Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion Women Only Message Board women caucasian with ankylosing spondylitis

I have noticed that ankylosing spondylitis has affected my ribcage and several soft tissues as a female. Do any women with AS find it is more about their soft tissue and less about fusion of the spine?

Sarah

I’m not a female - but I do know several women that have fused. Also know women that have SpA and have not fused. I can say the same about men with SpA. Hope that helps.

Hallmark of disease is also enthesitis. Inflammation of ligament and tendons.

I sometimes have costochondritis, which is inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs attach to the breatbone. I often have enthesitis in my elbow with pain radiating down into my forearm. I also often have enthesitis in the back of my knee.

As RAHMBA said, enthesitis is a hallmark of AS. It is inflammation of tendons and ligaments where the attach to bone. Both men and women get enthesitis and costochondritis.

From what I have read, women are more likely to have peripheral issues than men.

Hi Sarah, I can relate to what you’re saying. I definitely have a lot of connective tissue issues. I have read some information that shows that women don’t necessarily fuse as fast as men. Also that women don’t necessarily fuse continuously. For example the fusion can occur in the sacrum area then skip to the thoracic and then skip to the neck where men generally fuse continuously all the way up the spine. I know it’s confusing. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out if what you’re feeling is AS or some new condition.

I’ve had costochondritis at least 6 times. It creeps up on me and I can hardly breathe. I feel like my whole body has fused at times. I can’t tell the difference in an infection in my kidneys anymore or is it my AS. I have a few friends who believe me when I tell them I can’t walk today and others think I’m just wanting attention! I’m having more pain and stiffness no matter how much I stretch or walk. AS is such a hard disease for people who don’t have it to understand what we go through, Day in and day out!

I have rib cage pain and recently found out I have scaring of the lungs. Very painful and the motion of sitting and standing or even washing is very hard for me to do alone. Also I run out of breathe easily.