Do you often feel pain in your back and hips? Especially when you wake up in the morning, do you feel stiff and have difficulty bending and moving around? Many people think that this is a normal backache, but sometimes the cause can be something different. Today we are talking about a special type of arthritis that affects the joints and bones of the spine. This is what doctors call Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) .
Simply put, what is this disease like?
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disease of the spine. Strictly speaking, it is a type of arthritis of the spine. There are a number of types of arthritis of the spine. A common name for all of these is Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) .
Think of axSpA as a broad spectrum of the same disease with varying degrees of severity. Depending on where you fall on this spectrum, the pain you feel and how it affects your daily life can vary. For many people, back pain is the main symptom. But for some , pain can also be felt in the neck, hips, buttocks, arms, and even legs .
Let's identify the two main cases of this disease.
There are two main types of Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Your doctor will determine which type you have by listening to your symptoms, performing a physical exam, and then performing tests such as an X-ray or MRI. Your family history and genetic information are also important.
To clearly understand these two situations, see the table below.
| Name of the disease | Simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) | This is the earliest or least severe stage of the disease. "Nonradiographic" means that it is not easily detected on an X-ray . Even if you have back pain, an X-ray may not show any significant changes in your sacroiliac joints, the joints that connect your spine and hip bones. However, a more sensitive test, such as an MRI, can detect any inflammation that may be present at this stage. |
| Radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (AS) | This is what we commonly call Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). What happens here is that the previously mentioned nr-axSpA condition gradually progresses and affects the spine and hip joints. At this point, even with an X-ray examination, the doctor can see clear changes in these joints . |
The most important thing is that if you have these symptoms, you should definitely see a doctor and seek advice without trying to self-diagnose.
What if the disease worsens? What is "Bamboo Spine"?
For some people with AS, the condition can become more severe over time. This can cause the vertebrae (joints) in the spine to fuse together. This process is medically known as "ankylosis."
In this way, the spine becomes compressed, loses its flexibility, and becomes straight like a single stick. Like a bamboo tree. This is called a "bamboo spine" . At this point, you may feel severe back pain, stiffness, and decreased flexibility. This can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks such as bending and sitting.
But don't be alarmed by this. The important thing is that not everyone with nr-axSpA will develop AS . And not everyone with AS will develop bamboo spine. Most people can manage their symptoms well and live a normal life with proper treatment and lifestyle changes.
What are the treatments for this?
For each case of this disease, there are treatments to control symptoms and improve quality of life. This is mainly done by using a combination of several treatments.
- Physical therapy: Exercises and treatments performed under expert guidance are very important to maintain flexibility in the spine and joints and reduce pain.
- Exercise and diet: Daily exercise can help reduce body stiffness. Also, a balanced diet can help reduce inflammation in the body.
- Medication: Your doctor will prescribe various medications to reduce pain and inflammation. It is very important to follow those instructions.
- Surgery: Some people with very severe disease, especially those with severe damage to the hip or spine, may benefit from surgery. However, this is not necessary for everyone.
Take-Home Message
- Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is not just a common back problem, it is an inflammatory arthritis condition that affects the spine.
- There are two types of this disease: the early stage (nr-axSpA), which cannot be detected by X-ray, and the advanced stage (AS), which can be detected by X-ray.
- Not everyone with the disease will develop severe cases like "bamboo spine." There's no need to panic.
- Symptoms can be well controlled by diagnosing the disease early, using physical therapy, proper exercise, and taking the medications prescribed by your doctor .
- If you have long-term back pain, especially morning stiffness, be sure to talk to your doctor about it.
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