Ankylosing Spondylitis AS. About Ankylosing Spondylitis. Enteropathic Arthritis EnA. About Enteropathic Arthritis. Psoriatic Arthritis PsA.
About Psoriatic Arthritis. Reactive Arthritis ReA. About Reactive Arthritis. Undifferentiated Spondyloarthritis USpA. About Undifferentiated Spondyloarthritis. Juvenile Spondyloarthritis JSpA. About Juvenile Spondyloarthritis. Newer SpA Classification System.
Axial Spondyloarthritis AxSpA. AxSpA is a broad category that includes people with and without characteristic damage or fusing of the sacroiliac joints joints linking the lowest part of the spine to the pelvis seen on X-ray. Doctors classify people as having a certain type of axial spondyloarthritis: Radiographic axSpA, with characteristic damage or fusing seen on X-ray also called ankylosing spondylitis.
Non-radiographic axSpA, without characteristic damage or fusing seen on X-ray. Read more about non-radiographic axSpA, here. More Information How do ankylosing spondylitis and pregnancy affect each other?
Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Ankylosing spondylitis. Accessed Oct. Yu DT, et al. Clinical manifestations of axial spondyloarthritis ankylosing spondylitis and nonradiographic axial sponyloarthritis in adults. Yu DT. Treatment of axial spondyloarthritis ankylosing spondylitis and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis in adults. Overview of ankylosing spondylitis. Spondylitis Association of America. Ward MM, et al. Elsevier Point of Care. Clinical Overview: Ankylosing spondylitis.
Kellerman RD, et al. Ankylosing spondylitis. In: Conn's Current Therapy Elsevier; This can make your back, rib cage and neck stiff and painful.
In response to the inflammation, the body produces extra calcium around the bones of the spine. This can make extra bits of bone grow and cause your back and neck to be more stiff. In rare cases some of the bones of the spine may link up, or fuse together because of the extra calcium.
In serious cases this can make the spine curve forward more. You can reduce the risk of this happening, if you:. While it mainly affects the neck and back, it can also cause pain and stiffness elsewhere in the body, including in the hips, shoulders and feet. Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of spondyloarthritis spon-dee-lo-arth-rye-tus. This is the name for a group of conditions with similar symptoms — mainly pain and stiffness around the spine. The rest of this content refers to ankylosing spondylitis.
However, the treatment and self-management advice is very similar for people with other types of spondyloarthritis. Common backache often comes in short and painful spells. But the pain from ankylosing spondylitis is likely to be long lasting. Some people have pain, stiffness and swelling in their knees or ankles. The pain and stiffness can vary over time.
If most of the spine is affected, it can cause difficulty with activities that involve bending, twisting or turning. The best place to go is an eye casualty department. Your optician will be able to tell you where the nearest one is.
You could also go to a GP surgery or an accident and emergency department. Treatment is usually with steroid eye drops, which are generally very effective. A fractured bone in your spine can cause nerve damage. Some people with ankylosing spondylitis develop osteoporosis , a condition that causes bones to thin and be more likely to fracture. If you have ankylosing spondylitis, or any kind of spondyloarthritis, it can make you slightly more at risk of problems such as a heart attack or a stroke.
Taking drugs to reduce inflammation, as well as eating a healthy diet, not smoking and exercising regularly will reduce this risk. Rarely, the top of your lungs may become scarred if your chest is affected by ankylosing spondylitis. Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis can be similar to more common back problems, especially in the early stages.
Because of this, many people put up with the pain for some time before seeking help. There is no one test that can show for certain that you have ankylosing spondylitis. A diagnosis will be made based on several things, including:. There are disease activity and pain scores that can help doctors diagnose ankylosing spondylitis. Your doctor will ask if you have key symptoms, such as swollen and painful joints, especially around the spine, and fatigue. Your answer to these questions could help lead to a diagnosis.
Blood tests can confirm whether you have the HLA-B27 gene. A number of treatments can slow it down and treat pain and stiffness. Exercise and close attention to your posture are just as important to keep your spine mobile and help you to live a normal life. Painkillers , such as paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen , are usually the first choice of treatment for ankylosing spondylitis.
These drugs, called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs DMARDs , can reduce the amount of inflammation that happens in your body. This means that as well as treating symptoms, they can help prevent joint damage. These drugs can sometimes take several weeks or months to take effect.
When they do take effect, they can make a big difference to your pain and stiffness. Biological therapies are newer treatments that can be very effective for some people with ankylosing spondylitis and related conditions. There are a group of biological therapies called anti-TNF drugs. The following can treat ankylosing spondylitis:.
Secukinumab is a different type of biological therapy that can also treat ankylosing spondylitis. This drug also works by reducing or slowing inflammation. These drugs are given as an injection, which you, or a partner, relative or friend can learn to do. Steroids can be used as a short-term treatment for flare-ups.
Occasionally, you may be given a course of steroid tablets called prednisolone. While these treatments can be very effective at improving pain and stiffness, you may develop side-effects if you use them for long periods.
As with any drug, report any side effects to your doctor immediately. If you develop eye inflammation, it will usually be treated with steroid eye drops. In more severe cases of eye inflammation, steroids may be given as tablets or as an injection into the eye.
Physiotherapy is a very important part of the treatment for ankylosing spondylitis. A physiotherapist can put together a programme of exercises to improve your muscle strength and help you maintain mobility in your spine and other joints.
A physiotherapist will advise you on how to maintain good posture and may be able to offer you hydrotherapy, also known as aquatic therapy. This involves specific exercises for the spine, hips and shoulders carried out in a special warm-water pool. Many people with ankylosing spondylitis find this therapy helpful and continue their programme at their local swimming pool or with their local National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society NASS group.
This can get rid of pain and improve mobility. Any decision about surgery is difficult and should also involve an experienced spinal surgeon. Medical treatments can help control ankylosing spondylitis. And there are also many things you can do to help improve your symptoms. Keeping active and paying attention to your posture can greatly help you minimise the long-term effects of this condition.
If you have ankylosing spondylitis, keeping active can really help you manage your condition. Regular exercise is good for the range of movement of your back and to stop your spine from stiffening.
Start slowly and gradually build up the amount of exercise you do. As well as being good for your back, exercise is important for your heart and lungs, and your overall health. It can also lift your mood and boost your confidence. Specific simple exercises for your back, chest and limbs will help keep them supple. You may find stretching exercises after a hot shower or bath are especially helpful to ease stiffness in the morning. Try to do at least some exercise each day. Remember you can take painkillers beforehand to help you exercise.
We have examples of exercises to help improve strength and flexibility. Try to do them every day. You can ask your physiotherapist for advice if you have any doubts or questions about a particular activity.
If you go to a class, tell the instructor about your condition. Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise because it uses lots of muscles and joints without jarring them. And the water supports the weight of your body. Swimming provides a great overall workout that improves your strength, stamina and flexibility. Speak to your physiotherapist or a swimming instructor if you have discomfort when swimming, as a different stroke or slight change to your technique could help.
As an alternative to swimming, your local pool might run aerobic classes in shallow or deep water which you could try. There are many types of exercise that will help maintain your mobility and improve your overall health. The key is to find something you enjoy as this will help you to keep doing it. Most people with ankylosing spondylitis can continue in their jobs. You may need some changes to your working environment or roles you carry out, especially if you have a physically demanding job.
Talking to people at your workplace about your condition is a good idea.
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