This is a systemic disease, that means symptoms may not be limited to the joints. Affected people may have fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Ankylosing spondylitis mostly affects men more often than women. Its signs and symptoms typically begin in early adulthood.

It commonly causes neck pain and fatigue. The body parts that are affected:
• The vertebrae in your lower back
• The cartilage between your breastbone and ribs
• The places where your tendons and ligaments attach to bones (enthuses), mainly in your spine, but sometimes along the back of your heel
• Your hip and shoulder joints