Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis. There is a long-term inflammation of the joints of the spine.

Usually the joints where the spine joins the pelvis (the sacroiliac joints) are also affected. Eye and bowel problems may also occur. Pain in the back is a typical symptom of AS, and it often comes and goes. Stiffness of the affected joints usually gets worse over time. Stiffness of the ribcage in ankylosing spondylitis causes problems breathing because the lung expansion is restricted, making it a restrictive respiratory disease.

Ankylosing spondylitis inflames the sacroiliac joints located between the base of the spine and pelvis from there the disease starts and gradually captures the entire spinal cord and there is complete tilt in the body. Some of the bones in the spine fuse, this fusing makes the spine less flexible.

Symptoms

In this disease, the bones of the spine are completely fused (the bones joining in this disease become one bone in 8-10 years), which then means the patient can not get up, sit, walk, bend, twist of the neck. It shuts down and affects all day-to-day activities.

It can cause a general feeling of pain or other symptoms like:

• Stiffness in the body when waking up
• Breathing Problems
• Chest Pain
• "Bone fever"
• Fatigue
• Problems with vision
• Loss of appetite
• Irritability
• Pain and stiffness, including
  • Pain in the joints
  • Neck pain, affecting the neck
  • Back pain or hip pain, affecting the back or hip joints

For pain in the back bone lasting more than 3 months, where the stiffness is more on getting up in the morning, then a rheumatologist should be seen as soon as possible.

Other websites

• What are ankylosing spondylitis causes?