Can ankylosing spondylitis cause headaches? Answer and more

Yes, ankylosing spondylitis can cause headaches.

The authors of a 2023 case study noted that ankylosing spondylitis often causes cervicogenic headaches, which are headaches that originate in the neck and spread into the head. They also noted that these headaches can mimic other types of primary headache disorders, such as migraine and tension-type headache.

Additionally, a 2024 Italian cohort study found that there was a higher prevalence of headache and migraine without aura in people with psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis compared to people without these conditions. Axial spondyloarthritis refers to a group of inflammatory diseases of the spine, which includes ankylosing spondylitis.

People should consider speaking with a doctor if they have frequent or severe headaches.

They may also want to consider contacting a healthcare professional if they experience new or worsening symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, such as: