Ankylosing Spondylitis (pronounced ankle-low-sing
spond-ill-eye-tiss) is a chronic form of arthritis that is
capable of seriously limiting range and movement. It can occur
in other areas of the body, although it is most commonly
associated with the spine. It usually presents symptoms such as
pain and discomfort in the spine, (or other affected areas) and
creates a degree of stiffness that results in a loss of range
and movement. A more detailed account of symptoms is available
at http://www.ankylosinginfo.com. In the longer term, the
condition causes the development of a bent posture and can even
be responsible for fusing vertebrae together causing severe
limitation in mobility and thus loss of independence. The
hallmark of ankylosing spondylitis is inflammation, pain and
stiffness in the joints of the lower back and pelvis.
The same inflammation that ankylosing spondylitis so often
causes in the spine, is capable of extending to other tendons
and ligaments in other areas of the body, such as the heels,
shins, thighs, hips, shoulder blades and ribs. Once again
mobility can easily be compromised by the disease so people
suffering from ankylosing spondylitis are often urged to do a
range of exercises aimed at maintaining range and movement.
The disease varies greatly in both the speed of decline and
ultimate extent of
inflammation and thus limitation of movement.
This means that it is exceedingly difficult to project an
outcome for an individual with ankylosing spondylitis.
At the less serious end of the spectrum, ankylosing spondylitis
is characterized by periods of back pain and stiffness, with a
tendency to be worse in the mornings or after a prolonged period
of rest. In more severe cases, spinal stiffness becomes a
serious issue and is accompanied by pain and inflammation.
A major characteristic of ankylosing spondylitis is a waxing and
waning of symptoms. Periods of intense irritation, followed by
relative disappearance is not uncommon. This makes accurate
recording of symptoms a worthwile practice in order to establish
an overall trend-line of the disease.
Ankylosing spondylitis like many forms of arthritis manifests
itself in many levels of severity. Many doctors put a strong
emphasis on prevention through regular exercise and movement. A
good information resource on treatments can be found at
http://www.astreatment.com. For those who suffer the disease, it
is best to keep and open mind and be prepared for fluctuations
in symptoms.
About the author:
The author has a series of articles on ankylosing spondylitis
that are available at http://www.spondylitisinfo.com
Written by: S Joseph
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