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| Ankylosing Spondylitis, Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications |
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammation that can cause the gaps between the vertebrae to close. This disorder can make people with ankylosing spondylitis stooped. The spine consists of several vertebrae connected by soft bony pads. In patients with ankylosing spondylitis, the gap between the pads fuses into bone, causing the spine to lose its flexibility. This condition can change the posture of the sufferer.
Ankylosing spondylitis is more common in men than women. Symptoms develop gradually over months to years.
Causes of Ankylosing Spondylitis
The exact cause of ankylosing spondylitis is not known. However, this condition is thought to be related to abnormalities in the HLA-B27 gene. However, this does not mean that people who have the HLA-B27 gene disorder will definitely get ankylosing spondylitis.
Although the cause is not known for certain, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, namely:
- Male gender
- Teenagers or over 30 years old
- Having a parent who suffers from ankylosing spondylitis
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
- The body gets tired easily
- Knee pain
- Inflammation of the fingers
- Diarrhea and abdominal pain
- Reddish, scaly, and itchy skin
- Visual impairment
- Difficulty breathing
When to go to the doctor
Consult a doctor if you feel the initial symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, namely 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 their disease. Generally, the doctor will perform an examination with a scanning procedure and blood tests.
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 a decrease in back flexibility.
Next, the doctor will carry out supporting examinations, such as:
- Scans with X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs, to check the condition of the spine or other bones
- Genetic testing, to check whether the patient has an abnormality in 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. However, doctors can take measures to relieve pain, correct posture abnormalities, prevent complications, and help patients return to normal activities.
Treatment methods that can be used to treat ankylosing spondylitis are:
Physiotherapy
Physical therapy aims 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 that can be used to relieve inflammation caused by ankylosing spondylitis, namely:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, meloxicam, etoricoxib, or diclofenac
- Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate and sulfasalazine
- Antidepressants for chronic back pain
- Corticosteroid injections in the problematic joint
Operation
The surgical procedure is performed if the patient experiences severe pain and joint damage. The goal of surgery is to replace the damaged joint with artificial joints in certain parts of the body, such as the hip and knee.
Complications of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Severe ankylosing spondylitis can cause the gaps between the vertebrae to close due to the growth of new bone. This condition makes the spine becomes stiff so that it changes the patient's body posture to be more stooped.
Other complications that can result from ankylosing spondylitis are:
• Spine fracture
Ankylosing spondylitis can lead to osteoporosis, which causes bones to become 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 eye. This condition, also known as uveitis, causes the eyes to become more sensitive to light, feel pain, and blurry vision.
• Heart problems
Ankylosing spondylitis can cause inflammation of the large blood vessels, causing heart disease.
• Cauda equina syndrome
This condition causes pain in the buttocks and pelvis, weakness in the legs, difficulty walking, urinary incontinence, and fecal incontinence. Cauda equina syndrome 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 consuming alcoholic beverages to keep bones strong.
- Get enough calcium and vitamin D through food or supplements.
- Do exercise regularly every day.
- Use shoes with the appropriate size so as not to fall easily.
- Sit and stand up straight, and sleep with a pillow that is not too high.
- Avoid smoking habits.
- Get enough sleep and avoid caffeine for better quality sleep.
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