What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Back pain from AS isn’t the same as more common types of back pain caused by things like muscle spasms or slipped disks. AS back pain is caused by inflammation. It’s chronic, which means it lasts a long time. But treatments can help lessen pain and stiffness. To get started, your doctor will look for some of these signs of inflammatory back pain:

It tends to start between your teens and 30s. Men are two to three times more likely to get the disease than women. You can inherit it from your family. One gene, called HLA-B27, is common in people with AS.

AS usually affects the joints in your spine. Your first signs of AS may be low back pain and stiffness. You may feel symptoms before doctors can see AS on an X-ray. That can take up to 5 years. AS often causes inflammation in the tendons that attach your spine’s bones to muscles.

Over many years, AS can cause new bone to grow on your spine, fusing the vertebrae and making it harder to move. This can cause severe stiffness. About half the people who have AS get osteoporosis, or brittle bones.

There are different forms of the disease. Lower back pain means you have axial AS. Pain and swelling in joints other than your spine is called peripheral AS.

Besides asking you about your symptoms, your doctor will do tests. A physical exam can show signs of inflammation in your joints or limited back movement. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history and find out if your parents or other relatives had the condition. You may see a specialist called a rheumatologist (an arthritis doctor) to diagnose or treat your AS.

Tests used to diagnose AS include:

There are many medications used as ankylosing spondylitis treatments. Newer ones may stop inflammation before it starts to damage your joints or organs like your eyes. Treatments include:

Surgery can help a curved spine or neck, as well as damaged knees and hips.

Ask your doctor about how these techniques can help ease pain and stiffness in addition to your other treatments:

You can do many things to feel better and live an active life.

Keep moving. Daily exercise helps you stay flexible. It can help you ease back pain and stiffness. A physical therapist can teach you how to exercise safely. Work out in a warm pool to make movement easier.

Practice posture. Sitting and standing up straight may also help with pain and stiffness.

Heat and cold. Using moist heat pads or taking hot showers can ease your stiff, sore back. Cold packs can lower swelling in inflamed joints.

Healthy lifestyle and food choices. Keep a healthy body weight or ask your doctor how you can lose weight if you need to. Extra pounds stress your back and other joints. Smoking makes AS worse.

AS shouldn’t affect how long you live. You may have mild back pain that comes and goes. But if your disease is more severe, your spine may curve or stiffen over time and may become fused. The rib cage can also become fused, making it hard to take a deep breath.

Follow these steps to feel your best with AS:

Follow your treatment plan. Take your drugs as prescribed, don’t smoke, and exercise daily to help ease your inflammation and prevent spine fusion or organ damage.

Watch for signs of inflammation in other areas. Talk to your doctor if you have pain or redness in your eyes, pain in your stomach, or a patchy rash on your skin.

Get support. It’s helpful to talk to others who have AS. The Spondylitis Association of America has support groups in many areas as well as online communities: www.spondylitis.org.

SOURCES:

American College of Rheumatology: “Spondyloarthritis.”

Spondylitis Association of America: “Ankylosing Spondylitis.”

Harvard Medical School Patient Education Center: “What is ankylosing spondylitis?”

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: “Questions and Answers About Ankylosing Spondylitis.”

U.S. National Library of Medicine: “Ankylosing Spondylitis.”

Spondylitis Association of America: “What is axial spondyloarthritis?”

Pagination

Hint: Warming up first is crucial.

Quiz yourself.

One idea? Eat fish to curb inflammation.

Can you keep your RA from progressing?

{text}

{button}

© 2005 – 2018 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

See additional information.

What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Research & References of What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis?|A&C Accounting And Tax Services
Source

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us