Ankylosing spondylitis treatment in Delhi.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a spondyloarthritis characterized by inflammation of the spine, large joints, and fingers and toes, resulting in stiffness and pain.
Joint pain, back stiffness, and eye inflammation are common.
The diagnosis is based on symptoms and x-rays.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and sometimes sulfasalazine or methotrexate can help the arthritis in limbs.
Drugs that inhibit tumor necrosis factor are very effective for spine and limb arthritis.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of spondyloarthritis.
Ankylosing spondylitis is 3 times more common among men than women, developing most commonly between the ages of 20 and 40.
SYMPTOMS
The most common symptom is back pain, which varies in intensity from one episode to another and from one person to another. Pain is often worse at night and in the morning. Early morning stiffness that is relieved by activity is also very common. Pain in the lower back and the associated muscle spasms are often relieved by bending forward. Therefore, people often assume a stooped posture, which can lead to a permanent bent-over position. In others, the spine becomes noticeably straight and stiff.
Loss of appetite, low-grade fever, weight loss, excessive fatigue, and anemia can accompany the back pain. If the joints connecting the ribs to the spine are inflamed, the pain may limit the ability to expand the chest to take a deep breath. Stiffness (fusion) of the spine can restrict the ability to expand the chest wall as well. Occasionally, pain starts in large joints, such as the hips, knees, and shoulders.
DIAGNOSIS
The diagnosis is based on the pattern of symptoms, a family history of the disorder, and on x-rays of the spine and affected joints. X-rays show a wearing away (erosion) of the joint between the spine and the hip bone (sacroiliac joint) and the formation of bony bridges between the vertebrae, making the spine stiff (sacroiliitis). Blood tests are done to determine the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), a test that measures the rate at which red blood cells settle to the bottom of a test tube containing blood, and the level of C-reactive protein. High levels indicate inflammation.
Sacroiliac Joint
Doctors can also base the diagnosis on an established set of criteria. People who have sacroiliitis and one of the following are diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis:
Restricted motion of the lower (lumbar) part of the spine
Restricted chest expansion
A history of inflammatory back pain
Inflammatory back pain usually begins gradually when a person is 40 or younger. People have stiffness in the morning that is relieved by movement.
PROGNOSIS
Most people develop some disabilities but can still lead normal, productive lives. In some people, the disease is more progressive, causing severe deformities. The prognosis is discouraging for people who develop extreme stiffness of the spine.
TREATMENT
Treatment focuses on relieving back and joint pain, maintaining range of motion in the joints, preventing damage in other organs, and preventing or correcting spinal deformities. NSAIDs can reduce pain and inflammation, thus enabling people to do important exercises to retain posture, including stretching and deep breathing.
The long-range goals of treatment are to maintain proper posture and develop strong back muscles. Daily exercises strengthen the muscles that oppose the tendency to bend and stoop. It has been suggested that people spend some time each day—often while reading—lying on their stomach propped up on their elbows because this position extends the back and helps to keep the back flexible. Because chest wall motion can be restricted, which impairs lung function, cigarette smoking, which also impairs lung function, is strongly discouraged.
