Step 1 : Recognising symptoms before seeking help

At this stage you may be experiencing back pain and / or joint pain but have not yet consulted your GP about your symptoms.

Step 2: Visiting the GP for the first time

  • What you should expect when you visit your GP about your symptoms.
  • If your GP suspects you have inflammatory back pain or AS it is important that you are referred on to a rheumatologist for a confirmation of your diagnosis

Step 3: Seeing the specialist for the first time following referral

Step 4: Tests, treatments and information

  • It's important to know what best practice is in AS in order to access the optimum treatment and management. Download a copy of our Looking Ahead guide to best practice in AS
  • Download the NASS guidebook on living with AS

Step 5: Ongoing care

  • AS is managed through a combination of medication and appropriate exercise
  • Find more information on the medications used in AS
  • Find more information on exercise
  • NASS have branches around the UK which meet regularly for hydrotherapy and physiotherapy sessions under the guidance of experienced physiotherapists. Find your local branch

Step 6: Long term disease and complications

  • AS is a long term condition. It affects everyone differently but generally people find that their symptoms come and go over many years. Read more about flares and burn out.
  • There are a number of other conditions that are associated with AS which some people develop including uveitis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis
  • What may happen over time
  • New medical treatments and knowledge about how exercise can benefit people with AS has reduced the need for surgery. The two types of surgical treatment that are sometimes needed by people with AS are joint replacement surgery and spinal corrective surgery

Last reviewed: November 2011

The AS Pathway

1. Recognising symptoms before seeking help

2. Visiting the GP for the first time

3. Seeing the specialist for the first time

4. Tests, treatments and information

5. On-going care

6. Long term disease and complications