It’s easy to think of arthritis as a disease that just affects the elderly, but that’s not the case. Many types of this inflammatory disease affect young people, and one of these is ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Joint pain is often ignored, but it’s important to know the facts about chronic conditions like AS. That way, you can understand when it’s time for you, or someone close to you, to see a doctor. Here are some of the most important things to know about ankylosing Spondylitis.
What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that generally starts at the base of the spine. While a rare form of arthritis, it still affects more people than you might think – as many as 1.4 percent of Americans – so it’s important to understand its signs and symptoms.
Also known as Bechterew disease, Ankylosing Spondylitis can cause vertebrae in the spine to fuse resulting in pain and stiffness. The disease can also travel up the spine to affect the neck and other nearby joints like the hips.
While there’s no cure for this inflammatory disease, catching it early can help slow its progress and manage symptoms.
Who Is At Risk?
AS affects men more than women, with symptoms tending to be more severe. There’s no known cause, but it has been linked to the HLA-B27 gene. At the same time, many people who have this gene won’t get AS. If you’re concerned, talk to your doctor.
AS generally affects younger people, and often begins in young adulthood. In fact, 80 percent of all cases will show symptoms before they are 30.
Signs and Symptoms
One of the first symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis is lower back pain, which is worse in the mornings and after sitting for long periods of time. However, it is a difficult disease to diagnose solely from this, as many people suffer from back pain for many different reasons.
Other symptoms include:
- Painful hip joints
- Pain in shoulder joints
- Fatigue
- Trouble taking deep breaths
- A spine that curves forward
- Eye inflammation (uveitis)
Over time, these symptoms may worsen, improve or even stop and reoccur at random. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Treatment Options
If you’ve been diagnosed with AS, your doctor will go through the different treatment options. Depending on your symptoms, this may vary, so always take your doctor’s advice seriously. It’s important to remember that your symptoms can progress and change over time, so it’s important to monitor your health and talk to your doctor about it.
Medication. While there isn’t a cure, medication can help curb some of the symptoms and inflammation, as well as ease the day-to-day pain that this condition causes.
Exercise and Physical Therapy. Moving as much as possible is also often recommended. Sitting for too long can acerbate the symptoms of AS, while regular exercise can benefit your posture, flexibility and help to prevent stiffness.
If you are concerned that you may have AS, it’s important that you understand all of the signs and symptoms. Contact your doctor to request a test for AS. After that, they can suggest treatment plans and how to best look after your health.