the national axial spondyloarthritis society
Axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA) is an inflammatory arthritis where the main
symptom is back pain Axial spondyloarthritis is an umbrella term and it
includes: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Where changes to the sacroiliac joints or
the spine can be seen on x-ray. Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis Where
x-ray changes are not present but inflammation is visible on MRI or you have
symptoms. Around 7 in 10 people with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis
have visible inflammation in the sacroiliac joints or the spine when an MRI of
the back is carried out. Around 3 in 10 may not have any inflammation visible on
MRI despite symptoms of back pain. Some may never go on to develop visible
inflammation on MRI. The reasons for this are still not well understood but may
be due to the sensitivity of MRI. Typical symptoms of axial SpA include: Slow or
gradual onset of back pain and stiffness over weeks or months, rather than hours
or days Early-morning stiffness and pain, wearing off or reducing during the day
with exercise Persistence for more than 3 months (as opposed to coming on in
short attacks) Feeling better after exercise and worse after rest Weight loss,
especially in the early stages Fatigue or tiredness Feeling feverish and
experiencing night sweats What happens? It’s a painful, progressive form of
inflammatory arthritis. It mainly affects the spine but can also affect other
joints, tendons and ligaments. Other areas such as the eyes and bowel can also
sometimes be involved. Inflammation occurs at the site where ligaments or
tendons attach to the bone. This is known as enthesis The inflammation is
followed by some wearing away of the bone at the site of the attachment. This is
known as enthesopathy As the inflammation reduces, healing takes place and new
bone develops. Movement becomes restricted when bone replaces the elastic tissue
of ligaments or tendons Repetition of this inflammatory process leads to further
bone formation and the individual bones which make up your backbone (vertebrae)
can fuse together
