BIomarky

Ankylosing spondylitis is not simply a back problem. It is a systemic inflammatory condition that targets the spine, sacroiliac joints, and in a significant number of cases, the gut, eyes, and peripheral joints.

If you live with inflammatory bowel disease — whether Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis — and you also deal with joint pain, stiffness, or swelling, you are not imagining a connection. IBD-associated arthropathy is one of the most common extraintestinal manifestations of IBD, affecting anywhere from 17 to 39 percent of patients depending on the classification used.

If you have dealt with sciatica for more than a few weeks, you already know the pattern. The pain eases, you return to your routine, and then it comes back — sometimes worse than before. You have probably been told to stretch, strengthen your core, and avoid bending at the waist.