Houston Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Ankylosing Spondylitis is a persistent and usually progressive condition that damages the spine through inflammation. While inflammation is a natural process that fights diseases by producing white blood cells, it can also cause damage to the body’ tissues, as in this case.

This condition usually affects the joints linking the vertebrae and the sacroiliac joints, which are located in the pelvis. Ultimately the condition can lead to fusion of the vertebrae and the sacroiliac joints, which is referred as ankylosis.

It leads to a loss of movement in the spine, and is a systemic disease, meaning it can affect other tissues of the body. It may cause swelling, or an injury to the eyes, lungs, heart, or kidneys.

Ankylosing Spondylitis shares many symptoms with other forms of arthritis such as psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and other arthritis connected with Crohn’s disease. Collectively these diseases are classified as spondyloarthropathies.

What are the symptoms?

• Inflexibility in the hips, restricting range of motion
• Stiffness in the shoulders, limiting range of movement
• Stiffness or soreness in the neck
• Fatigue
• Lower back pain or stiffness, most prominent in the morning hours
• Irritation in or near eyes
• Inflammation of other parts of the body

Ankylosing Spondylitis may grow worse over time, possibly even resulting in a major decline of mobility. The origin of Ankylosing Spondylitis is yet undetermined, but is speculated to be caused by bacterium, heredity, environmental factors and immune-relation factors.

How Can Ankylosing Spondylitis be Treated?

Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis and other spondyloarthropathies has greatly improved in recent years. Anti-tumor necrosis factor agents such as Enbrel, Humira, Remicaide, and Simponi yield positive results. Patients are usually given an initial trial of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Indomethacin.

Exercise and physical therapy are cornerstones of AS treatment, regardless of which other pharmacological therapies are used.

It is also a good idea to visit your rheumatologist if you believe you have Ankylosing Spondylitis, as these physicians can determine if you have the disease or similar conditions.

Contact a physician

The physicians at Rheumatology Associates of Houston are dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from arthritis. Call (713) 667-8292 to schedule an initial screening with an experienced rheumatologist.