This post is to answer the most commonly asked question, What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

If you are reading this, either you or your loved one’s may be experiencing some of the symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Nevertheless, I will give a brief overview of Ankylosing Spondylitis without technical jargons.

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

The Ankylosing Spondylitis (shortly, AS) is a chronic, arthritis-type, and inflammation disease that affects lower spine to start with, then it affects the entire spine and the neck progressively. It is also classified as part of auto-immune diseases.

Symptoms

The symptoms vary at a different stage of Ankylosing Spondylitis. If you are at starting stage, you may experience a slight stiffness and slight pain in the lower back. That too only in the morning after a good night of sleep.

The stiffness and pain in the lower back will progressively increase. It will affect the entire spine and the neck as the disease get worse to form a “bamboo spine” where the entire spine is fused together with little or no mobility.

Diagnosis

If you are just experiencing the morning stiffness and pain but not diagnosed with AS, you must consult arthritis specialist immediately.

He may ask you to go for X-Ray or MRI or both. In some cases, an ultrasound test is also needed.

Besides that, the doctor will do a physical examination of pelvis, heels, and chest to understand your condition.

Cure

Currently, there is no cure for Ankylosing Spondylitis. All we can do is to treat and manage the symptoms and nothing else. There are so many different classes of medications available to treat the symptoms of AS. If you are just diagnosed with AS, your doctor might start with NSAID (Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammation Drugs), just to manage your pain and stiffness.

Besides, NSAID drugs, there are other classes of drugs on the market which your doctor may prescribe based on your current condition.

Further Reading

In next post, I will explain about HLA-B27 Blood Test.