ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that generally causes chronic pain and discomfort in the spine. It is important to understand the early signs and symptoms and conditions of this disease. This can help the patient know when to contact the doctor and what to expect from diagnosis and treatment.
symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis
ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the spinal joints. In some cases, it can affect the joints of the hips, shoulders, ribs, heels, and hands. It can also affect the eyes, heart, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs. The affected area may progress differently for each patient. Symptoms typically appear between the ages of 17–45 but can sometimes begin in childhood.
Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis include severe pain and inflammation in a specific area as follows.
1. A gradually dull stiff pain becomes chronic in the back or hip and lasts for more than three months.
2. It worsens in the morning and at night and causes pain that interferes with sleep.
3. In particular, mild fever, loss of appetite, and overall discomfort occur in the early stages of the condition.
4. Eventually, pain spreads to the ribs, shoulders, thighs, hips, or heels.
5. I feel very tired. (Low energy)
6. Inflammation occurs in a specific area where the ligaments connect to the bone.
7. Enteritis, which can be associated with conditions such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, develops.
8. Vinephritis or eye inflammation occurs.
9. Chest pain and deep breathing difficulties that can be felt similar to heart attacks may occur.
10. Arrhythmias can develop that cause your heart to beat too fast or too slowly.
11. Cardiomyopathy, which weakens heart muscles and makes it difficult for the heart to supply blood to the rest of the body.
12. The heart may develop ischemic heart disease that reduces blood supply.
Some people develop more serious complications, such as aortic inflammation. This causes inflammation of the aorta, a large artery exiting the heart. Also, ankylosing spondylitis can cause lung scarring or pulmonary fibrosis. In addition, progressive ankylosing spondylitis can cause jaw inflammation and neurological complications.
Diagnostic methods for ankylosing spondylitis
There is no single test to diagnose ankylosing spondylitis. Occasionally, X-rays, blood tests, and MRI scans can be used to detect inflammation in major areas such as joints between the sacrum and the iliac bone and show suspicious findings. In addition, information on the type of back pain the patient is experiencing should be collected. People with ankylosing spondylitis generally develop symptoms before the age of 45, and symptoms generally progress gradually over three months or more. People with ankylosing spondylitis also tend to experience back pain that worsens during sleep. But moving or taking a warm bath or shower starts to make you feel better. Pain associated with ankylosing spondylitis generally does not relieve with rest, but tends to improve with exercise and physical exercise. The doctor asks if this situation corresponds to the patient and conducts imaging to determine whether it is ankylosing spondylitis that causes symptoms. There is also a blood test to find a gene called HLA-B27. The presence of this gene does not necessarily mean that ankylosing spondylitis develops, but it appears in many cases.
a cure for ankylosing spondylitis
Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis includes a variety of approaches designed to manage symptoms. Typical treatment plans include physical approaches such as exercise and physical therapy. Doctors may suggest using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help relieve pain. Some studies have shown that NSAIDs can help people with ankylosing spondylitis because they can reduce inflammation that causes symptoms. In addition, doctors can prescribe "tumor necrosis factor inhibitors" that suppress proteins that play an important role in inflammatory symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis. If non-steroidal treatment is not effective, steroid injections can alleviate pain. However, in severe cases, surgery may be necessary.