false,"newspack-article-block-landscape-tiny":false,"newspack-article-block-portrait-tiny":false,"newspack-article-block-square-tiny":false,"newspack-article-block-uncropped":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"crnamd","author_link":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/?author=1"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=707"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":826,"href":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/707\/revisions\/826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinarheumandneuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}