How common is morning joint stiffness in ankylosing spondylitis?

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory condition that often affects the spine and the joints where the spine and pelvis meet. Stiffness may be felt in the lower back, buttocks, hips or other joints. Unlike stiffness caused only by being still, inflammatory stiffness can last after waking and may ease gradually as you walk or stretch.

The pattern matters more than one morning. Note how long stiffness lasts, whether it returns after sitting, and whether pain wakes you during the night. Morning stiffness alone does not establish a diagnosis; a clinician considers the full symptom pattern, examination and relevant tests.

Keep a brief symptom record covering waking stiffness, activity, sleep and areas of pain. Gentle range-of-motion exercises, a warm shower and a gradual start to the day may help you move more comfortably. Avoid forcing a painful movement or staying in bed for long periods.

Arrange an assessment if stiffness keeps returning, limits work or daily activities, or comes with persistent back or buttock pain. A rheumatology or musculoskeletal assessment can help distinguish inflammatory back pain from other causes and guide an exercise plan.

Seek prompt medical care for new weakness, numbness around the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, or severe pain after an injury. Seek urgent help for a painful red eye with light sensitivity or blurred vision, because inflammation associated with ankylosing spondylitis can affect the eye.

Ask whether your stiffness pattern suggests inflammation, which joints or spine areas should be examined, and which movements are appropriate. You can also ask how to track symptoms, when imaging or blood tests may be useful, and how treatment should change if morning stiffness persists.