In both types, the main symptom is back pain and stiffness that gets worse after inactivity and eases after exercise.

Patients often suffer more at night, leading to difficulty sleeping, and stiffness in the morning.

This leads to inflammation, stiffness and pain and, in the long term, damage to the spine itself.

The condition has two main sub-types: non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, in which there is no damage to the spine visible on X-rays, and ankylosing spondylitis, in which the damage can be seen.

In both types, the main symptom is back pain and stiffness that gets worse after inactivity and eases after exercise.

Patients often suffer more at night, leading to difficulty sleeping, and stiffness in the morning.

Historically, spondyloarthritis was difficult to detect before damage was visible on X-rays, and there is currently an average eight-year delay in diagnosis from the first onset of symptoms.

Studies showed that 45 per cent of patients on secukinumab saw a significant improvement in symptoms, including reduced pain and stiffness, after 16 weeks of treatment.

Now, prescribing watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved secukinumab for use in those with non radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Studies showed that 45 per cent of patients on secukinumab saw a significant improvement in symptoms, including reduced pain and stiffness, after 16 weeks of treatment.

He says: ‘If patients and GPs reading this recognise the characteristic symptoms – back pain and stiffness that’s worse with rest and better after activity, waking with pain at night, and stiffness in the morning – they should seek a referral to a rheumatologist straight away so we can carry out tests.’.

She had suffered life-ruining back pain for 12 years before being diagnosed with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in 2016