Ankylosing Spondylitis vs Fibromyalgia: What's the Difference?

While fibromyalgia and ankylosing spondylitis have some symptoms in common, such as causing chronic pain and disrupting sleep patterns, they have different causes and treatments. Learn the difference between AS and fibro in our short video.

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Backsplaining is a video series that explains important facts about ankylosing spondylitis, highlights red-flag symptoms, and addresses misconceptions about back pain. It is part of a campaign created by the nonprofit patient community CreakyJoints to raise awareness for back pain and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a type of inflammatory arthritis that frequently goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

The videos in this campaign were produced with support from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

[WackyWholesome]

Just one thing.... AS can also affect your whole body, both joints and organs. It's not just the spine

[nickyannajones]

I was misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia for about 25 years. I got priority diagnosed a year ago with A.S.

[MyDuckSaysFucc]

Fibromyalgia is a horrible diagnosis to have. No one takes it seriously, doctors don’t want you in their office. But quality of life can become extremely low. I hate it.

[ElishaLoweRN]

The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease - Thomas Edison

I just got diagnosed with an auto-immune type chronic inflammatory disease. My doctor did not once ask me about my diet and the many inflammation causing foods I eat. We eat more genetically modified foods than ever, more food made in labs and our doctors don't ask about our diets. They write prescriptions, go to conferences and talk about new medications, never food as medicine. it's quite sad.

[studiobyshirley]

I guess I'm lucky to have been diagnosed with both 😅

[lamppuu]

I have fibromyalgia dg, but i feel like i could have also ankylosing spondylitis, because of my morning stiffness and pain, horrible pain. They could be both at the same time, right? It just takes YEARS, close to 10 to diagnose ankylosing spondylitis, but fibromyalgia can be diagnosed just like that.. 😑

[garyjean]

So this was very informative as my doctor things I may have fibromyalgia.

[KawaiiandDark]

My rheumatologist thinks I have both
great