Cervical Spondylitis / Neck pain

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that can cause flares of burning pain in the spine. It typically develops in the lower back and hips but gradually progresses up toward the neck over time. Some people may go years and only deal with occasional episodes of intense spinal pain. Others might have frequent flare-ups as the disease continues to spread and get worse.

While neck pain is not the first symptom to appear with ankylosing spondylitis—and sometimes never develops—it can be a troubling symptom, as it typically appears when the disease has become more advanced.

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Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms

Ankylosing spondylitis and its associated symptoms tend to start slowly. Common early symptoms may include:

  • Spinal pain and stiffness. This pain can range from a mild ache to a sharp burning sensation. Ankylosing spondylitis is typically first noticed in the lower back (lumbar spine) or buttocks (sacroiliac joints between the sacrum and pelvis).
  • Pain that worsens with rest. Exercise or activity may reduce the inflammatory pain of ankylosing spondylitis, but inactivity can exacerbate it. In fact, the pain can intensify during sleep, which sometimes leads to waking up in the night.

Symptoms that may develop later could include:

  • Sensitivity to light. During a flare-up, vision may become blurry and bright lights could cause eye pain.
  • Lethargy. Individuals may feel tired or easily fatigued, even after trying to get adequate rest.
  • Pain in other joints. In addition to spreading up the spine toward the neck, ankylosing spondylitis can also affect the shoulders, knees, hips, fingers, and other joints.
  • Chest pain. Cartilage inflammation between the sternum (breastbone) and ribs can cause intense pain that could be mistaken for a cardiac event.
  • Loss of spinal mobility. In rare cases, ankylosing spondylitis can eventually cause so much damage to the spine’s intervertebral discs and facet joints that vertebral bones start to fuse together.