| This disease is a painful, chronic, degenerative | | | | This disease can cause an overgrowth of the |
| inflammatory type of arthritis. It primarily affects | | | | bones which may lead to abnormal joining of the |
| the spine and sacroiliac joints and causes eventual | | | | bones and is called "bony fusion. |
| fusion of your spine. | | | | Fusion affects the bones in your neck, back and |
| It is a member of the autoimmune | | | | hips. It may also impair a person's ability to |
| spondyloarthropathies. | | | | perform routine activities. |
| Complete fusion results in a rigidity of the spine. | | | | Fusion of the ribs to the spine or breastbone may |
| This condition is known as bamboo spine. | | | | limit a person's ability to expand his or her chest |
| Signs and symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis | | | | when taking a deep breath. |
| Usually the patient is young, 15 to 30 years of | | | | You may have pain in your ligaments and tendons |
| age. With chronic pain and stiffness in the lower | | | | that attach to your bones. Tendonitis which is |
| part of the spine. | | | | inflammation of the tendons and may cause pain |
| Men are affected more than women by 2:1. In | | | | and stiffness behind or beneath your heel. People |
| almost half of the cases found. Spondylitis is | | | | with this condition also may have fever, fatigue |
| associated with iridocyclitis. | | | | and loss of appetite. |
| (Iridocyclitis a type of anterior uveitis, this is a | | | | What Causes Ankylosing Spondylitis? |
| condition in which the uvea of the eye suffers | | | | The cause of spondylitis is unknown but there is a |
| inflammation). Inflammation causes photophobia | | | | strong genetic or family link. |
| which is an increased sensitivity to light. | | | | Some people with this disease carry a certain |
| Other common symptoms are recurring mouth | | | | gene and are more likely to develop it. |
| ulcers and fatigue. Pain can fluctuate from one | | | | Variations of the HLA-B gene increases the risk |
| side to the other. | | | | of developing spondylitis. This is not a diagnostic |
| Early symptoms may occur at a very young age, | | | | test. |
| the patient may experience recurring painful joints | | | | People with the HLA-B27 variant are at a higher |
| in his or her knees or elbows. This is commonly | | | | risk than the general population to end up with this |
| misinterpreted as simple rheumatism. | | | | disease |
| More Signs and Symptoms of Ankylosing | | | | No cure is known for this disease, although |
| Spondylitis | | | | treatments and medications are available to |
| Other areas you may have pain and stiffness in, | | | | reduce symptoms and pain. |
| is your lower back, buttocks and hips. It may | | | | Physical therapy, exercise, medications and |
| continue for more than three months. | | | | antioxidants using the acai power are at the heart |
| Spondylitis often starts around the sacroiliac joints. | | | | of therapy for spondylitis. Movements will help in |
| This is where the sacrum (the lowest major part | | | | diminishing pain and stiffness but exercise in an |
| of the spine) joins the ilium bone of the pelvis in | | | | active inflammatory state will just make the pain |
| the lower back region. | | | | worse. |