Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month 2020

It's Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month! This month also marks the launch of AxialSpondyloarthritis.net! Our community is for people living with or affected by axial spondyloarthritis to come together wherever they are in their journey.

Spondyloarthritis is not only a chronic condition that brings near daily pain that is tough–but also an illness exceedingly difficult to properly diagnosis and receive care for. Read on about spondyloarthritis and how you can become involved in awareness month!

Learn more about spondyloarthritis

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is the umbrella term for several rheumatic diseases that cause arthritis. Conditions within the SpA spectrum include both axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) and peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA). Both AxSpA and pSpA have subtypes, too!

Axial spondyloarthritis

Axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) can refer to two specific subtypes: non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-AxSpA), in which damage to the sacroiliac joints is not visible on imaging tests like X-rays or MRI.

At the other end of the spectrum is radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-AxSpA), with damage to the sacroiliac joints that is visible on image tests and spinal fusion has begun. Radiographic axial spondyloarthritis is also called ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Peripheral spondyloarthritis

Peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) causes inflammation in joints and tendons outside the spine and sacroiliac joints. The joints more often impacted are found in the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, and feet. It is possible to develop symptoms for both pSpA and AxSpA.

Read about living with AxSpA

• Getting Diagnosed with AxSpA: Why Does it Take So Long?
• Axial Spondyloarthritis Flares: What To Know, How To Cope
• How AxSpA Affects Your Sleep
• How Pain Affects Emotions

Learn from people living with AxSpA/AS

Read advocate articles from our sister community, AnkylosingSpondylitis.net.

• The Deep Grief of Diagnosis
• Tips for Painsomnia
• What an AS Flare is Like
• How the Spoon Theory Helped Us Discuss AS

Axial Spondyloarthritis In America

We want to learn more about your experience with axial spondyloarthritis to better support community and member needs. We're conducting our annual survey to learn more about the challenges of life with AxSpA.

Ways to get involved in Awareness Month

Talk in our forums

What would you like to share with others about axial spondyloarthritis? Join the discussion and tell us in our forums!

Use our Q&A tool

Have questions about diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis? How about pain management or treatment? Or perhaps you have answers to share with our community? Check out our Q&A section and engage with our community.

Connect socially

Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date all month long and beyond!