NASS is the only charity in the UK dedicated to transforming axial SpA care

For almost 50 years NASS have been providing specialist support, advice and the most up-to-date information. They aim to empower everyone with axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA) to manage their treatment and to stay in control of their lives. They are driven to ensure that health professionals around the country deliver tailored and timely care to every patient, every time.
What-is-AS-Young-People-2500x912.jpg

What is Axial SpA?

Axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA) is an inflammatory arthritis where the main symptom is back pain

Typical symptoms of axial SpA include:

Slow or gradual onset of back pain and stiffness over weeks or months, rather than hours or days

Early-morning stiffness and pain, wearing off or reducing during the day with exercise Persistence for more than 3 months (as opposed to coming on in short attacks).

Feeling better after exercise and worse after rest

Weight loss, especially in the early stages

Fatigue or tiredness Feeling feverish and experiencing night sweats

What happens?

It’s a painful, progressive form of inflammatory arthritis. It mainly affects the spine but can also affect other joints, tendons.

Other areas such as the eyes and bowel can also sometimes be involved.

Inflammation occurs at the site where ligaments or tendons attach to the bone. This is known as enthesis.

The inflammation is followed by some wearing away of the bone at the site of the attachment. This is known as enthesopathy.

As the inflammation reduces, healing takes place and new bone develops. Movement becomes restricted when bone replaces the elastic tissue of ligaments or tendons.

Repetition of this inflammatory process leads to further bone formation and the individual bones which make up your backbone (vertebrae) can fuse together.

Visit the NASS website for more information