Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Posted by Admin | Posted in Ankylosing Spondylitis | Posted on 26-11-2009
0
Ankylosing spondylitis is a special form of arthritis that plagues the spine of the human body.
The symptoms of this disease are as follows:
Acute pain and stiffening of the neck and it carries the downward journey till the spinal cord. The vertebrae may nurture or get amalgamated together that may develop a stiff spine. The transformation that is caused may be mild or sever and this could lead to stooping as well. The disease should be diagnosed in the early stages to reduce any kind of deformity.
% of Population Affected
This disease affects 0.1-05% of the grown-up population but this disease cann occur at any age and the target are men during 20s and 30s generally. The disease is not so rampant in women.
The most common symptoms of Ankylosing spondylitis include pain and stiffness in the joints especially in the lower back and the hips for ninety days and the disease originates around the sacroiliac joints.
Ankylosing spondylitis may cause overgrowth of the bones that is called bony fusion that generally affects the neck, back and hips of the person that obstructs performing daily activities. The amalgamation may result in the lack of expansion of the chest when he inhales deeply.
Spondylitis causes acute pain in the ligaments that are attached to the bones. There may be soreness of the tendons and the soreness of the heels cause pain in the hind of the ankle.
The symptoms do not limit the joints only. Patients may suffer from tiredness, high temperature and loss of appetite as well. Swollen eyes are also caused by this disease. Lung and heart problems may mushroom in rare cases of this disease.
Reasons for the causes of Ankylosing Spondylitis
The primary reason for this disease has not yet been discovered but heredity plays a major role. The disease has a characteristic gene HLA-B27 and people that have this gene have greater chances of developing the disease by 75%.
Diagnosis of the Ankylosing Spondylitis
The treatment depends on factors like severity of symptoms, medical tests including X-rays and the dimension of the chest while breathing.
Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis
You may be shocked to learn that there is no cure for the disease but certain treatments can reduce the pain and facilitate the movement of the joints. Reduction of soreness and stiffness is done by various treatment measures. If the treatment is meted out well than people can enjoy a normal life and there may be zilch deformity in the body.
Physical and occupational therapy reduces the chances of deformity and displays great results.
Physical activity and regular exercise plays a great role in reduction of stiffness and soreness. The muscles are strengthened extensive breathing exercises minimizes the risk of deformation. Swimming is must for the patients.
Medicines offer relief from acute pain and rigidity to the patients. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) offer relief from discomfort. Disease modifying anitrheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used when the former does cause relief to the patients. New drugs like Enbrel and Remicade have got approval from the FDA to treat this disease.
Surgery may be done to treat ruptured joints that affect the hip or the knees.