Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that can cause the small bones in your vertebrae to fuse over time. This can make your spine a lot less flexible and thus result in a posture that is hunched forward. In some cases, ribs could also be affected, which can cause difficulty breathing.
This disease is known to affect men a lot more than women, and the symptoms and signs will begin in the early adulthood. If you would like to know more about the ankylosing spondylitis treatment in Brisbane from arthritisCARE, check them out. You can also simply schedule a consultation to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.
Ankylosing spondylitis will cause stiffness and pain
The symptoms
The earlier signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis can include stiffness and pain in the lower back and hips. This tends to be a lot more prominent in the morning, or after a longer period of being inactive. The pain in the neck and fatigue care also common symptoms.
The areas that are usually affected are:
- The vertebrae in the lower back.
- The joint between the base of the spine and pelvis.
- Your hip and shoulder joints.
- The cartilage between the ribs and the breastbone.
- The place where the ligaments and tendons attach to the bone, mainly in the spine, but sometimes also in the back of the heel.
What causes ankylosing spondylitis?
There is no specific known cause of ankylosing spondylitis, but there are some genetic factors that are involved. People who have a certain gene, called HLA-B27 are a lot more likely to develop ankylosing spondylitis, than others. However, not everyone with this gene will develop the condition.
There are some risks to be considered as well. Your sex plays a role too, as men are a lot more likely to develop ankylosing spondylitis than women. Onset usually happens in early adulthood or late adolescence. Your hereditary could also have an impact, as it was mentioned.
There are some forms of arthritis that have similar symptoms to ankylosing spondylitis. For example, both ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis are a form of arthritis that will cause stiffness, pain and swelling of the joints. You can learn more about psoriatic arthritis medication in Brisbane at arthritisCARE or simply talk to your local doctor.
Psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis have similar symptoms
In severe cases of ankylosing spondylitis, your body might form a new bones in its attempt to heal. This new bone will eventually fuse vertebrae, and those parts of the spine can become inflexible and stiff. Fusion will stiffen the rib cage as well, and thus restrict your lung capacity, making it difficult to breathe.
Finalword
As you can see there are many things to be considered and many signs to look out for. However, fi you are experiencing pain after a long period of inactivity or when you get up in the morning, you should talk to your doctor.
