Ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment. Answer two questions below to personalize your appointment guide.
- Are you having any joint or back pain now? Where do you typically experience pain?
- Does the pain improve or worsen with exercise?
- Are you having any other symptoms, such as eye inflammation, skin rash, gastrointestinal problems or fatigue?
- How is your ankylosing spondylitis affecting your quality of life? Are there activities or family responsibilities you are unable to do?
- Are you following your ankylosing spondylitis treatment plan?
- Describe your joint pain. It is in your back or other joints? When did it first occur?
- For how long have you been having back or spinal pain? More or less than 3 months?
- Has the pain changed in severity, or moved to other joints or locations in your body?
- Do you have any other symptoms? Have you experienced any eye inflammation, skin rash, gastrointestinal problems or fatigue?
- What have you done to relieve your pain so far? Have you taken any over-the-counter or prescription medications?
- What treatments have you been using for your joint pain? Do you feel it is effective?
- What have you been doing to alleviate your ankylosing spondylitis symptoms? Do you feel it's been effective?
- What new symptoms are you experiencing?
- Do my symptoms mean I have ankylosing spondylitis? How do you make a definitive diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis?
- What is the difference between ankylosing spondylitis and routine back pain?
- What treatments are available to ease my pain? How long will I have to take them?
- What should I do if my back and joint pain symptoms get worse?
- Are there lifestyle changes, such as exercise or dietary changes, I can make to improve my back and joint pain symptoms?
- What are the best ankylosing spondylitis treatment options for me?
- For how long will I need to take medicine for ankylosing spondylitis?
- Does having ankylosing spondylitis put me at risk for other health problems?
- How often do I need to make appointments for follow-up? What are you looking for when I have follow-up appointments?
- Are there other treatments for ankylosing spondylitis that would do a better job of controlling my symptoms?
- Are my new or different symptoms an indication that my ankylosing spondylitis is getting worse?
- Are there other treatments for ankylosing spondylitis that would do a better job of controlling my symptoms?
- How would you categorize my ankylosing spondylitis: mild, moderate or severe?
- Will I always have back and joint pain? Will the pain flare up, then go away?