Diagnosing Ankylosing Spondylitis: 4 Things Doctors Look At

As with many rheumatoid conditions, there is no single, definitive test to diagnosis ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic condition caused by inflammation of the spine. If someone is experiencing symptoms of AS, such as lower back pain and stiffness that’s worse in the morning, a rheumatologist will use a variety of exams to rule out similar conditions and get an accurate diagnosis.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

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Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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