- Diagnosis starts with the analysis of your symptoms. Should you notice any symptoms be sure to consult and tell your doctor about the following:[1]
- Age of onset of pain – second or third decade of life
- Area of pain – e.g. lower back / hips / deep in the buttock
- Time of pain and stiffness – e.g. early morning
- Whether symptoms relieve on activity/ worsen with inactivity
- Limited physical function, if any
Your doctor may suggest a combination of laboratory tests and imaging to diagnose Ankylosing Spondylitis. Imaging techniques have advanced technologies that can look for signs of Ankylosing Spondylitis in the spine at early stages of the disease.[2][3][4]
- Patient history
- Imaging
- Blood tests
Right diagnosis and appropriate treatment is key to deal with the pain, fatigue and stiffness and ultimately delay the process of spinal fusion. It’s up to you to Fight The Fuse.
Ask your Rheumatologist for biologics that slow down spinal fusion.
References
- Sieper J, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2002;61(Suppl III):iii8–iii18
- Ostergaard M, Lambert RGW. Ther Adv Musculoskel Dis. 2012;4:301–311
- Baraliakos X. Isr Med Assoc J. 2017 Nov;19(11):712-718
- Slobodin GE, et al. IMAJ 2012; 14: 763–767
AS/FTF/IN2011102420/10/11/2020
In Collabration with Novartis