An informative article all about Ankylosing Spondylitis written by our work experience student from CCHS.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), also known as axial spondyloarthritis, is an inflammatory disease that over time causes some of the bones in the spine to fuse. I
f you have more advanced AS, a doctor may tell you your spine has fused, this happens when a new bone grows between some of the small bones that form your spine.
This fusing makes the spine less flexible and can result in a hunched posture. If the ribs are affected, it can result in difficulty to breathe deeply. It can also affect the eyes, lungs, kidneys, shoulders, knees, hips, heart and ankles.
The life expectancy is the same as the general population, however the patient will suffer with severe symptoms and complications for their whole life, as there is no cure.
AS can run in families. If you have a certain type of gene variant (HLA-B27) then there is a 1 in 2 chance that you could pass the gene to any children you have in the future.
Symptoms of Akylosing Spondylitis
The most common symptoms include:
- Back pain and stiffness that improves with exercise and isn’t relieved by rest.
- Pain and swelling in other parts of the body, like hips and knees.
- Fatigue
Most people develop symptoms of AS before the age of 45, with very few developing the disease when they are children or teens. In the past, experts believed AS usually affected men, but a new study suggests that gender doesn’t play a role in whether you get it or not. However, depending on whether your male or female, the symptoms, diagnosis process and treatment are different.
Medications to treat Ankylosing Spondylitis
The medications for AS tend to delay more spinal problems and ease your pain and swelling. The best treatment for AS is disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) which treat inflammation and pain in joints in areas of the body other than the spine. Do not do any exercise that requires you to twist your spine too much or stresses your back.
Posture Training
A physiotherapist may suggest posture training exercises, like prone lying and standing with their back against the wall. These exercises strengthen the extensor muscles in the lower back, upper back and hips to help improve spinal extension. Exercises within warm water (hydrotherapy) can also benefit patients.
Should you wish to book an appointment to see a physiotherapist please call 01245 377118.
