Ankylosing Spondylitis

It is a type of arthritis which affects the spine. It is also known as a chronic inflammation of the spine and sacroiliac joints. These joints are located at the base of the lower back directly above the tailbone and meet the iliac bones of the pelvis. Due to the chronic inflammation, it causes ache and stiffness around the spine, including the lower back, middle back, neck, and buttocks. If it is not treated over the time the chronic inflammation of the spine can lead to a complete cementing of the vertebrae. This process is known as ankylosis. This condition can cause total loss of mobility of the spine.

This condition affects about 0.1 percent to 0.5 percent of the adult population and can occur at any age. In men, it often happens in their teens or early 20s. It is less common in women and milder as well. Apparently, it is more common in some Native American tribes.

Some of the common symptoms of this condition are pain and stiffness, bony fusion and pain in ligaments and tendons. Apart from them, there can be a dull ache, tingling, numbness, pulsating pain, sharp pain, pins and needle sensation, muscle spasm, tenderness, rash, loss of continence of bowel and bladder, pain with movement of the spine, and extreme sciatica pain. Due to the pain, people may also experience fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. In some rare cases the patient may develop eye inflammation, and lung and heart problems.

The causes of this condition are still not known, but it is believed to be genetic. It is believed that people with spondylitis carry a gene called HLA-B27, however, it is also been confirmed that almost 10% of the people have no signs of this condition.

The condition can be diagnosed based on several factors. The doctor will go through the complete medical history and check for any previous such cases in the family. Apart from the symptoms, the doctor can also suggest X-ray of the back and pelvis, measurements of the chest when breathing and results of the lab tests. Certain factors such as stiffness, pain and decreased motion of the spine are the primary characteristics of the inflammatory back pain and ankylosing spondylitis. Urinalysis is often done to check for abnormalities of the kidney as well to remove any chances of certain kidney conditions which cause back pain. They are also simultaneously checked for symptoms and signs of other similar spondylitis such as psoriasis, dysentery, venereal disease and inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn`s disease.

As of yet, there is no cure for this condition but there are various treatments that can help reduce the discomfort and also improve the function of the affected area. There are many physical and occupational therapy and exercise which can be done daily to help improve the condition. It also helps minimize the risk of disability. The doctor can also suggest swimming as it a very good exercise for people. There are various medications and surgery options also available depending on the condition of the patient.