Patient's question:
Shoulders ache severely even on rainy days and when it's cloudy, especially when going down stairs. Usually, the pain is manageable, and taking pain relievers helps a lot. Is ankylosing spondylitis a serious disease? What kind of help do you need: Is ankylosing spondylitis serious?Doctor's answer:
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spinal joints and nearby tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues. In the early stages, patients may experience lower back pain, buttock pain, or back pain, or may only feel stiffness. As the disease progresses, inflammation spreads from the buttocks and lower back to the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical vertebrae, leading to additional areas of pain, limited mobility, and spinal deformity.