What is AS?

This long-term progressive form of inflammatory arthritis causes pain and stiffness in the lower back and joints, as well as fatigue. Not surprisingly, it often leads to depression.

One in 200 people suffers from it.

Dr Raj Sengupta, lead AS consultant at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath, says: “Young people worry about keeping their jobs, their relationships and how they’ll manage in the future.

“But because of the stigma attached, many don’t admit to having depression.

“I’d like psychologists to be involved as soon as young people are diagnosed.

“I’m also concerned this condition is going undiagnosed because, without treatment, symptoms get worse. For every year’s delay, a patient’s chances of becoming work disabled increase by 6.5 per cent.

“We have good drugs to treat it but these work best when used early. Because AS develops between the age of 18 and 30, GPS frequently attribute it to growing pains.”