Ankylosing spondylitis

January 26, 2021Articles4

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that primarily affects your spine. It causes severe inflammation and also fusion of the vertebrae that might eventually lead to chronic pain and disability. In more advanced cases, the inflammation can cause new bone to form on the spine. This may lead to deformity and as a result a hunched forward posture appear.

Ankylosing spondylitis can also cause pain and stiffness in other parts of your body. Other large joints, such as the shoulders, hips and knees can be involved as well. Eyes can also get affected due to this form of spondylitis. If ribs are affected, it can be difficult to breathe deeply.It also causes heels pain.

Ankylosing spondylitis affects men more often than women. Sign and symptoms typically begin in early adulthood.

Symptoms-

Early signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis might include –

• Pain and stiffness in your lower back and hips, especially in the morning and after periods of inactivity.

• Neck pain and fatigue

• A rigid spine that curves forward

• Swelling in your joints

• Trouble taking deep breaths

• Loss of appetite

• Low grade fever

• Inflammation of the bowels

• Mild eye inflammation

Ankylosing spondylitis often starts in your sacroiliac joints, where your spine connects to your pelvis.

It can affect places where your tendons and ligaments attach to bones. It can even cause your vertebrae to fuse together.

The areas most commonly affected are –

• The joint between the base of your spine and your pelvis

• The vertebrae in your lower back

• The cartilage between your breast bone and ribs

• Hip and shoulder joints

• The places where tendons and ligaments attach to bones, mainly in your spine

Causes-

Researchers are not sure what triggers ankylosing spondylitis, but they think it is tied to your genes. Most people with ankylosing spondylitis have a gene that makes a protein called HLA-B27. Doctors think it tells your immune system to attack some common bacteria in your body and sets off ankylosing spondylitis symptoms.

Risk factors-

• Sex- Men are more likely than women to have ankylosing spondylitis

• Age –It often starts in your teens and young adulthood.

Complications-

• Eye inflammation ( Uveitis)

• Compression fractures

• Heart problems !

Diagnosis-

• Physical examination to test the range of motion in your spine.

• Imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI scans.

• Blood test for the HLA-B27 gene.

Treatment-

The goal of treatment is to relieve your pain and stiffness and prevent or delay complications and spinal deformity. Ankylosing spondylitis treatment is most succesful before the disease causes irreversible damage to your joints.

• Medications-

¤ Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as indomethacin, naproxen, ibuprofen.

• Exercise –

The less you sit or lie down, the better you will feel. Exercise helps you stand straighter and keeps your spine limber. Stayingactive may even banish your pain without medication.

• Physical therapy –

With the help of a profesional physical therapist you can feel better in your pain by stretching your tight muscles and keep your spine limber.

Ayurvedic Perspective-

According to Ayurveda such types of spondylitis is caused due to formation of toxins in the body called Ama and results in pain and inflammation of certain joints. So the concept of treating Ankylosing spondylitis is digesting the Ama. Controlling the vata dosha is also very important after clearing the Ama.

Panchakarma Procedures –

• Sarvanagadhara –

• Patrapinda Sveda –

• Kati vasti –

• Nhavara Kizhi –

Beneficial Herbs-

• Saunth –

• Guggul –

• Turmeric–

• Ashwagandha–

• Sallaki –

• Giloy –

Effective Medications –

• Sinhnaad Guggul

• Kaishore Gugglu

• Aam vatantaka Churna

• Punarnava Mandoor

Yoga Asanas & Pranayam-

• Pawan mukta Asana

• Bhujanga Asana

• Dhanura Asana

• Paschimottana Asana

• Vakrasana

• Nadishodhana Pranayama

• Bhramari Pranayam

For more informative articles on health issues, please visit our website www.santripty.com and also feel free to consult.