Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) usually affects the joints of the spine, but can also affect other joints, especially on the flanks. As you can see even occasionally cause an inflammation of the eyes, chest wall, heart and lungs. If this inflammation is not treated, which eventually lead to scarring and permanent damage. Some people have a mild form of the disease, while others are unfortunate enough to aggressive. This disease can or can not get worse, depending on various factors. These factors include, How old were you when you began the disease, the joints are affected and how early you have a correct diagnosis. Unfortunately, there is no cure so far or is there? Is it possible to be Arthritis free in a month without Western medicine?

Doctors are unsure of the cause for AS, but we know that genetics plays a role in the disease. About 95% of patients diagnosed with this disease have a gene produces a genetic marker, HLA-B27. However, with this gene does not mean that a person is sure of the disease. There is only a 40% chance of development, as if this gene. Moreover, you do not need this gene to develop AS. Many people have the HLA-B27 gene that produces or beneath about 25% of the population according to the country, but only between 1% and 5% of people actually develop ankylosing spondylitis.

There is an ongoing investigation ongoing to determine the causes of inflammation, which is part of ankylosing spondylitis. Some researchers believe that the inflammation begins with a bacterial infection that causes the immune system to respond. Once the bacterial infection is gone, a normal person's immune system returns to "protect and scan mode, but a person who, by AS his immune system is still in the" attack "mode. The result is that the tissues become inflamed. Other researchers believe that starts when the good break down defenses, the bacteria that cause your blood, and then for most of the joints affected by this arthritis, the sacroiliac joints.

The most common symptom of AS is a lot of people know, lower back pain and / or stiffness. These symptoms may occur as early as adolescence, which many people with ankylosing spondylitis is misdiagnosed with young people as sports injuries. The pain and stiffness are often progressive, which means that many people do not tell their doctor about the pain. The pain and stiffness by inflammation of the spine, which if untreated can lead to a fusion of the spine or ankylosis. Once this happens, the pain goes away, as well as the mobility of the spine. The ankylosis may result that a warp in the chest forward, which reduces the ability to breathe. The merger may also cover the chest, so that the ribs to fuse the spine, lung capacity is reduced. Other symptoms of arthritis in other (usually the hips, knees and ankles) and inflammation of the cartilage that surrounds the breast bone, eye, heart and kidneys.

A correct diagnosis of AD can be difficult to obtain. Early symptoms are often caused by other diseases more frequently. It is particularly difficult to diagnose in women because they usually have less involvement of the spine, usually but not always. May a patient must live with the pain for several years before the ankylosing spondylitis is still under consideration. The evidence that they are actually very simple. These include the usual medical history and physical examination, then your doctor for an X-ray of the spine and a blood test for the HLA-B27 marker. The physical examination May preliminary indications as low mobility of the spine, decreased respiratory capacity, and eye inflammation. The backbone of the X-rays will show whether the fusion of the vertebrae has already taken place. Once properly diagnosed, the treatment begins.

The treatment includes steroids are not anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), physical therapy and exercise more. NSAIDs reduce inflammation and pain, the impact on the joints can increase mobility. In patients where other joints such as knees, hips and ankles swell, the NSAIDs May not work very well. If that happens, there are other drugs that can be used as sulfasalazine and methotrexate. Methotrexate is more effective than sulfasalazine, but it is potentially toxic to the liver and bone marrow. Patients treated with methotrexate have frequent blood tests to determine whether one of these two organs were damaged. With increased mobility comes the physical therapy and exercise to improve posture and increase mobility and the ability to breathe. All must exercise regiments, by a physician, so the patient does not accidentally hurt him.