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.
Sometimes all you want to know is if something is serious or not. Experiencing any numbness or tingling in the hands can be worrisome for sure. Many people assume that these symptoms are caused by carpal tunnel syndrome but if youâre experiencing numbness in your pinky finger and half your ring finger it could be cubital tunnel syndrome. While we always suggest you seek medical care at the onset of any new symptoms, sometimes you just need to know how much to worry.