Hurtl Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptom Tracker
Log AS symptoms as you go, then export a PDF report for rheumatology appointments — pain, BASDAI, flares and adherence without the guesswork.
Available for iPhone
Hurtl is not a medical device and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always speak to a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions.
What to track with ankylosing spondylitis
An AS symptom tracker works best when it matches how your condition actually shows up — not a generic pain diary. Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of axial spondyloarthritis; the same inflammatory signals often matter most.
Morning stiffness
Log stiffness severity and how long it lasts after waking. Duration and severity are both useful when reviewing ankylosing spondylitis with your rheumatologist.
Spinal and back pain
Record pain location, intensity and timing. Inflammatory back pain in AS often improves with movement — tracking helps you spot that pattern over time.
Fatigue
Fatigue is common in ankylosing spondylitis but easy to forget between appointments. A simple daily log builds a clearer picture for you and your care team.
Flares
Mark harder days and note what was different. Over weeks, flare frequency and recovery time become easier to see than from memory alone.
Medication response
Record doses taken, missed doses and how you felt afterwards. That context makes it easier to judge whether NSAIDs, biologics or other treatments are working.
Mobility and function
Note how symptoms affect bending, walking or daily tasks. Small changes week to week can signal a flare building.
Why symptom tracking helps
Whether your diagnosis letter says ankylosing spondylitis or axial spondyloarthritis, a consistent log turns scattered days into a report you can bring to your next rheumatology appointment.
Walk into appointments prepared
Export a PDF that summarises the months since your last visit — so you are not guessing whether stiffness, pain or flares were worse in March or May.
Spot symptom changes early
Daily logs turn vague memory into a timeline. You can see when stiffness lengthened, pain shifted or fatigue crept in — before a full flare takes hold.
Understand flare patterns
Flares rarely appear from nowhere. Tracking helps you connect symptoms to triggers, activity or treatment changes so you can respond sooner.
Track medication effectiveness
Starting a new biologic or adjusting NSAIDs? Adherence and symptom trends in your report show whether treatment is working over weeks, not just today.
Take the guesswork out of rheumatology appointments
Appointments often hinge on “how have you been since we last met?” — and memory is unreliable. Hurtl collects your ankylosing spondylitis data over time, then turns it into a PDF report you can bring to clinic: averages, trends, BASDAI, flare days and medication adherence in one place.
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Log symptoms in the app
Track pain, stiffness, fatigue, flares and medication for ankylosing spondylitis as you go — not in a rush the night before clinic.
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See patterns between visits
Charts and scores like BASDAI update from your entries so you know how the last weeks actually looked, not how you feel today.
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Export a PDF for your appointment
Generate a report for the period you choose — share it with your rheumatologist or GP so conversations start from facts, not guesswork.
You choose the date range and what to share. Your log stays on your device until you export — the report is for preparation, not a clinical diagnosis.
What is BASDAI and how is it calculated?
BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) is the score many rheumatologists use to measure AS and related axial spondyloarthritis activity. Hurtl tracks the symptoms behind it and calculates your score from real data, not memory.
The six BASDAI questions
Each question is rated 0 to 10 (0 = no problem, 10 = worst imaginable) over a recent period, usually the past week:
- Fatigue/tiredness (Overall level of tiredness you have felt)
- Spinal pain (Neck, back or hip pain from ankylosing spondylitis)
- Peripheral joint pain (Pain or swelling in joints outside the spine)
- Enthesitis discomfort (Discomfort from tender areas (e.g. heels, ribs))
- Morning stiffness severity (How stiff you feel when you wake up)
- Morning stiffness duration (How long stiffness lasts after waking)
The BASDAI formula
Morning stiffness uses two scores (severity and duration), so they are averaged before the final calculation:
BASDAI = (Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + Q4 + ((Q5 + Q6) / 2)) / 5
The result is a single score from 0 to 10. Scores of 4 or above are often used in guidelines as a threshold for active disease, though your rheumatologist will interpret results in context.
How Hurtl helps
Hurtl is built for inflammatory arthritis, not a generic wellness app. Collect AS data daily, spot trends in the app, and export a PDF when it is time for clinic.
Condition-specific symptom tracking
Log spinal symptoms, fatigue, stiffness and other AS signals from pre-set lists — or create custom trackers for what matters to you.
Flare logging
Mark harder days and note what was different. Heatmaps and charts make flare patterns visible over weeks and months.
BASDAI trends
Hurtl tracks the symptom areas behind BASDAI and calculates your score from logged data, so you can see trends between appointments.
Medication reminders
Set reminders for biologics, NSAIDs or other treatments. Track adherence alongside symptoms to see the full picture.
PDF reports for appointments
Turn months of logs into a shareable export: summary metrics, pain and fatigue charts, BASDAI, flare days and medication adherence — ready before you sit down with your rheumatologist.
Frequently asked questions
What should I track with ankylosing spondylitis?
Most people find morning stiffness, back pain, fatigue and medication adherence the most useful starting points. Add flare notes and mobility when you want more detail. You do not need to log everything every day — consistency beats completeness.
Is ankylosing spondylitis the same as axial spondyloarthritis?
Not exactly. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a subtype of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Everyone with AS has axSpA, but some people have non-radiographic axSpA without the X-ray changes historically labelled as AS. If you are unsure which term fits you, see our guide on AS vs axSpA.
What is BASDAI?
BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) is a validated score that measures disease activity in AS and related axial spondyloarthritis from six patient-reported questions: fatigue, spinal pain, peripheral joint pain, enthesitis discomfort, and morning stiffness (severity and duration). Rheumatologists often use it to monitor symptoms over time.
How is BASDAI calculated?
Each of the six questions is scored 0 to 10. BASDAI equals the average of fatigue, spinal pain, peripheral joint pain, enthesitis discomfort, and the average of your two morning stiffness scores: (Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + Q4 + ((Q5 + Q6) / 2)) / 5. The result is a score from 0 to 10.
Does Hurtl calculate BASDAI?
Yes. Hurtl tracks the symptom areas BASDAI is built on and calculates your BASDAI score from logged data, so you can monitor ankylosing spondylitis activity between appointments instead of relying on memory at clinic visits.
Can tracking help with AS flare management?
Yes. A symptom diary helps you notice when a flare is building, what may have triggered it and how long recovery takes. That makes it easier to adjust activity, contact your rheumatology team early or prepare for appointments with concrete examples.
Can I share symptom history with my doctor?
Yes. Export a PDF report for the period you choose — averages, charts, BASDAI, flare summary and medication adherence — and share it at your rheumatology or GP appointment. You control when and what leaves the app.
How does Hurtl help before a rheumatology appointment?
Log symptoms as you go, then generate a report before clinic so you are not reconstructing the last three months from memory. That takes the guesswork out of questions like how often you flared or whether your current treatment is helping.
Learn more
Axial spondyloarthritis symptom tracker — AS is a subtype of axSpA; this page covers the broader umbrella term.
Download Hurtl
Important
Hurtl supports self-tracking and preparation for conversations with clinicians. It does not diagnose, treat, or monitor medical conditions in a clinical sense. If you are experiencing an emergency, contact local emergency services. Read how we handle data in our privacy policy, or email tom@hurtl.app for privacy requests.