Back pain is considered as a common complaint by many individuals all over the globe, but many simply dismiss it as a natural part of the aging process or a minor issue. As for chronic back pain, it is not normal and should not be ignored since it might be a symptom of ankylosing spondylitis.
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What is ankylosing spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is a progressive inflammatory condition and considered as a form of arthritis. This condition causes swelling in the spine and surrounding joints. As time passes by, the chronic inflammation can cause the vertebrae in the spine to fuse together which results to the diminished flexibility of the spine. Many individuals who have this condition have a hunched forward posture to compensate for the stiff spine. As for the advanced stage of this condition, the inflammation can be severe in which the individual could not even lift his/her head.
What are the risk factors?
- Gender – Men are more likely to develop ankylosing spondylitis than women
- Genetics – In a study conducted, there is a gene that is common among those with the condition yet only about 2% of those who are born with this gene can develop the disease.
- Age – The initial signs and symptoms generally starts during young adulthood
Initial stages
The earliest symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis can be easily ignored. This is why most do not seek treatment until the disease has already progressed. The initial symptoms include stiffness, back pain and they become intense after sleeping or being inactive for an extended period.
Take note that ankylosing spondylitis often affect certain joints in the body such as the hip joints, sacroiliac joint, enthuses, vertebrae in the lower back, ribs and breastbone as well as the shoulder joints.
What happens if ankylosing spondylitis is not treated?
If the condition is not treated, the chronic inflammation will cause the vertebrae in the spine to fuse together. The individual will end up with diminished range of motion while twisting, bending or turning. In addition, there is frequent occurrence of intense back pain.
The inflammation of the spine and vertebrae can spread to other joints including the shoulders, hips and ribs. Take note that the inflammation can even affect the ligaments and tendons that connect to the bones. In some circumstances, the inflammation can spread to the organs such as the lungs or the bowels.
Considerations to bear in mind
Always bear in mind that ankylosing spondylitis has no known cure. As long as the condition is detected early, treatment can be started to prevent the symptoms from worsening and ease any discomfort. Proper treatment can also help slow the progression of the disease and delay the onset of other additional issues. The individual should work hand in hand with a doctor so that the ideal treatment plan can be started to deal with the discomfort as well as issues being experienced. In most cases, pain management measures are included to ease the discomfort. By enrolling in a first aid course, you can learn more about these measures.