Spondylitis

spondylitis

Ankylosing Spondylitis, Bechterew’s disease or Marie Struempell disease is a form of chronic, degenerative arthritis. It affects the spine and sacroiliac joints as well as other joints in the body.

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Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms initially involve lower back or joint ache. Patients often attribute this to simple aches and pains or growing pains in young people. Symptoms come and go, but usually progress to include the following:

  • Stiffness and pain in the morning affecting the sacroiliac joint and spine
  • Aching lower back, which disrupts sleep
  • Aches and pains in the buttocks, neck, shoulders, hips and upper back
  • Pain radiates down the legs and into the groin
  • Pain is worse during and after rest e.g. in the mornings
  • Exercise eases pain and stiffness
  • Severe cases cause feelings of illness, weight loss, and fatigue

Ankylosing spondylitis comes to light most frequently between the ages of 15 and 30. It can, however, occur before or after this time.

Other complications may include recurrent eye inflammations, heart, lung, nervous system, bowel problems and over time, an increased kyphosis or curvature of the upper spine.

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Ankylosing Spondylitis, Bechterew’s disease or Marie Struempell disease is a form of chronic, degenerative arthritis. It affects the spine and sacroiliac joints and often other joints of the body. The cause is currently unknown although there is a hereditary factor.

The condition is more prevalent in men than in women, with around 1 in 200 men and 1 in 500 women diagnosed in the UK. However, some say medical professionals diagnose fewer women because their symptoms differ to those of men.

The word ankylosing means fusion and the word spondylitis means inflammation of the joints of the spine. Inflammation within the spine and sacroiliac joints develops which also triggers the development of bony growths which often fuse the vertebrae causing pain and stiffness. Ankylosing Spondylitis is one of a group of arthritis conditions known as spondyloarthritides, including psoriatic, colitic and reactive arthritis. AS can occur in isolation or in conjunction with any of these conditions, as well as Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, and osteoporosis.

No two cases of AS are exactly the same. Variations occur in the distribution of pain, stiffness, inflammation and in the length of flare-ups and course of the disease. In some cases, the disease becomes less active and pain may cease altogether.

Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis

What can the athlete do?

  • Keep themselves fit and healthy
  • Maintain an optimum weight to place as little strain on the spine as possible
  • Have a good diet
  • Maintain a good posture and mobility
  • Avoid sudden twisting and turning movements
  • Use a heat pack or warm bath to reduce pain and stiffness
  • Exercise such as swimming can be great for ankylosing spondylitis as it places very little strain on the spine and joints.
  • Other exercises for mobility and back strength can also be beneficial.

Your doctor performs a blood test and x-rays to confirm the diagnosis. They prescribe anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen as well as other disease-modifying drugs or injections.

Exercises and physiotherapy help to maintain good mobility and posture, counteracting the stiffening of the spine.

Surgery is rare although may sometimes be used to restore movement or straighten the spine in extreme cases.

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