Ankylosing Spondylitis - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Ankylosing spondylitis or ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammation that can cause:closing the gap betweenspinal column. This disturbance can make sufferers ankylosing spondylitis be stooped.

The spine consists of several vertebrae connected by soft bony pads. In people with ankylosing spondylitis, the gap between the pads fuses into bone, causing the spine to lose its flexibility. This condition will change the posture of the sufferer.

Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis develop gradually over months to years, and are more common in men than women.

Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is initially characterized by pain or stiffness in the neck, lower back, chest, and pelvis. The pain is more pronounced when you wake up or after the patient has been silent for a long time.

Symptoms of this pain can disappear and appear in certain periods for several months to several years. If left untreated, ankylosing spondylitis can change the sufferer's posture to become more hunched (kyphosis).

In addition to pain and changes in posture, people with ankylosing spondylitis may also experience the following symptoms:

  • Fever.
  • Feel tired easily.
  • Knee pain.
  • Inflammation of the fingers.
  • Diarrhea and stomach pain.
  • The skin is red and scaly, and feels itchy.
  • Visual disturbances.
  • Difficulty breathing.

When to go to the doctor

You are advised to consult a doctor if you feel the initial symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis in the form of pain in the area around the spine that is prolonged and intermittent.

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis need to undergo regular examinations to the doctor to determine the progress of the disease. Generally, the doctor will perform an examination by scanning procedures and blood tests.

Causes of Ankylosing Spondylitis

The exact cause of ankylosing spondylitis is not known. However, ankylosing spondylitis is thought to be related to a gene disorder, namely the HLA-B27 gene. However, it does not mean that someone who has an abnormality in the HLA-B27 gene will definitely get ankylosing spondylitis.

Although the exact cause is not known, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, including:

  • Male gender.
  • Teenagers or 30 years and over.
  • Have a parent who has ankylosing spondylitis.

Diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis

To diagnose ankylosing spondylitis, the doctor will ask the patient's symptoms and medical history. Next, the doctor will perform a physical exam to check for inflammation in the joints or decreased flexibility of back movement.

Next, the doctor will ask the patient to undergo supporting examinations, such as:

  • Scans, to check the condition of the spine or other bones, such as the pelvis. Scanning is done with X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs.
  • Genetic testing, to check if the patient has the HLA-B27 gene.
  • Blood tests, to see signs of inflammation that occur in certain body parts.

Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment

There is no specific treatment for ankylosing spondylitis. Treatment steps are more aimed at reducing pain, correcting abnormalities in posture, preventing complications, and helping patients return to normal activities.

Treatments that can be done to treat ankylosing spondylitis are:

Physiotherapy

Physical therapy is done to relieve pain and increase the patient's muscle strength and flexibility. Physiotherapy needs to be accompanied by regular exercise to help relax stiff muscles and strengthen the muscles around the joints.

Drugs

There are several medications used to reduce inflammation caused by ankylosing spondylitis, including:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as etoricoxib, ibuprofen, meloxicam, or diclofenac.
  • Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD), such as methotrexate and sulfasalazine.
  • Antidepressant medication for chronic back pain.
  • Corticosteroid injections in the affected joint.

Operation

The surgical procedure is performed if the patient experiences severe pain and joint damage. Surgery aims to replace damaged joints with artificial joints in certain body parts, such as the hip and knee.

Complications of Ankylosing Spondylitis

If it's severe, ankylosing spondylitis can cause the gap between the vertebrae to close with new bone growth. This makes the spine stiff and changes the sufferer's posture to be more stooped.

Some of the complications that can result from ankylosing spondylitis are:

  • Broken spine

    Ankylosing spondylitis can lead to osteoporosis, which makes bones weak and brittle and increases the risk of vertebral fractures.

  • Inflammation of the eye (iritis)

    Inflammation in people with ankylosing spondylitis can also occur in the eyes. This condition, also known as uveitis, causes the eyes to become more sensitive to light, hurts, and blurs vision.

  • Heart problems

    Ankylosing spondylitis can cause inflammation of the large blood vessels and eventually lead to heart disease.

  • syndrome cauda equinoa

    This condition causes pain in the buttocks and pelvis, weakness in the legs, difficulty walking, and urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence. syndrome cauda equina It occurs due to pressure on the spinal nerve endings.

Prevention of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is difficult to prevent. However, there are several things you can do to prevent further damage from ankylosing spondylitis, including:

  • Avoid alcohol to keep bones strong.
  • Get enough calcium and vitamin D through food or supplements.
  • Exercise regularly every day.
  • Use shoes with the right size so they don't fall off easily.
  • Sit and stand up straight, and sleep with a pillow that is not too high.
  • Avoid smoking.

Get enough sleep and avoid caffeine for better quality sleep.