What your doctor can do:

• Diagnose the disease by asking about your symptoms, performing a physical exam, and ordering laboratory blood tests and x-rays of the lower back.
• Prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pain medicine, or muscle relaxants to help decrease inflammation and reduce pain.
• Order physical therapy to help you build strength and maintain good posture; to help with pain, stiffness, and prevention of deformity; and for breathing exercises to prevent breathing problems, if ribs are affected.
• Recommend surgery in certain cases.