What About Ankylosing Spondylitis And Spinal Fractures?There are two ways in which spinal fractures may impact someone who has AS. First, as the disease progresses and the spine becomes more rigid, multiple small stress fractures may occur in the spine. The second, and more troublesome, relationship of spinal fractures and ankylosing spondylitis involves the fact that the rigidity of the spine makes it more susceptible to fractures from impacts. If the disease has progressed enough, or the patient is older, a minor impact could have a major effect. Frequently, a fused spine will break like a solid long bone, and the fracture often is difficult to maintain in proper alignment. So AS patients need to be careful. Even though exercise is mandatory for ankylosing spondylitis sufferers, the type of exercise must be chosen wisely. Some people with the disease have been advised to give up jogging by their doctors because of the fear that the foot strike impact could cause a fracture. AS patients have reported fractures whille doing things as simple as moving an office chair, or hanging a door. By way of background, ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis, affecting primarily the spine, although it can impact the shoulders, hips, ribs, hands, feet, and even the eyes, lungs and heart occasionally. As the disease progresses, the spine's vertebrae begin to form bony outgrowths, causing the vertebrae to eventually fuse together, a condition called 'fusion'. This causes the spine to become inflexible and stiff. While the cause of AS is not known at this time, there does seem to be a genetic component to the disease. Over ninety percent of the people with the disease have the HLA-B27 gene. Now, the fact that one has the gene does not mean they'll eventually have ankylosing spondylitis - only two percent of those with the gene actually get AS. But it does indicate that there may be a hereditary component. Ankylosing Spondylitis Privacy Policy Contact Us Legal Information |