Ankylosing Spondylitis: The simplicity behind this complex term.

Did you know that ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that can cause some of the vertebrae in your spine to fuse? Well, you should know that this fusing makes the spine less flexible and can result in a hunched-forward posture. If ribs are affected, it can even be difficult to breathe deeply. Read on to know more.

Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms

Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms typically begin in early adulthood. Early ankylosing spondylitis symptoms might include pain and stiffness in your lower back and hips, especially in the morning and after periods of inactivity. Neck pain and fatigue also are common. Over time, ankylosing spondylitis symptoms might worsen, improve or stop at irregular intervals.

The most common early ankylosing spondylitis symptoms include pain and stiffness, bony fusion, and pain in ligaments and tendons. The warning ankylosing spondylitis symptoms are listed below.

• Unexplained pain in the lower back

Usually, any back pain is better after rest. In ankylosing spondylitis, it is the opposite. Pain and stiffness are usually worse after waking up from sleep or getting up after sitting for a long time. Exercise usually increases the ordinary back pain. It is uncommon for teenagers and young people to complain of lower back pain, and that too constant pain.

• Unexplained pain in the heels, joints or chest of the patient

Instead of back pain, some ankylosing spondylitis patients first experience pain in the heel or pain and stiffness in the joints of the wrists, ankles or other joints. Some patients’ rib bones are affected at the point where they meet the spine and this can cause tightness in the chest that makes it hard to breathe.

• The pain comes and goes and it is gradually moving up the spine with more severity

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic, progressive disease. Although exercise and pain medications might help temporarily, the disease might gradually worsen. Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms might come and go, but they will not stop completely. Quite often, the pain spreads from the lower back up along the spine.

Ankylosing spondylitis complications

In severe cases of ankylosing spondylitis, new bone forms as part of the body's effort to heal. This new bone gradually bridges the gap between the vertebrae and eventually fuses sections of the vertebrae together. Those parts of your spine become rigid and unbending. Other complications might include the following.

• Eye inflammation: One of the most common complications of ankylosing spondylitis is the sudden onset of pain in the eyes. If this occurs, immediate medical attention is advised.
• Density fractures: Some might experience a thinning of their bones during the early stages of ankylosing spondylitis. Fractures of the bones of the spine occasionally can damage the spinal cord and the nerves that pass through the spine.
• Heart complications: Did you know that ankylosing spondylitis can lead to heart complications? Well, you should know that the inflammation of some part of the heart can change the shape of the heart and cause a disturbance in its normal functioning.

Ankylosing spondylitis treatment

The conventional ankylosing spondylitis treatment is helpful to give you control in pain but does not control the disease itself. With the progress of time, one may experience more pain and more stiffness. In some, other joints and body parts like eyes, lung and heart might get affected. The medicines might even cause several side effects.

Starting with homeopathic ankylosing spondylitis treatment concurrently certainly helps in better control and long-term welfares. Deep acting constitutional homeopathic medicines are used in ankylosing spondylitis treatment which has been proved to be beneficial.

Read More: How ankylosing spondylitis can be cured by homeopathy

Conclusion

Make sure to book an appointment with your homeopath as soon as you notice ankylosing spondylitis symptoms.