Ankylosing spondylitis: Why the morning stiffness in a younger patient?

Chronic low backache, moming stiffness and pain that improve with activity, limited lumbar spinal motion, and limited chest expansion are clues to ankylosing spondylitis. Spinal rigidity moves cephalod. Characteristic radiographic changes of the sacroiliac joints - bilateral sacroiliitis - are diagnostic. The presence of HLA-B27 is not diagnostic, although the test result is typically positive. Indomethacin and other NSAIDs are useful. It is also important for patients with ankylosing spondylitis to avoid prolonged flexed posture.