Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease starting in the spine. Persistent inflammation targets the sacroiliac joints situated at the base of the spine. Eventually, inflammation results in the bones getting fused. Lessening in mobility, unceasing pain, and the characteristic slumped-forward posture develop. Ankylosing spondylitis is not curable but can be brought to a halt in its progressive state if diagnosed and treated at an earlier age.
It is difficult to imagine that ankylosing spondylitis will progress because some mistakenly assume that it is another kind of back pain; nevertheless, this form of back pain is entirely different from other forms. The knowledge of early warning signs is the key to avoiding the irreversible transformation of the spine.
Early Signs and Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
The presentation of very subtle signs and symptoms in people with ankylosing spondylitis, long before the actual diagnosis, indicates the benefit of the realization of these symptoms to stop any irrevocable loss in the spine.
- Chronic Back Pain and Stiffness: Pain in the lower back lasting for more than 3 months is the key warning signal, especially if this is exacerbated with exercise and relieved by rest.
- Buttock Pain or Hip Pain: Inflammation of the sacroiliac joints brings deep hip or buttock pain, often crossing sides.
- Nighttime Pain: Night pain compromises the validation of well-disposed sleep.
- Reduced Flexibility: The back becomes rigid, and also the patient may find it present in the fight to bend towards the floor, twist, or reach forward.
- Fatigue: Chronic inflammation zaps energy, thus reducing the potential level of endurance.
- Postural Changes: At times, overhead might come crashing down on the lower back, leading to a stooped posture.
Ignoring these warnings can leave an individual with a substantial spinal deformity and disablement in its wake. For this reason, when one with such symptoms cannot get rid of them, it is always best to consult with a best spine specialist for scoliosis well equipped to help with scoliosis cases, as long as they are not resistant to change.
Who Is at Higher Risk of Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Some individuals with increased chances of developing AS include the following:
- Age 15 to 40, most commonly
- Males compared to females
- Family history of Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Sufferers of inherited susceptibility by testing positive for the HLA-B27 gene
How Ankylosing Spondylitis Gets Diagnosed
Diagnosis of AS involves the following requirements:
- Clinical evaluation
- Radiography and MRI scans of spinal and sacroiliac joints
- Blood test for inflammatory markers and HLA-B27
Treatment Option and Long-Term Management
Non-Surgical teen scoliosis treatment in India
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Biologic therapy for lowering the immune response
- Physiotherapy to improve mobility and flexibility
- Postural and breathing exercises
When to Go for Surgery
A scoliosis surgeon in Mumbai recommend it for ankylosing spondylitis if:
- There is severe deformity
- Nerve compression
- Spinal instability
- Hip joint destruction
Although rare, some patients with ankylosing spondylitis may also develop scoliosis or secondary deformities. In such cases, advanced treatment options available for the treatment of scoliosis in India with Robotic scoliosis surgery India and 3D implants for scoliosis, involving particularly high precision, better posture correction, and long-term spinal balance, would have good success. Mumbai is a preferred place for these procedures.
Dr. Vishal Kundnani, the best spinal deformity specialist in India with renowned status for all times, is well-noted and renowned for his scoliosis surgeons in Mumbai, who treat complex spinal deformity, scoliosis, ankylosing spondylitis-related deformity, and other structural spine diseases through international breakthrough surgical techniques, including robotics and advanced 3D implants for scoliosis.
Conclusion
Ankylosing spondylitis is more than just back pain- it is a progressive spinal affection that requires early intervention. Understanding the early signs would make stiffness, deformity, and discomfort a thing of the past.
In accepting the right diagnosis with the most feasible modalities of treatment, patients can continue life with a proactive stance in the context of physiotherapy, medications, and, when deemed necessary, advanced robotic technology in the form of scoliosis correction surgery in Mumbai and 3D implants for scoliosis.
Patients feeling ongoing back pain, stiffness, or even postural changes in their functioning can rest assured that they have received the best care from an outstanding spine specialist, such as Dr. Vishal Kundnani spine doctor and scoliosis surgeon in Mumbai, who can ensure a timely diagnosis, effective and elaborate planning for treatment, and long-term spine health.
