What It's Like To Have Ankylosing SpondylitisWhat is it Like to Have Ankylosing Spondylitis? That's a difficult question to answer, because the symptoms of the disease can vary greatly. Some individuals will be severely affected, others seem to be hardly bothered by the condition. While AS is frequently defined as arthritis of the spine, it tends to affect the spines of women less seriously as compared to men. Women experience symptoms in the pelvis, hips, wrists, ankles and knees more often than men, where the disease will strike the spine and pelvis most frequently. The disease can impact just about every joint in the body, however. Other than the spine, one problem area that occurs on a regular basis is plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes. This can be treated by special footwear, orthotics (shoe inserts), rest, stretching, NSAIDs, or, as a last resort, corticosteroid injections. Ankylosing Spondylitis can also affect the eyes through a condition called iritis or anterior uveitis which is inflammation of the iris and its attachment to the eye. This can be very serious, so if you have AS and notice and pain, redness, or blurring of vision, go immediately to an opthamologist. If you can't get an emergency appointment, you probably want to head to the nearest hospital emergency room with an ophthalmology team. AS can affect the lungs indirectly by causing the rib cage to become rigid and less able to move, thereby making breathing more difficult. The lungs themselves can occasionally become scarred. AS can sometimes affect the heart, causing a leak in the aortic valve or affecting the heart's electrical activity. Usually, these problems have no effect on the AS patient's comfort, and are only discovered by the physican's tests. While the medication recommended by your physician will vary from case to case, one constant in the battle against ankylosing spondylitis is the need to do the strengthening and stretching exercises on a regular basis, preferably every day. How is Ankylosing Spondylitis Treated? At this time, there is no cure for AS. The majority of the people who have AS use NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) as these drugs relieve pain and reduce inflammation and stiffness well. As stated earlier, exercise and physical therapy are a must for controlling the symptoms of AS. Some traditional forms of exercise may be precluded because of the fragility of an ankylosed spine, but certain forms of strengthing and stretching exercises are mandatory. Swimming is one traditional exercise that's highly recommended. Immunosuppresive medications are sometimes used to reduce immune system response because the inflammation of AS is caused by an immune system working overtime. Tumor necrosis factor blockers have shown promise, with the major disadvantage being that they can allow infections to take hold easier. Ankylosing spondylitis patients have a generally good prognosis if the disease is diagnosed and treated at an early stage, and if the exercise and medication recommendations are adhered to. Ankylosing Spondylitis Privacy Policy Contact Us Legal Information |