Overview
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rare type of arthritis that causes pain and stiffness in your spine. This lifelong condition, also known as Bechterew disease, usually starts in your lower back. It can spread up to your neck or damage joints in other parts of your body.Ankylosing Spondylitis is a condition which can affect anyone but primarily it affects young males in age group 20-30 are experiencing this chronic condition.It is an irreversible,inflammatory and autoimmune disease which occurs when an overgrowth of the bones results in the spines bones fusing together which results in a rigidity of the spine.This can affect bones of the neck,back,inner thighs,hips and can severely disrupt mobility and cause damage to a persons posture. Sed Rate by Modified Westergren is Useful in differentiating inflammatory and neoplastic diseases and as an index of disease severity. CRP is also useful in monitoring inflammatory disease states.Looking for lactic acid tester?. Use Tuhealthy app to locate inr test near me.
Symptoms
The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis vary. It’s often characterized by mild to moderate flare-ups of inflammation that alternate with periods of almost no symptoms.The most common symptom is back pain in the morning and at night. You may also experience pain in the large joints, such as the hips and shoulders. Other symptoms may include early morning stiffness, poor posture or stooped shoulders or loss of appetite.If this is left undiagnosed and untreated the disease can lead to structural damage and can bend the spine and neck to an extent where it becomes impossible to lift their head high enough to see what is there in front.Hence called structural damage progression.Usually the pain occurs after waking up for about 30-45 minutes and the pain can last up to 90 days even if you take painkillers.Most people with ankylosing spondylitis have a gene called HLA-B27.Pain in lower back is the most common symptom.Severe conditions can damage the back by losing its flexibility and posture.People with Ankylosing Spondylitis often have an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, or sed rate) or C-reactive protein (CRP), which may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. Other common blood tests look for rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies.
Treatment
There’s no current cure for ankylosing spondylitis, but treatment can manage pain and prevent disability. Proper, timely treatment can help reduce symptoms. It may also slow or even stop possible complications, such as bone deformity.Painkillers,anti inflammatory drugs and steroids can ease inflammation and pain.Newer and more effective drugs such as biologics are known to be effective in the treatment of this condition.Patients are advised to undergo physiotherapy,hydrotherapy and exercise to improve their quality of life.Maintaining a healthy weight may avoid any strain on their joints. Medications : Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, are often used to help manage pain and inflammation. They’re long-acting drugs and are generally safe with few complications. Surgery : If you have severe damage or deformity to your knee or hip joints, a joint replacement surgery may be necessary. Likewise, an osteotomy may be performed on people with poor posture caused by fused bones. During this procedure, a surgeon will cut and realign the bones in the spine.
