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Ankylosing Spondylitis
This form or arthritis focuses on the spine and but can also affect the ankles, knees, lungs, heart, shoulders and eyes. Ankylosing Spondylitis is considered to be hereditary, although environmental factors have been suggested. It is known to affect white males about four times as often as females. Onset typically occurs between the ages of 15 and 45.
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Ankylosing spondilitis is a chronic form of arthritis known to affect around 1 in 200 people (over 1 million sufferers in the USA alone). No cure has yet been found for the disease, however, early diagnosis and proper medical management can be important in reducing the risk of disability and deformity. Ankylosing Spondylitis (Ankylosing Spondylitis) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by arthritis pain and progressive stiffness. Ankylosing Spondylitis is serum negative because a rheumatoid factor is not detected in the patient's blood.
Symptoms
Typically, the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis come and go. Generally, the back is stiff in the mornings.Ankylosing Spondylitis often starts at the sacroiliac joint causing lower back arthritis pain, which is usually worse at night and in the morning, and relieved by gentle activity. There may also be arthritis pain in the buttocks or down the backs of the thighs.
In 25% of the people with Ankylosing Spondylitis, other joints are affected. These include the hips, knees and shoulders, and occasionally the smaller joints in the hands and feet. This may cause aching and swelling.
The symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis vary in different people. Some people may only get a few mild aches and arthritis pains, which come and go over a period of a few months. Others get periods of active Ankylosing Spondylitis (flare-ups), when symptoms become more severe and widespread. Other symptoms can include:
- loss of appetite
- general feeling of being unwell
- occasional inflammation of the eye
In the early stages of the disease, the sacroiliac joints (back of the pelvis) become inflamed and arthritis painful. When Ankylosing Spondylitis has been present for a few months, the back may stiffen, usually in the lower back. This happens when the inflammation reduces and healing takes place. Ankylosing Spondylitis the disease progresses, ossification is triggered by the body's defense mechanism. Ossification causes new bone to grow between vertebrae eventually fusing them together increasing the risk for fracture. Some people may stoop, whereas others develop a straight, stiff spine. In time, the inflammation can lead to permanent stiffness, but as the spine becomes more rigid, the arthritis pain may decrease. In some people the disease then disappears.
There are some secondary effects as well. Ossification may affect spinal ligaments causing spinal canal narrowing, which can result in a poorly functioning neural system. If the joints where the ribs meet the spine are affected, breathing can become difficult and arthritis painful. However, only a minority of people who have ankylosing spondylitis develop a rigid spine and chest.
Associated conditions
Ankylosing spondylitis is one of a group of diseases called spondylarthritides. Others include psoriatic arthritis, colitic arthritis and reactive arthritis. These conditions can occur with Ankylosing Spondylitis, or before it. Psoriatic arthritis is joint inflammation associated with psoriasis (a condition which causes patches of inflamed, itchy and flaky skin); colitic arthritis is joint inflammation associated with bowel inflammation; and reactive arthritis is joint inflammation occurring after a bacterial or viral infection.
Treatment - Aquatic Workouts
Treatment consists of a long-term program of physical activity and, when necessary, anti-inflammatory drugs. During a flare-up, joints stiffen with bed rest. For this reason, people with ankylosing spondylitis are encouraged to remain active. A good form of exercise is swimming, which helps to maintain muscle tone and flexibility.
Daily exercises such as spine extension and patterned breathing are often recommended to strengthen muscles and prevent poor posture. Sleeping on a firm bed with no more than one pillow can help prevent spinal curvature. Using lumbar (back) supports is not recommended, as they make the stiffness worse.
Medicines
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen may reduce inflammation and relieve arthritis pain. This enables physical activity which will help reduce the need for further medication. Corticosteroids are occasionally injected into particularly arthritis painful joints and used as drops for eye inflammation (iritis).
Read on for both medical and natural treatment approaches
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