There are many causes and other factors that can be attributed to triggering spondylitis, such as a sudden twist, lifting and sitting or standing for prolonged periods. Environmental factors also play a definite roll, as when the weather becomes cold and damp and the body has difficulty in acclimating to the changes. Pains and backaches are not the normal way of life. Waking up with pains or backaches, and feeling stiff all over until you start to stretch and move about, is almost a certainty that spondylitis is the culprit. The onset can be so insidious with the episodes of aching, especially in the lumbar and sacroiliac areas, that the individual will ignore the symptoms as they improve for a while.
Morning stiffness is the most prevalent symptom and easily ignored as it improves with activities.
The individual will find they have some difficulty in forward bending and feel like they have a board in their back. This is due to the spasms of the back muscles that occur at an early stage of the condition. The symptoms can generally become more progressive and spread from the low back, up to the mid and upper back, and into the neck. Less frequently the smaller joints are affected, such as the elbows and knees. As the disease progresses, the individual can experience weight loss, fatigue, muscle stiffness and mild anemia.