Horizon Prime Hospital - Thane

Back pain starts when you’re young, A Condition That Triggers Ankylosing Spondylitis

“Oh, my back is aching”, a term generally that we often come across from our near and dear ones. Almost 70% of the world’s population is thought to have suffered from back pain at least once in their lifetime. Close to 6-7% of these cases are due to a long-term debilitating condition called as ‘Ankylosing Spondylitis’. This condition is often misdiagnosed as general low back pain. Many a times, we often try to use pain killers and apply pain relieving balms and delay in approaching the doctor.

Ankylosing Spondylitis  often referred to as youngster’s disease, a condition often misunderstood as back pain, is not an age-related disease. It typically affects between the ages of 17 and 45. Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that happens because of the inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine. It could also happen in other joints like knees, ankles and even the hips. There has been an alarming increase in the incidence of AS, amongst Indian young adults in their late twenties and early thirties. AS affects 1 in 100 of the adult population, and is particularly prevalent in men.

AS is a type of arthritis that mainly affects the joints of the spine. Its name is Greek and means “stiffening of a joint”(ankylos) and “vertebrae” (spondylo). The vertebrae are the bones of the spine that, stacked one on top of the other, form the spinal column. Inflammation of the spaces between the vertebrae causes back pain and stiffness. AS is an inflammatory condition that affects the joints of the spine, reducing its flexibility, damaging the posture and posing the risk of loss of mobility. The symptoms of AS typically show as extreme pain in the joints between the spine and the pelvic region, and can also spread up to the joints of the neck.

Dr Hrushikesh Vaidya, Medical Director and Chairman, Horizon Group of Hospitals said “There is a need for early diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis. Ankylosing Spondylitis is a lifelong disease with no cure. The symptoms typically begin in early adulthood and gradually worsen, but severity varies from person to person. It results in serious impairment of movement impacting the quality of life. Young working population is most commonly affected. Though AS is an irreversible disease, it is manageable through treatment and lifestyle modification”.

Dr Ria Vaidya, CEO, Horizon Group of Hospitals said  “Youngsters, in their productive work years, are more prone to AS due to sedentary lifestyle, improper sitting posture, stress and highly demanding work life, which in turn aggravates the condition, making the pain worse. Males are affected three times more than their female counterparts. Ankylosing Spondylitis often begins in adolescence or early adulthood, with about 95% of cases presenting before the age of 45. It is important that the disease is diagnosed and treated at an early stage in order to control disease progression”.

Dr Jayesh Bhanushali, Leading Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon and Consultant Horizon Prime Hospitals said  “AS causes pain and stiffness in one’s lower back, hips and buttocks and can also result in fatigue. It can potentially affect one’s ribs, knees, ankles and hips. The pain increases gradually and can last for several months or years and can also disrupt the sleep. People with long-term Ankylosing Spondylitis are at increased risk of spinal fractures and osteoporosis which eventually leads to severe nerve damage. Constant pain impacts efficiency, thereby leading to psychological issues, which further affect the quality of life of patients. The exact cause of juvenile ankylosing spondylitis is not clear”.

Dr Jayesh Bhanushali further said “Living with the pain, stiffness and extreme tiredness can be challenging. Early detection plays a vital role in improving the quality of life. The significant problem in India is the time delay of patient approaching the doctor for treatment, many a times its 5-6 years delay”.

Symptoms

Early symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis might include back pain and stiffness in the lower back and hips, especially in the morning and after periods of inactivity. Neck pain and fatigue also are common. The common affected areas

• The joint between the base of the spine and the pelvis.
• The vertebrae in the lower back.
• The places where tendons and ligaments attach to bones, mainly in the spine, but sometimes along the back of the heel.
• The cartilage between the breastbone and the ribs.
• The hip and shoulder joints.

Causes

AS causes are unknown. But in particular, people who have a gene called HLA-B27 are at a greatly increased risk of developing ankylosing spondylitis.

Diagnosis

• Physical Exam
• Imaging Tests X-Ray, MRI, CT Scan
• Blood Tests

 Treatment

The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and stiffness and prevent or delay complications and spinal deformity. Ankylosing spondylitis treatment is most successful before the disease causes irreversible damage.

• Medications are prescribed
• Physical Therapy : It’s a very important part of treatment for pain relief and to improve strength and flexibility. A physical therapist may suggest the following exercises
• Range-of-motion and stretching exercises.
• Strengthening exercises for abdominal and back muscles.
• Proper sleeping and walking positions.
• Surgery : Most people with ankylosing spondylitis don’t need surgery. Surgery may be recommended if you have severe pain or if a hip joint is so damaged that it needs to be replaced.

 Complications

• Eye inflammation
• Compression fractures
• Heart problems

 Conclusion

Diagnosis at an early stage is very crucial to avoid joint fusion, reduce chronic pain, prevent the development of disabling postural deformities and control further progression of the disease. Horizon Prime Hospital has expert team of doctors, surgeons and physical therapists to attend to your health.

Horizon Prime Hospital Spine surgery department is equipped to guide you through every step of your healthcare journey. Our team of highly skilled and experienced surgeons utilizes advanced surgical techniques to minimize invasiveness and promote faster recovery.