About Ankylosing Spondylitis. Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of progressive arthritis due to chronic inflammation of the joints in the spine. Its name comes from the Greek words  ankylos,  meaning stiffening of a joint, and  spondylo,  meaning vertebra.nkylosing Spondylitis. A form of arthritis that affects the spine, the sacroiliac joints, and sometimes the hips and shoulders. In severe cases, the joints of the spine fuse and the spine becomes rigid. PubMed Health Glossary. (Source: NIH-National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases).
The most common cause of numbness in the part of the hand that you describe (the ring finger) would be carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a condition in which the median nerve, which runs down the center of the wrist, becomes pinched or inflamed.
My hands feel numb, what does it mean? According to the Mayo Clinic, numbness in one or both hands describes a loss of sensation or feeling in your hand or fingers. Numbness in hands is usually caused by irritation or compression of a branch of a nerve traveling to the arms, hands or fingers. Numbness in hands may be accompanied by tingling, burning, weakness or sometimes sharp pain. If you experience hand numbness, consult with your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.