Living with ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory condition that commonly affects the spine and the joints where tendons or ligaments attach to bone. Symptoms can vary over time. Back or hip discomfort, joint stiffness, and morning joint stiffness may ease after gentle movement but return after long periods in one position. Reduced range of motion can affect turning, bending, dressing, or checking traffic while driving.

Energy levels and sleep may also be affected when pain or stiffness is active. Keeping a simple record of symptoms, activity, sleep, and medication effects can help your clinician recognise patterns and adjust care.

Use a regular movement routine suited to your symptoms. Exercise therapy may include mobility work for the spine and hips, strengthening, breathing exercises, and posture practice. A physiotherapist can tailor the pace and modify exercises during a flare. Hydrotherapy can make movement more comfortable because water supports the body while you work through a controlled range.

Break up sitting with short movement breaks, use supportive positions for sleep, and avoid increasing exercise suddenly. Take anti-inflammatory medication only as prescribed, and tell your clinician about stomach, kidney, heart, or other health concerns before treatment changes.

Arrange a review if stiffness or pain is steadily worsening, movement is becoming more limited, treatment is causing troublesome effects, or symptoms are interfering with sleep, work, or self-care. Seek urgent assessment after a significant injury, or for new leg weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin, chest pain, or severe breathing difficulty.

Ask which movements are appropriate during a flare, how to protect posture and spinal mobility, when medication should be reviewed, and whether physiotherapy or hydrotherapy fits your current symptoms. Also ask which changes should prompt urgent help.